Lethargic, poopy, not hungry, HELP!

[blondiebee181]

Hello all.

My Leghorn Daisy is about 3 yrs....and always she has been boisterous, active, the first to get up and the last to go in, and an absolute GLUTTON. Today I happened to notice when I let the girls out that she doesn't seem to be feeling well. She is usually jumping at the gate to get out, this time just hanging back....then when I brought out the food and water she is usually first to chow down and drink...today she just hung in the yard....this morning I even gave them watermelon which they LOVE, and she didn't really touch it. She can stand but seems unstable. I checked her feathers for buggers, and found only one small, yellow critter that I assumed was just benign....I didn't find any others. Her eyes and nose seem clear. Her butt was pasted with green and white diarrhea, which I cleaned off. I was afraid she hadn't eaten much so I brought her some yogurt which is usually one of her favorites, but I had to force her to take a couple bites...I decided to bring her inside for a while and she is in a straw lined box with some water which I also made sure she had a little. I have never wormed the girls because I have never suspected them before, but maybe she has them? I also read a bit about egg binding causing similar symptoms....I could try soaking her and I will try to feel for an egg but she doesn't seem stressed to lay...could it be something else? I want to try something .....I don't want to give her any medications unless someone can tell me what might be the most likely...

 

[blondiebee181]

Her comb is wilted more than usual? Does that matter?

 

[blondiebee181]

She's still about the same, I've given her a warm bath which she seemed to like....she's always liked water okay. She's still drinking and eating food softened in water and mixed with a little yogurt...I'm waiting for her to poop to see what it's like....I don't think she's egg bound...I put my finger up there while she was in the bath and didn't feel anything...although I only got the tip of my finger in to the first knuckle, I'm not sure how far you're supposed to go on that test

I don't think she has an impacted crop, it feels empty in fact because she hasn't eaten much....leads me to believe worms....I tried finding a stool sample from earlier which is only possible because all of my hens but her like to sleep on the roof....and didn't really see anything abnormal, but idk if that means anything...I'm going to go to my feed store and ask around...at least pic up some vitamins to put in the water...I'd still appreciate any advice or opinions it's so hard to narrow down what could be going on.

 

[blondiebee181]

She is still eating and drinking mostly on her own, I might keep her isolated overnight...she seemed a little perkier this afternoon. Also, I found out I do indeed have a mite infestation. They may be on little Daisy here and are definitely on some of the other girls, because I decided to go out and check them all out today after Daisy looked ill...I went to the feed store and got DE for the birds and a spray for the coop. I changed all the bedding and sprayed the house and hand dusted all the birds...I've been recommended to also get a facial spray for them as well....again, I'd love more feedback...

 

[blondiebee181]

Another update: She has finally passed a long gooey string of egg white, membrane and soft shell matter...I am hoping that coupled with the mites is what has made her feel ill...

 

[blondiebee181]

If anyone is out there....After she passed the egg mess yesterday, I put her out in the yard with the other hens while I cleaned and sprayed and dusted their pen and coop (and them) for mites. She seemed okay-ish...still drinking on her own but not really eating unless I gave her the soft food with yogurt. She went into the chicken house to roost so I let her spend the evening out there. This morning she was still on the roost when I came out to feed and water, and didn't come running with the rest. I took her back in and got her to drink, but she wouldn't really eat much I practically had to force her to take a couple bites...poop is still semi-solid and gooey green with a little white...Anyone?

 

[blondiebee181]

Well, I'm going to keep updating anyway on the pretense that maybe some poor soul going through a similar even might take solace in this thread...Daisy is at the vet now. There is a doc at this particular establishment that specializes in avian ailments and has seen many chickens. In fact I am told she has clients that return to her specifically whenever their backyard friends fall ill. This gives me hope that at least I may get a diagnosis, and hope against hope, a cure...here's a pic of Daisy during happier times...

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I'm sorry to see no one has responded to you yet. I've gone through some mite infestations the past several months and your hens symptoms are very similar to what I had going on. (not that it's exact just similar) I had to go chemical. DE did nothing for me. I also gave vitamins, tried electrolytes, fed scrambled eggs, gave a little bit of a calcium pill, baths, you name it. The most successful return to health I had was a hen and a rooster together. I separated them for almost a week. They were too weak to even hold up their own head at first. They were bathed, blow dryed, and I had to hold up their heads to eat and drink every hour. It took a long time for them to bounce back, but it worked and now it's been 6 months.

You may want to consider worming her just in case. Keep her warm while she's recovering.I hope your girl starts to feel better real soon.

 

[cafarmgirl]

She may have retained bits of that broken or unformed egg that have started an infection and made her feel unwell. Hopefully your vet will be able to get her on the road to recovery. Has she been laying regularly prior to this?

If they have mites I'd really suggest dusting them with something effective like Poultry Dust or Sevin dust. DE is really hit and miss and you won't kill all the bugs. It may help as a preventative but when you have an infestation you need something that will really work. Even when using a good poultry dust mites are hard to get rid of. Keep treating the birds and the coop every 7 -10 days until the bugs are gone, that is the hatch cycle so you have to keep re-treating since the dust and sprays won't kill the eggs.

I would also deworm them if they've never been dewormed. Use something safe and effective like Valbazen or liquid Safeguard for goats and be sure to do a repeat dose in 10 days. Valbazen especially is a good choice because it works slowly, there is no big worm kill-off all at once which can be dangerous if they have a heavy load.

 

[mightymax]

I, too, am so sorry that your hen is ill. Hopefully the Vet. will be able to give you the answers you need to nurse her back to health. In the meantime, please know my thoughts are with you both.