lethargic hen

[shadowpaints]

hi all! i got a few (16) hens yesterday... they are just finishing molting and i have gotten several eggs from them today. they are all on the thin side but other than that ok. they are golden sexlinks.

now one hen is in the house... she isnt doing too great. she is WAY thin and cant stand. she was very dehydrated when i got her home and just didnt look right. i mixed pedilyte with water and she drank several beakfuls. i mixed some of the layer mash that i get from our local mill with plain yogurt and she ate about a table spoon of that. now, her comb is MUCH redder and when i wake her to give her more water and food every few hours, she seem more alert every time. but she still isnt trying to stand or anything. has anyone brought a badly starved hen back to being healthy?? or am i just feeding riding a dead horse here. also should i give her free choice of food? i know with horses that are starved you dont want them to have free choice of even hay for fear of impations.. GAH! i really want to help this hen but dont know what to do. ill try to get a pic if you want it

her poo is normalish.. a bit watery but other than that fine

 

[chickenlady]

Give her a big bowl of food and allow her to eat at will.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

I remember someone had a malnourished, ill hen they saved a few months back. I think it turned out well.

I'd hardboil some eggs, and make a mash of the hard-boiled yolk, lay crumble, and a tsp. of plain yogurt. Have a few drops of apple cider vinegar in her water.

If she doesn't eat much, you can make the mash a little soupier and put it in a syringe and feed her that way. If she's super starved, she's also super weak and won't expend the effort to eat.

I'd also give her three drops of PolyViSol without Iron each day.

She is quarantined, right?

Search 'malnourished' under author Threehorses and see what you find.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[shadowpaints]

yes she is quarintined as are the other hens i got yesterday. the super sickly hen is actually inside in the bottom half of a dog kennel. the others are all outside in the 2nd coop. i will hardboil an egg and mash it up for her with some yogurt... and layer crumble... i really hope she makes it.. i have her laying on some paper towels so i can easily change them several times a day . she talks to me now when i go in to change her bedding and give her a syringe full of water should i start making her get up?? or should i give her a few days?? how do i get her legs stronger??

 

[kathyinmo]

Have these chickens been wormed? Have you checked them over very carefully for mites and lice? These things will take a bird down.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

I had some hens that became very dehydrated. The ones that lived had a hard time walking. Some just lay there. They all eventually walked, within a day or two. Give her plenty of water and rest.

 

[shadowpaints]

thanks all for your input.. but this really sik hen passed away during the night sometime

im glad i at least gave her a few last days of good food and love . now its time to focus on the the rest of the hens. as far as i know they dont have lice or mites, but i am thinking i need to worm them. cant do that till pay day which is monday. i will keep you updated on their condition but it seems as though the rest ill be OK

 

[Nif]

Sorry about you hen. You were smart to bring her in just in case she had something, and also to get her comfy.
I am sorry you lost her. Sounds like you are doing all the right things, good luck with your new birds. Keep them separate from your flock for as long as you can!