I'm torn! Sick chicken, should I worm or not worm??

[Dawnclucks22]

Hey everyone. I've posted a couple threads on different topics but all about my sick hen, Dorothy. This morning her crop was not empty but there was only a bit of food in it. She is hunched over, her bottom dipped down, her neck squished against her breast and eyes closed. I'm afraid it might be time for her to die. I've been told worming could aggravate a sickness if it doesn't turn out to be worms, but I'm afraid she'll die anyway if I don't. Please tell me what I should do!

 

[Welshies]

You can get her checked by a vet.
First, what are you feeding her? Do you clean the coop regularly? Has any other chicken fallen sick?

 

[Squishychicken]

any other symptoms?
how old is the bird?

seperate her inside were its dark and warm but not hot
give her electrolytes in her water and wetted chick feed

 

[Dawnclucks22]

You can get her checked by a vet.
First, what are you feeding her? Do you clean the coop regularly? Has any other chicken fallen sick?

Cost is an issue, but if it comes to this it may be possible. Yes, I do clean the coop regularly, but they only go in there to sleep. Their run is my entire backyard.
I did have another hen awhile back who had a similar disease, but I'm not sure if it's the same thing. She had also begun to recover before she died, but her death was an accident unrelated to her sickness.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

any other symptoms?
how old is the bird?

seperate her inside were its dark and warm but not hot
give her electrolytes in her water and wetted chick feed

She is about 3 1/2 years old (guesstimate). She is severely underweight, not laying, little feather stubs growing in everywhere (maybe she's been pecked at) but trust me this is NOT molting. I had someone suggest this with another thread but this is not a molt.
Her comb is pale and she is lethargic. Her right leg seems to be troubling her and when she does walk she limps a lot.
Here's another thread for more detail: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-losing-weight.1212231/#post-19307318

 

[Squishychicken]

does she have bumblefoot at all that could be causing the limp

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Cost is an issue

Fecal floats to verify worm load and species count is about $15-18 at my vet, which I would spend before worming. I know that is still a lot if someone doesn't have it..

How has your weather been? Coccidia is a possibility. and could also be ruled out by the same float.

The slow crop is concerning, I think. How does the poo look?

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Fecal floats to verify worm load and species count is about $15-18 at my vet, which I would spend before worming. I know that is still a lot if someone doesn't have it..

How has your weather been? Coccidia is a possibility. and could also be ruled out by the same float.

The slow crop is concerning, I think. How does the poo look?

Liquidy. No solids whatsoever. It's been sunny outside but a bit chilly. Doesn't snow here.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

You've got crop issues or a blockage somewhere if I had to guess. The liquid is a good indicator. What is the color? The chilly would indicate not cocci, but who knows.

But I MUST agree that molting IS at least part of the issue. I checked you other thread and I see the little white ends that are still on my ladies who are almost done molting. After raising more than 100 birds, probably is molting unless you've seen her molt and finish already this season. The pale comb, is usually related and doesn't red back up until returning to lay. And I just can't believe how the demeanor of my ladies change during molt. Keel bone sticking out is normal and variable. And being a prolific laying breed, 3 1/2 seems like a good age for things to start trying to manifest. Could even be multiple things manifest at the same time. And making it even harder is that birds will present differently, some having lots of symptoms while others will have only one or two.

Unfortunately that is when something your birds may be carrying could rear it's ugly head and try to take advantage of already weakened birds. The limp point to Marek's, bumble foot, or maybe gout?

Did I already share this symptom checker tool? It will list lots of possibilities that you can then narrow down by ruling things out...
http://www.poultrydvm.com/symptoms

 

[Saaniya]

If Crop is not empty is not a sign of worm ..its a sign of impaction or sourness

If the crop is hard then its impacted provide some poultry grit to her

If sour liquids feeling , odor from beak or dripping liquid from beak ( in serve cases) then withheld food and give raw unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (for few time a strong dose is recommended in serve cases) then regular 1 Tablespoon in Gallon of water ..if crop liquid still there not cleard or get down try This herbal 110% working remedy ..

Take some 2-3 tablespoon Fennel Seeds And Crush Them (You Can Take Fennel Tea Bag Also) Add A Cup Of Water And Boil For 2-3 Minutes Then Wait For Next 5 Minutes Let It Chill THEN Give This Fennel Tea To Sour Crop Bird 2-3 Times A Day ..



Option 2 ;-
FLUSH THE CROP
1. Clean Waterer And Feeder
2. isolate the sick bird
3 . Flush The Crop :- MIX 1 teaspoon OF EPSOM SALT IN 1/2 CUP OF WATER Pour Down This Water 2-3 Time In Birds Throat Carefully Avoiding Aspiration ..

afterwards this flush when DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IS CLEAR ..
USE "acidified COPPER SULPHATE" COPPER sulphate WORKS AS A MIRACLE IN SOUR CROP AS IT KILL THE TOXIC ..

BUT BE VERY CAREFUL USING COPPER LITTLE EXTRA CAN CAUSE overdose AND DEADLY CAN KILL THE BIRD TO AVOID OVERDOSE MAKE A SOULTION OF 1/2 POUND OF COPPER SULPHATE 1/2 Cup OF VINEGAR INTO 1/2 Gallon OF WATER AND ONLY ADD ONLY 1 tablespoon OF THIS SOLUTION PER GALLON (avoid metel waterer )

During this copper treatment avoid any antibiotic ..Add Probiotic To Maintain Gut Bacteria

Take care dear
Hope ur chicken will be fine
Saaniya