Lethargic Americana, with wet stinky butt.

[ArtsyLady]

I just found one of my hen's who had recently dust bathed rather unresponsive. I picked her up, checked her back side and it is wet. I'm about to put her in an Epsom salt bath. What else can I do for her?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Clean her bottom good and check her vent thiroughly for maggots. Blow dry with a hair dryer on cool, and low. Was just looking at another thread where someone lost a hen to flystrike, they did not realize there was a problem until it was too late. If necessary, trim the butt fluff so poop does not stick around the vent.

 

[ArtsyLady]

Clean her bottom good and check her vent thiroughly for maggots. Blow dry with a hair dryer on cool, and low. Was just looking at another thread where someone lost a hen to flystrike, they did not realize there was a problem until it was too late. If necessary, trim the butt fluff so poop does not stick around the vent.

Will do. I did find she had some dried poop stuck so I've soaked that loose and cleaned it away. Would some electrolyte water be helpful?

 

[ArtsyLady]

I've cleaned and checked her bottom. Trimmed her butt fluff and have found no maggots. When it looks like she's trying to poop nothing happens but I fear she wasn't eating much. We've scrambled and egg which she is eating a little bit at a time and she's taken a few sips of electrolyte water. I'm going to put her in the hospital pen and keep her in the house once I've finished blowing her dry.
Would eating bird seed that fell from the neighbors bird feeder be bad for her?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I've cleaned and checked her bottom. Trimmed her butt fluff and have found no maggots. When it looks like she's trying to poop nothing happens but I fear she wasn't eating much. We've scrambled and egg which she is eating a little bit at a time and she's taken a few sips of electrolyte water. I'm going to put her in the hospital pen and keep her in the house once I've finished blowing her dry.
Would eating bird seed that fell from the neighbors bird feeder be bad for her?

Is she trying to poop, or trying to lay an egg, do you think? Can you post a picture of the whole bird just standing on the ground? Feel her abdomen, both her belly in front of her legs and aso behind her legs and up toward her vent. Does she feel soft and squishy or do you feel anything that feels like she may have an egg stuck in there anywhere? Compare to another bird.

Do you have a dog crate you can put her in and leave her out with the flock? Being separated may stress her and if she's separated very long you may have to re-integrate her. You may not have to separate her at all if she's eating and drinking and not being picked on.

I don't think the bird seed can hurt her if she doesn't get too much of it. If she doesn't seem inclined to eat, make a gruel of her regular food by adding water. You can also add a little plain yogurt as well if you like.

You can also post a pic of her poop. Feel her crop at bedtime to see if it's full and again in the morning before she eats or drinks to see if it emptied overnight.

 

[ArtsyLady]

Emily didn't make it. Her belly felt soft but she also felt thin to me. Her crop was soft and did not feel overly full. She only stood once for a bit but the rest of the time she sat with her eyes closed. She did seem to enjoy some scrambled eggs and electrolyte water but it just want enough I suppose. I sure did love her.

 

[500Chickens]

Emily didn't make it. Her belly felt soft but she also felt thin to me. Her crop was soft and did not feel overly full. She only stood once for a bit but the rest of the time she sat with her eyes closed. She did seem to enjoy some scrambled eggs and electrolyte water but it just want enough I suppose. I sure did love her.