Little Hen seems tired and listless

[kinnip]

At 5 mo. she should be fully feathered and o.k. in those temperatures. Is she laying yet? Have you been able to check the state of her poo?

 

[Biddieacres]

A typical healthy hen should be very plucky and chatty and pecking around 12,000 times per day. I hate to say it but if she is listless and standing alone there is something wrong. I had the same exact problem, I tried sugar water but it did not work. I wish I had tried some sort of antibiotic. A little antibiotic in the water can't hurt. I hope she is OK and you get to the bottom of this.

 

[kinnip]

Not all antibiotics are effective against all bacteria. If you give her one randomly, you may do more harm than good. There will be other symptoms in addition to the listlessness. Pale comb, ruffled feathers, mites, impacted crop, overly mushy crop, weird poo, swelling in the abdomen or of the comb, nasal discharge, gasping, etc. Once you have sufficient data, you should be able to diagnose the problem, at least to the extent that you know which body systems are being affected. Even broad spectrum antibiotics target finite groups of bacteria. Isolation is mostly for purposes of observation. If you think you can collect enough data without isolating her, then continue with what you're doing. The poo is really important!! It may not be bacterial at all. It could be worms or some other parasite, or any number of other conditions that can be worsened by the administration of antibiotics. Get more data. If she doesn't appear to be worsening, don't panic. Take your time and do it right. I'll keep checking back and there are a lot more folks here with more knowledge than I.

 

[Biddieacres]

I didn't realize antibiotic could actually cause harm. It is the only thing I didn't try for mine and I always wished I had. Mine had no other signs at all. She looked perfect. Just listless.

 

[sammi]

describe the droppings..color and consistency

has she been laying eggs?
when did she last lay an egg?
would you describe her walk as a "Penguin Stance"?
any drainage from vent?
any heat or swelling in the belly or vent area?

how is the comb? pale? cold? hot?

any other symptoms?
any wheezing in the chest?
any swelling or drainage of the eyes?

have you checked the crop?

 

[kinnip]

Quote:
If the problem is parasitic or dietary, the disruption of the birds natural flora can cause vulnerability. Like humans, they can't rely totally on meds to clear up a problem. Their own immune system has got to help out and gut flora is very important in this respect.

 

[Poonchie's Mama]

I followed her around the yard until she pooed. It was caramel color, a little runny with just a slight streak of white at the top. Her comb it pretty non-existant, just barely sticks up. I tried to upload a photo of her, but couldnt get it to work last night. She was sitting inn the middle of the run with her head tucked under her wing.
As I said, I am TOTALLY new to chickens. I tried to feel her crop, but I really dont know what I am feeling for.
Also, she is not laying yet. I think she is about 5 months old.

 

[kinnip]

Sounds like a cecal poo, which is normal, especially if it's smelly. Keep an eye out for a firmer poo, or at least, one that doesn't look quite as creamy (pardon the description). 2-3 times a day birds empty their ceca, vestigial loops in the digestive system. There are different species of parasites that inhabit the ceca v. the intestines. The behavior you're describing sounds a lot like worms. If you just can't find any other symptoms, that's what I would assume is the issue. You'll have to decide what kind of wormer to use. My current favourite is Eprinex, it is not labeled for use in chickens. Ivermectin is my next choice, it too is not labeled for use in chickens. Both Eprinex and ivermectin are broad spectrum wormers which can be used topically or internally. Wazine is labeled for chickens, but only kills roundworms. Use the BYC search function and google to get more opinions on these products before you make a decision. There are withholding times for these products, but since she's not laying, you likely won't have to worry about it.

When you feel the crop, it should feel soft and sacklike, not too pendulous. It should be full in the evenings and empty in the mornings, but never hard. It's really difficult to miss an impacted crop. Often they stick out so far that they're visible. 5 months is pretty close to laying age, which could be the problem. Regardless, a wormer is unlikely to hurt her.

 

[Poonchie's Mama]

Well, I went to Fleet Farm today to get some Sulmet and Amprolium. Should I administer these? I was reading a different post and my hens symptoms sounded just like the OP but mine does not have bloody stools (not that I have seen anyway). Do you think it is cocci?

 

[kinnip]

If she's been showing symptoms for a couple of days, there would be blood in the stool by now were it coccidiosis. 5 months is a little old for coccidiosis, too. Worms are more likely. if it's worms, you need a wormer. Sulmet and Amprolium are coccidiostats which have limited effect on bacterial infections.