Looking for input with ongoing sick hen!

[rikrak_crackerjack]

I have a year and an half old prairie bluebell hen. A couple of months ago I noticed she was being bullied and by herself. She quit laying then. She also started molting so I attributed some of her behavior to that. She seemed better but now is droopy again. One of her nares is completely covered with what looks like yellow tissue and the other seems kind of blocked too. When she breathes you can see her cheeks sucking in. Her beak is a little disfigured and there is an opening on one side so she is able to breathe that way. I tried softening it and picking it off but it feels like tissue. I suspect canker. I can barely get a good look, and after she is stressed and it seems harder for her to breathe (no pic). It seems difficult for her to eat but she does although slowly. There was one white sore in her mouth. The way she is breathing it seems like more down her throat. I started treating her for trichomoniasis (metronidazole) two days ago. There is no foul odor. This yellow looking tissue has me confused and just wondered if anyone had any input. She has lost weight. She is currently inside being babied. Her poop is normal. Any input appreciated! (Anything white is a bit of yogurt used for the dosing of the met, any shine is from coconut oil to soften and clean it up)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a year and an half old prairie bluebell hen. A couple of months ago I noticed she was being bullied and by herself. She quit laying then. She also started molting so I attributed some of her behavior to that. She seemed better but now is droopy again. One of her nares is completely covered with what looks like yellow tissue and the other seems kind of blocked too. When she breathes you can see her cheeks sucking in. Her beak is a little disfigured and there is an opening on one side so she is able to breathe that way. I tried softening it and picking it off but it feels like tissue. I suspect canker. I can barely get a good look, and after she is stressed and it seems harder for her to breathe (no pic). It seems difficult for her to eat but she does although slowly. There was one white sore in her mouth. The way she is breathing it seems like more down her throat. I started treating her for trichomoniasis (metronidazole) two days ago. There is no foul odor. This yellow looking tissue has me confused and just wondered if anyone had any input. She has lost weight. She is currently inside being babied. Her poop is normal. Any input appreciated! (Anything white is a bit of yogurt used for the dosing of the met, any shine is from coconut oil to soften and clean it up)

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.

It would be a good idea to get a good look inside the beak to see what's going on there.

Is her crop emptying?
Any lice or mites?

Have you ever suspected Marek's disease within your flock? Her eye looks mishappened. This could indicate Ocular Marek's, but there could be other causes.

I would continue to encourage her to eat/drink. Offer vitamins a few times a week.

If you happen to lose her, sending the body for diagnostics would give you the most information. You can find your state lab in this link. https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...RK6d70meu5sgZWTrpUa3hLPEJyJV8fu2GKnQviAMZ3mP-

 

[rikrak_crackerjack]

Hi thank you for

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.

It would be a good idea to get a good look inside the beak to see what's going on there.

Is her crop emptying?
Any lice or mites?

Have you ever suspected Marek's disease within your flock? Her eye looks mishappened. This could indicate Ocular Marek's, but there could be other causes.

I would continue to encourage her to eat/drink. Offer vitamins a few times a week.

If you happen to lose her, sending the body for diagnostics would give you the most information. You can find your state lab in this link. https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...RK6d70meu5sgZWTrpUa3hLPEJyJV8fu2GKnQviAMZ3mP-



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hi, thank you for you reply, it is much appreciated! I meant to put a comment in there that her pupil has been like that since she was a chick. I am not sure if it was an injury or what. I had been concerned and looked at pictures of ocular mareks. I know nothing is conclusive without testing :/ no other hens have any eye symptoms or other symptoms.

No lice or mites, no
Crop issues and normal looking droppings. I know she’s eating becusee the food is gone but when I watch her it’s very slow. I am going to try for a better look in the mouth, everything is stressful to her. Thank you!

 

[CHlCKEN]

When she breathes you can see her cheeks sucking in.

That’s usually normal to see with heavier breathing, it’s just air flowing through the sinus cavity.

I suspect canker. I can barely get a good look, and after she is stressed and it seems harder for her to breathe (no pic). It seems difficult for her to eat but she does although slowly. There was one white sore in her mouth. The way she is breathing it seems like more down her throat. I started treating her for trichomoniasis (metronidazole) two days ago. There is no foul odor.

Canker does sound like it fits here, continue to treat with Metronidazole. I’ve heard some people use Thyme extract in addition. Mainly just focus on making sure she is able to breathe, if the sores in her throat get too large they can block her respiratory tract. It sounds like she’s already having troubling breathing past them.

This yellow looking tissue has me confused and just wondered if anyone had any input.

It’s probably just her normal flesh. Their comb and wattles sometimes dilute to a yellowish tint when they stop laying because that’s the natural pigmentation of it.

She has lost weight. She is currently inside being babied. Her poop is normal. Any input appreciated! (Anything white is a bit of yogurt used for the dosing of the met, any shine is from coconut oil to soften and clean it up)

Good luck, give her all the love you can!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi thank you for

hi, thank you for you reply, it is much appreciated! I meant to put a comment in there that her pupil has been like that since she was a chick. I am not sure if it was an injury or what. I had been concerned and looked at pictures of ocular mareks. I know nothing is conclusive without testing :/ no other hens have any eye symptoms or other symptoms.

No lice or mites, no
Crop issues and normal looking droppings. I know she’s eating becusee the food is gone but when I watch her it’s very slow. I am going to try for a better look in the mouth, everything is stressful to her. Thank you!

One of her nares is completely covered with what looks like yellow tissue and the other seems kind of blocked too. When she breathes you can see her cheeks sucking in.

I suspect canker.

There is no foul odor.

Were you able to get a better look inside the beak?

If there's no foul odor, then it's unlikely you are dealing with Canker.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Were you able to get a better look inside the beak?

If there's no foul odor, then it's unlikely you are dealing with Canker.

What else would cause oral lesions though? Sour crop seems out because her poop is normal and there’s no smell, and fowl (wet) pox feels like it would be more outwardly apparent.

 

[rikrak_crackerjack]

Were you able to get a better look inside the beak?

If there's no foul odor, then it's unlikely you are dealing with Canker.

Hi there, I was able to and it does look yellow ish on the roof of the mouth and one lesion. Still didn’t notice a bad smell. Have you seen anything fungal mouth infections? That is my only other thought. She defintley has difficulty swallowing. Thank you for your comment!

 

[rikrak_crackerjack]

What else would cause oral lesions though? Sour crop seems out because her poop is normal and there’s no smell, and fowl (wet) pox feels like it would be more outwardly apparent.

 

[rikrak_crackerjack]

I realize this is a terrible picture. She’s a tiny gal and her beak is small and I hate to cause more stress for a pic. You can see the roof of her mouth is all yellow and there is one yellow lesion that isn’t very obvious.

 

[rikrak_crackerjack]

That’s usually normal to see with heavier breathing, it’s just air flowing through the sinus cavity.

Canker does sound like it fits here, continue to treat with Metronidazole. I’ve heard some people use Thyme extract in addition. Mainly just focus on making sure she is able to breathe, if the sores in her throat get too large they can block her respiratory tract. It sounds like she’s already having troubling breathing past them.

It’s probably just her normal flesh. Their comb and wattles sometimes dilute to a yellowish tint when they stop laying because that’s the natural pigmentation of it.

Good luck, give her all the love you can!

It’s odd because the rest of her skin in that area is pink/red. The overgrowth of tissue or whatever it is is a different color and texture. It also has completely obscured her nare on that side. It’s not visible at all.