Last Call for help with Sick Chicken, Home Euthanasia May Be Necessary

[Emma Miriam]

The symptoms I know of:

• Watery droppings (or droppings with worms visible)
• Drop in laying
• Poor appetite (although I've heard it can occasionally cause increase in feed consumption as the hen tries to make up for the nutrients lost to the worms)
• Weight loss
• Pale comb

Seems to match your hen's symptoms pretty well, though I think you said her comb was brightening? If she hasn't started eating more yet, I'd definitely try de-worming. Some BYCers worm on a seasonal schedule, so it won't hurt your hen to try it.

As for the vitamins, buy NutriDrench if you can find it, which comes in a little bottle with dropper. If you can't find that, buy one of those cheap Sav-a-Chick Vitamins and Electrolytes packets. While you're at it, you might as well get a Sav-a-Chick Probiotic packet too! Both will help.

And french toast is a good idea!

Keep us updated.

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

She seems to eat only a little, just enough to survive. I'll try to remember the names of the probiotics and vitamin supplements if I ever get a chance to buy them.

I did get her to eat some bits of crepe, which contains egg.

 

[Emma Miriam]

That's good. Is she drinking on her own? Do you still have the electrolytes in her water? Just try to keep her eating in any way you can...and don't forget grit.

Also, is she still in an outdoor pen? Where do you put her for the night?

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

So, I just came back from a mandatory 1-night camping trip with my mother and little brother. Now that I'm back, things seem to have gone downhill, which is why I prefer to stay home.

My sick hen now shows little interest in moving on her own, and seems not to have eaten much, if anything, since I had embarked. When I picked her up to put her in an outside pen, she drooled a fluid that was slightly a pale yellow and more viscous than water, like very thin mucus. I'm afraid that I might have slightly overdosed her with the wormer, but I'm not sure.

Any help?

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

I keep her in a rabbit hutch at night or when it's rainy. I think I'll take the advice of giving her grit, since my dad bought some believing it was chick feed.

 

[Emma Miriam]

I'm sorry. I hope she's a bit better now?

Oh, you already started the wormer? Is it SafeGuard?

Is she drinking on her own? If not, use a syringe (needleless, of course) or some sort of dropper to get liquid into her. Put her on your lap, lightly squeeze the sides of her beak to open it slightly, and dribble a drop or two of water at the front of her beak. She'll pull it into the back of her throat and swallow it on her own. Give her only a bit at a timne. I'd put a few chick crumbles in a medicine cup with water and stir until they dissolve somewhat, then give her that liquid.

Yes, if she is getting anything other than chicken feed, definitely give her grit.

My thoughts are with you!

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

Well, I guess this brings things to a close.

Last night, she peacefully and painlessly went to the coop in the sky.

I thank everyone for the advice they gave to help me try to save her. Hopefully none of my other chickens will get the same thing.

 

[Emma Miriam]

I'm sorry. You absolutely did your best and did everything you could. I know how it feels to lose one after trying so hard to save her, but at least you know there was nothing else you could have done. And the silver lining is that I can't imagine any of your other girls will get anything, as it's been weeks since you noticed the first symptoms.

RIP girl.

 

[GitaBooks]

I'm really sorry.