Is my chicken dying?

[blindchix]

I have a one yearold hen that had always been my best layer and never really let's me hold her. All of a sudden I noticed her standing in the field next to my husband as he was weed whacking and she wasn't moving. I walked over to her and her right eye was shut ad wouldn't open. She let me hold her and wouldn't move. I noticed she has very runny yellow poop so I separated her from the other chickens. She will open her eye and there is no pus or swelling but she just keeps it shut. She now won't eat or really drink water and when she moves (which she hasn't been) she stumbles a bit and seems confused. There is no chicken vets around here

 

[MrsBachbach]

Well, I had a chicken that had slight injury to her eye. She kept it closed about a week before using it again. She wasn't terribly active during that time, but she did eat and drink. I would be concerned with her runny poop more than her eye. Yellow? Are you sure it isn't a broken egg? Best I can say is keep her to herself and maybe tempt her with treats. Preferably treats that have some water content like grapes or cherry tomatoes or a little plain yogurt or some wet bread crumbs etc.
Maybe someone with more experience in poop-o-logy can weigh in.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Is the poo foamy?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/845544/hen-with-yellow-runny-poo

 

[blindchix]

No foam, just pretty much yellow liquid. I'm going to try the treat idea right now. But ya the poop and lack of eating and drinking is what's scaring me.

 

[PeckPeckChick]

If she digested something dangerous you can flush it out of her system with a tablespoon of molasses

 

[PeckPeckChick]

Btw you will get a little bit of diarrhea after which is normal

 

[MrsBachbach]

If she digested something dangerous you can flush it out of her system with a tablespoon of molasses

I've read you are to mix that molasses with water and only let them drink so much, then remove. I think straight molasses or too much of it may have a negative effect. Possibly dehydrate them?



LAXATIVE SOLUTIONS

The following solutions or mixtures are recommended to flush the digestive system of toxic substances, most notably for treating birds exposed to botulism toxins.

Molasses Solution


Add one pint of molasses to 5 gallons of water

Offer the drinking solution free-choice to the affected birds for about four hours. Treat severely affected birds individually if they cannot drink. Return the birds to regular water after the treatment period.

As a supportive treatment for symptoms resulting from Cryptosporidia infection, often referred to as coronaviral enteritis, use:


One quart molasses in 20 gallons of water

Offer this solution free-choice for a period of up to 7-10 days. It is assumed that the molasses replaces certain minerals lost from diarrhea during the course of the infection.

Epsom Salt Solution


1 lb Epsom Salt per 15 lb feed
-or-
1 lb Epsom Salt per 5 gallons water for 1 day

Give the epson salt feed mixture as the sole feed source for a one day period. This feed can be used only if the birds are eating. If the birds are not eating, use the water solution. If the birds are unable to eat or drink by themselves, use individual treatment with:


1 teaspoon of Epsom Salt in 1 fl oz water

Place the solution in the crop of the affected bird. This same amount of solution will treat 5-8 quail or one chicken.

Castor Oil Therapy


Dose individual birds with .5 oz castor oil.

http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/solutions.html

 

[MrsBachbach]

No foam, just pretty much yellow liquid. I'm going to try the treat idea right now. But ya the poop and lack of eating and drinking is what's scaring me.

After looking at that link ChickensrSweet posted, I think you need to treat your bird for coccidiosis. It can kill them if you don't treat. Especially if they are no longer eating or drinking. Use Corid at the rate of 9.5 ml per gallon and try to get some of that medicated water down her if she won't drink. A tube feeder is best. You give her this for 5 to 7 days in her water. I've read its a Vitamin B blocker that coccidiosis thrive on, so you may want to withhold any treats that are high in Vit B during the treatment period. Maybe someone with more knowledge of this will weigh in if I am incorrect about this?

 

[blindchix]

I just got the corid and going to start her now. Thank you for all the help. I hope this works

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I just got the corid and going to start her now. Thank you for all the help. I hope this works

Oh very good. I am not hesitant at all to start Corid on chickens if I am worried it may be coccidiosis. I have used it many times through the years and it has made such a difference.

Keep a watch out for any respiratory ailments in her with that eye closed...grown hens can get cocci if immunocompromised or exposed to new soil. They are usually immune to it by the time they are grown.