lethargic hen, not eating

[Cazook]

had a hen that started being lethargic 4-5 days ago. would sit hunched up in one spot, not come out coop as early as others etc. i isolated her in a box inside and gave a mash of eggs and chilli flakes, she wouldn't touch it. wouldn't drink water, only way i could get her to drink any was feeding from a dropper a couple of times. runny bum of yellow/white, though she did some 'normal-ish' poos too. no blood in stool that i can see. crop is empty, she is very skinny, couldn't feel an egg.

a day after this i noticed her drinking a little, but still not touching food. tried to feed mashed egg and pellets by putting some on her beak, she wasn't having it. i tried feeding raw yolk through the dropper and she had a couple drops but mostly poured it over me.

day after this, a little more lively but still withdrawn and not eating. i feed more yolk and water by dropper.

today, kinda the same, only will eat yolk. i dropped some of the yolk on wet mash and she pecked at that a little, but she doesn't try to eat solid foods at all. got her to eat almost a full yolk this time. i ordered corid (coccidosis treatment) but i was led to believe the chicken will get blood in stool if that is the case.

there was red mite in the coop that has since been treated - could this be the cause? or something i'm missing? anything else i can do for her?

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry no one replied, how is your hen doing?

 

[Eggcessive]

Mites can be killers, and should be treated with permethrin or a product with spinosad. Mites hatch every 5-7 days, so several treatments may be needed, coop emptied and treated as well.

When I have found a hen separating herself and not eating, I suspect either a reproductive disorder or a crop problem. Those may happen at the same time as well. Feel her crop to see if it is emptying overnight. If it is full and hard in the morning or full and puffy, she may have impacted or sour crop.

Some reproductive disorders such as cancer, egg yolk peritonitis, salpingitis, or internal laying may cause an enlarged lower abdomen, weight loss, runny droppings, and sometimes ascites or fluid in the belly. I would not feed raw egg to your hen, but make a mash of wet chicken feed, water, a bit of cooked egg, and a tsp of plain yogurt. Some will eat canned cat food or tuna in small amounts.

 

[Cazook]

Sorry no one replied, how is your hen doing?

not good. been continuing coxoid treatment and feeding yolk via syringe but today she has been gasping for air and comb turning purple. not hopeful for a good resolution :/

Mites can be killers, and should be treated with permethrin or a product with spinosad. Mites hatch every 5-7 days, so several treatments may be needed, coop emptied and treated as well.

When I have found a hen separating herself and not eating, I suspect either a reproductive disorder or a crop problem. Those may happen at the same time as well. Feel her crop to see if it is emptying overnight. If it is full and hard in the morning or full and puffy, she may have impacted or sour crop.

Some reproductive disorders such as cancer, egg yolk peritonitis, salpingitis, or internal laying may cause an enlarged lower abdomen, weight loss, runny droppings, and sometimes ascites or fluid in the belly. I would not feed raw egg to your hen, but make a mash of wet chicken feed, water, a bit of cooked egg, and a tsp of plain yogurt. Some will eat canned cat food or tuna in small amounts.

i tried the mashed food, she wont eat anything solid at all. i know raw yolk isnt advisable but it was pretty much the last resort to get some calories into her. also been giving crushed up calcium tablets mixed with water since she won't be getting calcium that way, tho she hasn't laid any eggs anyway.

coop has been treating with permethrin spray last week and will be today also. no more visible mites on chooks, also been dusting them with DE in their feathers.

 

[Eggcessive]

You could try tube feeding her temporarily. Sometimes putting food or liquids on the side of the beak is a way to get some into the. Here is a link and a video on tube feeding:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/go-team-tube-feeding-updated-12-29-2019.805728/

 

[Cazook]

You could try tube feeding her temporarily. Sometimes putting food or liquids on the side of the beak is a way to get some into the. Here is a link and a video on tube feeding:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/go-team-tube-feeding-updated-12-29-2019.805728/

thanks for the link, did consider tube feeding but don't have the materials to hands (shipping would be 3+ days), maybe it will get here in time but i doubt it. tried putting layer mash into a syringe but it blocked so just continuing the water and yolk and ca tablets. she just seems on the way out though. had a chick today that disemboweled its own yolk so it's not a good day for chickens lol ._.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have used a 15 inch length of aquarium air tubing found at Walmart or pet store, and connected it to a 35 ml regular tip ayringe from a feed store as a tube for thin liquids, plain yogurt, and it may work if you grind and mix the feed very thin with water. KayTee baby bird feed also from the pet aisle is good for feeding.

 

[Cazook]

she seized and died in my arms :/

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry for your loss. Many hens die with seizure like behavior, at least the ones I have witnessed. If you would like to send her in for a necropsy to your atate poultry lab, here is a list of the state vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Are you in the UK? Your vet may know of apoultry lab or they might assist with a necropsy to look for what was wrong.

 

[Cazook]

So sorry for your loss. Many hens die with seizure like behavior, at least the ones I have witnessed. If you would like to send her in for a necropsy to your atate poultry lab, here is a list of the state vets:

Are you in the UK? Your vet may know of apoultry lab or they might assist with a necropsy to look for what was wrong.

I am in the UK, yea. Wanted to explore situation myself but agreed with partner that we should just bury her instead. None of the rest of the flock have showed any symptoms like her (though keeping a close eye), so I'm wondering if it was something like cancer or heart disease or so. Thanks for the replies