Lethargic Chicken... UPDATE-Another hen sick!

[gmendoza]

I agree with the above post.She seems egg bound.you need to fix this fast or she will drop an egg into her abdomen..then it will be all over.We have lost some good hens by having eggs drop into their abdomens and die in like 2 days.

 

[farmerfran]

Someone with experience on eggbound please respond with how to check the whole system for an egg. Where are you most likely to feel it and what should it feel like ( since it could be soft shelled)?? Is there a way for her to know if it is likely to drop into the abdomen? I am sure it would be nice for her to be able to start eliminating possibilities.

 

[MikasGirl]

Moxie update- Last night I decided to give her some Macaroni and Cheese baby food. (4 oz.) She ate the whole thing, well I had to feed her the whole thing... I also gave her water and gatorade mixed with some crumble. I felt inside her vent and there is nothing there. I felt around her butt the first day I found her like this, and there was nothing there. I don't think she is egg bound. But I guess I could do some things for the egg binding.. Should I still do the wormer? I'm still doing the Duramycin.

Sunshine update- No worse, no better. It is like fighting with a hurricane when trying to feed her. I'm not sure she is drinking or eating anything but yogurt.. and even then that is sparingly, so I thought, what's one more chicken to feed with a syringe? Well... it is extremely difficult. The only symptoms are, a green poop sometimes liquidy and sometimes solid. And her voice sounds different but I haven't heard anymore insistent goose sounds like I did when I found her.

 

[MikasGirl]

EDIT- Did not mean to post this twice, computer is acting up.....

 

[farmerfran]

I have had hard time feeding them that way too, so I can sympathize. That is why I encourage you to try something they will go after themselves...bugs, and egg...you may need to stick it right up to their beak so they will get a taste, after that mine have taken it on their own, the egg, that is. If they are at a point where they are not even showing interest then you will have to continue with the syringe, obviously!

I can not advise on the meds b/c I have little experience with them and have tried not to use much. It sounds like you are driving yourself nuts with all the stuff. Take a step back, and observe...do any of the other chicks show signs of worms. If you don't see sign of worms then let that go for now. I would focus on getting them nourished and watch to see if the droppings continue to deteriorate or get better. And are any other chicks looking like they are doing poorly? I also do not have experience with any of the serious illnesses, so hopefully someone will post if the symptoms resemble a serious disease. But, it is kinda hard to diagnose these chicken things without oodles of info. Hope you get help you need. I know it is stressful to not know what to do!!

 

[MikasGirl]

I haven't seen any signs of worms.. As far as I know??

(Warning: panic moment) I am kind of freaking out a little bit. All of these chickens are my pets and are loved so much. So of course when one gets sick, I really don't do well. My family has this thing where we each have our own chickens. I raise them and take care of them but I pick some of them, my mom picks some, and we give my little brother some. It really seems like mine are the ones that always get sick! Okay, that would be the end of the panic session.

I won't have time to give her the usual mid-day meal today because I have a minor mouth surgery, but I will do it as soon as I get home. I have hardly any eggs right now because the girls are molting outside right now. (Already considered molting for Mox, but she's too young) I really don't want to result to buying eggs from the store, in fact I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to... But I could try to hard boil the 4 eggs that we do have..

 

[farmerfran]

I just scramble mine...its quicker and I would think a little easier for them to get in.

 

[bakohens]

MikasGirl: My 5 and half month old Barred Rock was exhibiting very similar symptoms as your girls - listless, fluffed up, not eating or drinking, hunched back, comb flopped over, tail down, and green poo. It all started last Friday. I checked out her vent and it didn't appear swollen or inflamed.

After reading multiple posts and doing multiple web searches, I tried just about everything - force feeding her olive oil, honey water, tums, and giving her warm baths. And after watching her not get any better on Saturday, I decided to get some antibiotics. I went to the feed store on Sunday morning, and they recommended Agrimycin-343 to which I've been adding to her water. I had to force the water down her on Sunday, but since then she's been drinking on her own. On Monday afternoon, she ate a little on her own and she has continued to get better - not quite back to normal but not at death's door either. She is still pooing green at times and she hasn't laid an egg in a week, but I have hope that everything will soon return to normal.

I still don't know what is/was wrong with her. eggbound? worms? But what I read about worms, is that the worms don't kill the chickens - it's a secondary infection that kills them. So, although I also bought worming stuff, I decided to wait until she is back to her normal self before worming her.

So don't give up hope! On Sunday, I thought I was going to be digging a hole under the orange trees, but I think things have turned around.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
As far as respiratory antibiotics, Tylan, Baytril, LS-50. I would wait with the worming.

 

[MikasGirl]

Okay, I checked her vent again, nothing was there. However my mom caught her like, making a nest?? Is she trying to lay an egg? I have no idea what is wrong with her! Still force feeding her.....