Lethargic hen, pale comb/wattles.

[SilverPhoenix]

Here's the scoop:

Henny-Penny is a partridge rock hen, around 4-5 years old. Her weight and feather quality are good. However, she has these arbitrary periods where she gets weak and her comb and wattles go pale. She has recovered within a few days previously, but this time it's more pronounced than before. I have her in the house for now with food and water, but I'm trying to decide what the next step should be.

The flock has been on Tylan for mycoplasma issues. I don't think this is related to the mycoplasma. She doesn't sneeze at all, has not lost weight, and just otherwise doesn't seem to be exhibiting the mycoplasma symptoms.

I have Duramycin and Sulmet that I can use if needed, she was already on the Tylan (not on it now that she's separated), and I was thinking I might try worming her.

Any ideas? Seems like some sort of anemia or something, but caused by what?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Nutrient_deficiencies.html
scroll down to thiamin deficiency and see if that sounds like it


Could be worms, too.
Or another illness.

I am sorry that I don't know the answer.

http://www.apa-abayouthpoultryclub.... SYMPTOMS FOR DIAGNOSING POULTRY DISEASES.pdf
this link might help
see pale skin section

Mites are notorious for causing anemia.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Thank you for the reply! I'm checking those sites you linked. I have her on Nutri-Drench in her water and everyone in the flock eats Purina Flock Raiser and get the Nutri-Drench in their water, so a vitamin deficiency seems unlikely, but you never know!

I checked her for mites and didn't see anything, but I'll check again just for the heck of it, and see how her poop looks while I'm at it.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thank you for the reply! I'm checking those sites you linked. I have her on Nutri-Drench in her water and everyone in the flock eats Purina Flock Raiser and get the Nutri-Drench in their water, so a vitamin deficiency seems unlikely, but you never know!

I checked her for mites and didn't see anything, but I'll check again just for the heck of it, and see how her poop looks while I'm at it.

In terms of mites, I have found that I usually am very itchy when I hold my chickens when they have mites. I have never once found them on the chickens, but have found them on me. Sometimes I cannot see them on me but feel them crawling...but after dusting them it stops.

 

[TeamChaos]

This might be a stretch, but do the bouts happen after she has a certain treat? I ask because things like spinach can change a hen's ability to utilize certain nutrients. You mention anemia and that's what got me thinking down this road...

Also, I'd give all the girls some yogurt or probiotics w/ live cultures to help replenish the good gut bugs after a course of antibiotics!

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. She hasn't improved, and in fact is looking worse. I think she might be passing away in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. I still can't find much of anything specifically wrong with her, just that she's extremely weak, but she has the smell of her body shutting down. I'll see what I can do, but I suspect there's not much.

 

[klmclain1]

I think I'd make a last ditch effort with some plain yogurt and canned cat food (blech).. all mixed up. See if she'll eat that. AND I'd give her penicillin - like I said, last ditch effort but might be worth it if she's on her way down. Good luck.. I'm so sorry...

 

[Wayne&Kim1963]

I would worm her and give her people multi vitamin or B vitamin tablet if you have it. I like to use ivomec injectable but don't know if you have any. Sorry she is doing so bad.