Lethargic, puffed chicken. Please help me with a diagnosis.

[6BeachChicks]

My girl passed last night. She is our first chicken loss and honestly, I don't know how people do this with large flocks of birds-- losing them over and over. I am devastated. I have lost many pets in my life but I am surprised how deeply I am grieving this spunky, curious little RIR. I kept her warm and clean in her last hours and I was with her when she made her passage.

She went south so quickly. By late morning she was passing bright green liquid and was flat, head down and eye closed. I had her examed by a friend who is a vet tech and other than the extreme lethargy, she was fine. The fecal test was clean, with no signs of coccidious. I think it was her time to go. She had been slowing down all summer, choosing to spend her time sitting in the shade, while her coop mates were out pecking and scratching. I think she did have reproductive problems. She was a very infrequent layer and the cap on her stools always had a faint yellowish tinge.

RIP Ms. Pepperpot March 16, 2016 - November 7, 2021

I’m so sorry to hear that. I lost my Rhode Island Red not a month ago. As soon as I read this, I thought of her. I found my hen and did exactly what you did. She was lethargic and her poop was just like yours. We managed to cure her, and had her healed for the summer. No coccidiosis on the fecal test. Then I went out one day, and she had a giant tumor on her leg. We tried to do a surgery but she didn’t make it. If your hen somehow healed, she might have gotten cancer like Liz. She laid an egg a day and sometimes two. It’s not normal, even for a red. Our hens look like twins!

Im so sorry for your loss. They had the exact same everything.

 

[Kiki]

My girl passed last night. She is our first chicken loss and honestly, I don't know how people do this with large flocks of birds-- losing them over and over. I am devastated. I have lost many pets in my life but I am surprised how deeply I am grieving this spunky, curious little RIR. I kept her warm and clean in her last hours and I was with her when she made her passage.

She went south so quickly. By late morning she was passing bright green liquid and was flat, head down and eye closed. I had her examed by a friend who is a vet tech and other than the extreme lethargy, she was fine. The fecal test was clean, with no signs of coccidious. I think it was her time to go. She had been slowing down all summer, choosing to spend her time sitting in the shade, while her coop mates were out pecking and scratching. I think she did have reproductive problems. She was a very infrequent layer and the cap on her stools always had a faint yellowish tinge.

RIP Ms. Pepperpot March 16, 2016 - November 7, 2021

Are you aware you can get a necropsy done by your state lab that will tell you pretty much exactly why she died?


Is this the same bird that this other thread of yours was about?
Thread 'Tiny lash egg?' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tiny-lash-egg.1483092/

 

[6BeachChicks]

Are you aware you can get a necropsy done by your state lab that will tell you pretty much exactly why she died?


Is this the same bird that this other thread of yours was about?
Thread 'Tiny lash egg?' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tiny-lash-egg.1483092/

I like the necropsy idea. I think she said this was a red though, and not a Wyandotte.

 

[micstrachan]

My girl passed last night. She is our first chicken loss and honestly, I don't know how people do this with large flocks of birds-- losing them over and over. I am devastated. I have lost many pets in my life but I am surprised how deeply I am grieving this spunky, curious little RIR. I kept her warm and clean in her last hours and I was with her when she made her passage.

She went south so quickly. By late morning she was passing bright green liquid and was flat, head down and eye closed. I had her examed by a friend who is a vet tech and other than the extreme lethargy, she was fine. The fecal test was clean, with no signs of coccidious. I think it was her time to go. She had been slowing down all summer, choosing to spend her time sitting in the shade, while her coop mates were out pecking and scratching. I think she did have reproductive problems. She was a very infrequent layer and the cap on her stools always had a faint yellowish tinge.

RIP Ms. Pepperpot March 16, 2016 - November 7, 2021

Awww… I am so sorry for your loss. Rest in pease, Ms. Pepperpot.

You did well by keeping her company and keeping her company as she passed.

 

[Kiki]

I like the necropsy idea. I think she said this was a red though, and not a Wyandotte.

I did not catch that but if it's two different birds that both possibly have reproductive type issues I highly recommend taking a look at what you're feeding them. @GRB73
If you're feeding regular treats stop.

Overweight hens are much more prone to have reproductive type issues.

 

[GRB73]

I’m so sorry to hear that. I lost my Rhode Island Red not a month ago. As soon as I read this, I thought of her. I found my hen and did exactly what you did. She was lethargic and her poop was just like yours. We managed to cure her, and had her healed for the summer. No coccidiosis on the fecal test. Then I went out one day, and she had a giant tumor on her leg. We tried to do a surgery but she didn’t make it. If your hen somehow healed, she might have gotten cancer like Liz. She laid an egg a day and sometimes two. It’s not normal, even for a red. Our hens look like twins!
View attachment 2891786
Im so sorry for your loss. They had the exact same everything.

They do look a lot alike. Maybe they were related. Your little Tillie looks exactly like my girl Hawke, too.

Are you aware you can get a necropsy done by your state lab that will tell you pretty much exactly why she died?


Is this the same bird that this other thread of yours was about?
Thread 'Tiny lash egg?' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tiny-lash-egg.1483092/

Pepps was a champion layer too. One to two eggs a day until she was about 2. Then she had a virus during the winter and was never a regular layer again.

Can I ask what you did to save your girl when she had the green poop? In case this happens again. I really didn't know what to do and it happened so quickly.

 

[GRB73]

Are you aware you can get a necropsy done by your state lab that will tell you pretty much exactly why she died?


Is this the same bird that this other thread of yours was about?

No. That was my wyandotte. I think she was at the end of her laying cycle. I have not seen any eggs (lash or otherwise) since. I do know about necropsy but I don't want to pursue it.

 

[Kiki]

They do look a lot alike. Maybe they were related. Your little Tillie looks exactly like my girl Hawke, too.


Pepps was a champion layer too. One to two eggs a day until she was about 2. Then she had a virus during the winter and was never a regular layer again.

Can I ask what you did to save your girl when she had the green poop? In case this happens again. I really didn't know what to do and it happened so quickly.

What do you mean by she had a virus?
What virus did she have?

 

[6BeachChicks]

They do look a lot alike. Maybe they were related. Your little Tillie looks exactly like my girl Hawke, too.


Pepps was a champion layer too. One to two eggs a day until she was about 2. Then she had a virus during the winter and was never a regular layer again.

Can I ask what you did to save your girl when she had the green poop? In case this happens again. I really didn't know what to do and it happened so quickly.

Wow! I really do think they are related. Can I have a picture of hawke if you don’t mind?

 

[GRB73]

I did not catch that but if it's two different birds that both possibly have reproductive type issues I highly recommend taking a look at what you're feeding them. @GRB73
If you're feeding regular treats stop.

Overweight hens are much more prone to have reproductive type issues.

Pepps was always on the light side. I don't do a lot of treats anymore. Some greens or sunflower seeds occasionally. Very small amounts. I am switching their food to Redder is Better. It is a locally mixed chicken feed. They had been on Purina and Dumor. I wasn't very happy with either. You either get a load of calcium or a load of protein.