Lethargic sick hen, welcoming ideas

[Cotton Hill Chick]

Hello BYC Friends,

This is Miss Penny, a black cochin hen approximately 2 years old. I found her under the coop like this awhile ago. She is extremely lethargic, resting with her head down and eyes closed as you can see. I don't see any obvious sign of injury or illness; yet clearly she isn't well. She's part of a flock of 34 and none of the others show any sign of illness. She is currently secluded in a crate in the house.

I've mixed some Corid (just in case) and I've gotten a bit of that into her with an eye dropper. Then I added some nutra-drench and she's received a few eye droppers of that as well.

I know that it's impossible to diagnose, but based on your experiences, is there anything else I can look for, or do, to possibly bring her around without knowing exactly what's wrong with her?

She's a sweet hen, I want to do everything I can.

Thanks kindly!

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your sick hen. Are you having very hot weather now? When you found her, could she stand and walk at all? Can she raise her head or is it stuck down? Has she been fairly high in the pecking order or has she been more of a meek hen? Has she been laying eggs recently? Corid and vitamin B1 thiamine should not be given together, since Corid mimics thiamine in the coccidia organism. So right now, I would give her the electrolytes orally up to 3 ml today. Then you can give the Corid in the water and stop the vitamins for 5 days. I would mix some chicken feed and water, and offer some soft chopped scrambled egg and offer it. It may take some time figuring out her problem. Dehydration, reproductive or crop problems, or an intestinal problem could be possible.

 

[Cotton Hill Chick]

Sorry about your sick hen. Are you having very hot weather now? When you found her, could she stand and walk at all? Can she raise her head or is it stuck down? Has she been fairly high in the pecking order or has she been more of a meek hen? Has she been laying eggs recently? Corid and vitamin B1 thiamine should not be given together, since Corid mimics thiamine in the coccidia organism. So right now, I would give her the electrolytes orally up to 3 ml today. Then you can give the Corid in the water and stop the vitamins for 5 days. I would mix some chicken feed and water, and offer some soft chopped scrambled egg and offer it. It may take some time figuring out her problem. Dehydration, reproductive or crop problems, or an intestinal problem could be possible.

Will try to answer your questions...
We have had a stretch of weather in the 90's with heat index over 100. That broke 2 days ago, now we are in the 80's and 60's at night.. Stand and walk: she tried to move away from me, yes. Head: she can raise it, but mainly keeps it down. Pecking order: she's a friendly hen, perhaps mid-to-lower pecking order but not last.

To clarify: stop Corid now. Just go with the vitamins today? Then Corid starts tomorrow, 5 days and no vitamins with it?

Symptom Update: She fights against the eye dropper now, and when she moves away from it she goes topsy-turvy then rights herself. This last time she pooped on me, and it was mainly white and not much of it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, I would get her hydrated, give the Nutri-Drench for the day along with water.
You can give Corid tomorrow if you wish, but don't mix the 2.

When is the last time she laid an egg? Any bloat/swelling or fluid in the abdomen? Is her crop full and puffy or do you notice any stinky breath?

 

[Cotton Hill Chick]

I agree, I would get her hydrated, give the Nutri-Drench for the day along with water.
You can give Corid tomorrow if you wish, but don't mix the 2.

When is the last time she laid an egg? Any bloat/swelling or fluid in the abdomen? Is her crop full and puffy or do you notice any stinky breath?

Hi Wyorp Rock,
Got Penny to an avian vet yesterday evening. He suspects these, roughly in order: wry neck, Marek's, internal parasites, and she may be picky with food, not getting enough nutrition. She is underweight, dehydrated, and her crop was fairly empty (no surprise there, she's be isolated and only eating what I can get in her by hand). She received fluids at the vet, and she's receiving 400 i.u. Vitamin E a day now, continuing on electrolytes, and any food I can get her to eat. The vet said he has seen quick improvement in birds with wry neck on Vitamin E, so time will tell. I've also got a vial for a poop sample, if she poops, to look for internal parasites. I'm glad we got in to the vet, it's great for her and an education for me.

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi Sorry your girl is not well, and glad you got to see vet, and having meds.
Have you tried giving her scrambled egg, with a TBLS of fresh liver blended, up
and add it to egg, i find this has helped my girls, when they have been lerthargic.
You could also give some plain yogurt with some chopped up parsley, as that will help
as well. Even if she eats a little at a time. Hope she recovers soon.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that the vet thinks it might be Mareks. The best way to confirm this is to get a necropsy by your state poultry lab someday if she dies. Many things can look lime Mareks, so I would keep that in mind. Here is a link for most state vets and poultry labs for a necropsy:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi Wyorp Rock,
Got Penny to an avian vet yesterday evening. He suspects these, roughly in order: wry neck, Marek's, internal parasites, and she may be picky with food, not getting enough nutrition. She is underweight, dehydrated, and her crop was fairly empty (no surprise there, she's be isolated and only eating what I can get in her by hand). She received fluids at the vet, and she's receiving 400 i.u. Vitamin E a day now, continuing on electrolytes, and any food I can get her to eat. The vet said he has seen quick improvement in birds with wry neck on Vitamin E, so time will tell. I've also got a vial for a poop sample, if she poops, to look for internal parasites. I'm glad we got in to the vet, it's great for her and an education for me.

I'm glad you were able to see the vet. Thank you for the update. I hope you see some improvement, please keep us posted.