Lethargic with diarrhea

[Lord_Maren]

My chicken is sick. She's very thin and not very sure on her feet. She has diarrhea that is basically just water. She was previously sick in May with sour crop that turned into fly strike https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/continued-poopy-butt-after-illness.1662214/. She's been better since, but has not laid an egg since February.

She seems to be eating and drinking, but her crop never feels like it has anything in it and she's so skinny.

Here's a video of how she's acting:

I tried to get a good pic of her poops, but couldn't because they're literally just water with a little brownish gritty substance.

I started Corid just in case. I ordered a dewormer because our Tractor Supply didn't have any.

 

[alinas2010]

Sorry to hear she isn’t doing well. How old is Madge?

I was going to post and say it sounds like she is suffering from a reproductive disorder of some sort, but I see @Wyorp Rock replied to your other thread where you asked about these issues, too.

I know how hard reproductive diseases (cancer, infections, tumors) can be to navigate, I’m so sorry she is going through this.

Is her belly bulgy, below her vent, between her legs area? There could be tumors or built up fluid/pus putting pressure on something internally such as a nerve, which is making her instead on her feet. She could also just be weak and lacking nutrition from being ill. Have you tried giving her probiotics and electrolytes since getting through her illness? If you’re starting corrid, don’t do vitamins, but start them afterwards.

Had she been dewormed since the possible tape worms were pointed out?

 

[Lord_Maren]

Sorry to hear she isn’t doing well. How old is Madge?

I was going to post and say it sounds like she is suffering from a reproductive disorder of some sort, but I see @Wyorp Rock replied to your other thread where you asked about these issues, too.

I know how hard reproductive diseases (cancer, infections, tumors) can be to navigate, I’m so sorry she is going through this.

Is her belly bulgy, below her vent, between her legs area? There could be tumors or built up fluid/pus putting pressure on something internally such as a nerve, which is making her instead on her feet. She could also just be weak and lacking nutrition from being ill. Have you tried giving her probiotics and electrolytes since getting through her illness? If you’re starting corrid, don’t do vitamins, but start them afterwards.

Had she been dewormed since the possible tape worms were pointed out?

Her belly is bulgy below her vent, I think. I'm not really sure what normal is supposed to look like. She's missing feathers because I had to cut a bunch off that were covered in diarrhea.

I know it's not a very good picture but it's the best I could get. It's hard to tell without touching it, but it does feel like a water balloon.

As for worming, I started that today. They've never been wormed before so I figure it's worth a shot. I'm concerned I'm not dosing right though, since the instructions are confusing and I have her isolated. The safeguard instructions are based on the whole flock so I mixed it for the whole flock, divided out into portions by number of chickens, gave her one and put the rest in the main coop waterer.

 

[Lord_Maren]

I feel like being isolated makes her sadder. Should I still do that? I know that's what the guide says to do but I don't know if that's always best.

 

[alinas2010]

Her belly is bulgy below her vent, I think. I'm not really sure what normal is supposed to look like. She's missing feathers because I had to cut a bunch off that were covered in diarrhea.

View attachment 4215503

I know it's not a very good picture but it's the best I could get. It's hard to tell without touching it, but it does feel like a water balloon.

As for worming, I started that today. They've never been wormed before so I figure it's worth a shot. I'm concerned I'm not dosing right though, since the instructions are confusing and I have her isolated. The safeguard instructions are based on the whole flock so I mixed it for the whole flock, divided out into portions by number of chickens, gave her one and put the rest in the main coop waterer.

Try comparing her belly to another hen if you can, that will help you decide. It does sound like she probably is having reproductive issues.

The deworming is a good idea. It may help her feel better. I think your dosing should be good, is she not stable enough to be in with the flock? If she isn’t getting picked on and you can frequently check on her, I’d let her be with the flock. But do keep an eye that they don’t turn on her.

Unfortunately there really isn’t a lot to be done about reproductive issues. You can try an antibiotic, but that will usually just buy her more time and not completely cure the infection. If you have one you’d like to try, let us know and we can help you with dosage. The best thing to do is to make her as comfortable as possible. Try to keep her hydrated and eating. She may indeed be happier with her flock, a lot of times that makes a big difference.

 

[Lord_Maren]

Try comparing her belly to another hen if you can, that will help you decide. It does sound like she probably is having reproductive issues.

The deworming is a good idea. It may help her feel better. I think your dosing should be good, is she not stable enough to be in with the flock? If she isn’t getting picked on and you can frequently check on her, I’d let her be with the flock. But do keep an eye that they don’t turn on her.

Unfortunately there really isn’t a lot to be done about reproductive issues. You can try an antibiotic, but that will usually just buy her more time and not completely cure the infection. If you have one you’d like to try, let us know and we can help you with dosage. The best thing to do is to make her as comfortable as possible. Try to keep her hydrated and eating. She may indeed be happier with her flock, a lot of times that makes a big difference.

Thanks, I'll put her back and keep with the corid and safeguard. I hope she'll be ok but I've been afraid of it being reproductive for a while. For the 1.5 years she laid before she stopped she always laid huge 2-3 yolkers. I knew that would reduce her longevity.

 

[alinas2010]

Thanks, I'll put her back and keep with the corid and safeguard. I hope she'll be ok but I've been afraid of it being reproductive for a while. For the 1.5 years she laid before she stopped she always laid huge 2-3 yolkers. I knew that would reduce her longevity.

I understand the feeling, I’ve been there, too. I’m very sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like she’s been a little trooper through quite a bit. I hope she turns around and improves after the deworming treatment.

 

[Lord_Maren]

I understand the feeling, I’ve been there, too. I’m very sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like she’s been a little trooper through quite a bit. I hope she turns around and improves after the deworming treatment.

Thank you. She does seem much happier to be with the flock.