Lost 2 hens to similar symptoms. Looking for advice

[FiddleChics]

I've read this thread, and I've got a similar situation with my 10 month old Australorp hen. This is my first flock... so this is all new for me, so I'm not sure. It's January, cold & snowy and her laying's slowed WAY down to almost nothing. She seems like she's not her regular chirpy self (not laying & so no 'egg songs'). She's the lowest in the pecking order, and patiently waits her turn for treats or food, but when she's digging around in the run, she will stand her ground if another hen tries to butt in... which makes me happy to see her stand up for herself. But what concerns me, is her comb seems to have noticeably shrunk in the past week or so... which has caught my attention. I have them all on layer pellets, probios, ACV, garlic & keep treats to a minimum... being yogurt or Sunday hot mash w/ herbs... So regular diet... So, this is probably a really dumb question... but can combs be effected by... shrinkage in the cold? Here's a photo of her... Last Nov and yesterday... My other hen's combs have not had any shrinkage... so I'm a bit baffled. Any ideas or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's January, cold & snowy and her laying's slowed WAY down to almost nothing. She seems like she's not her regular chirpy self (not laying & so no 'egg songs'). She's the lowest in the pecking order, and patiently waits her turn for treats or food

what concerns me, is her comb seems to have noticeably shrunk in the past week or so

So, this is probably a really dumb question... but can combs be effected by... shrinkage in the cold?

A comb can shrink or go pale when a hen/pullet is not in lay. Since she has slowed down and is not laying many eggs this could be the reason why. Chickens that are starting to molt can also have shrinking of the comb as well.

It's not unheard of for a 10month old to begin molting. Have you looked her over well for any signs of molting/new feather growth. I would start at the head/neck and work my way through her feathers just to see. While you're at it, look for signs of lice/mites.

 

[FiddleChics]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock... I didn't know combs could do that, but it makes total sense now that you've said it... especially with the decrease of her egg production. And I hadn't even thought of molting at all, as she's only 10 months old... but maybe?! I will check her for new feathers & new quills -this morning when I go out to clean. I hadn't thought of that at all, because she is very plush & plumpy... but maybe it's starting! And actually... few days ago, I noticed a 3 or 4 smaller feathers under the roosting bars... but none since...so I chalked it up to the other girls, who do peck at her a bit... being lowest in their rank... (My one, big red hen is a borderline bully).
Initially, when I noticed this, I checked her & the other girls over for lice/ mites... but they were all clear. I dust the roosting bars with DE every month or so, and use first saturday Lime... (when they're all out of the coop) - and haven't ever had a problem with lice or mites.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock... I didn't know combs could do that, but it makes total sense now that you've said it... especially with the decrease of her egg production. And I hadn't even thought of molting at all, as she's only 10 months old... but maybe?! I will check her for new feathers & new quills -this morning when I go out to clean. I hadn't thought of that at all, because she is very plush & plumpy... but maybe it's starting! And actually... few days ago, I noticed a 3 or 4 smaller feathers under the roosting bars... but none since...so I chalked it up to the other girls, who do peck at her a bit... being lowest in their rank... (My one, big red hen is a borderline bully).
Initially, when I noticed this, I checked her & the other girls over for lice/ mites... but they were all clear. I dust the roosting bars with DE every month or so, and use first saturday Lime... (when they're all out of the coop) - and haven't ever had a problem with lice or mites.

Check her over and let us know what you find out.

 

[FiddleChics]

I checked her (Opal) over, and saw no mites or bugs... I saw a few random quills, but nothing remarkable.
However... I found this poop on the tray under the roosting bars... I know where she generally sits (and I have cameras in the coop and check on them periodically at night via the cameras)... this poop was under where she usually sits. SO... this morning, I went out to clean, then watched them until they pooped... everyone's looks like normal poop... but this Australorp looks like it's liquidy poop... so it's definitely her.

Ok, and one big variable I totally forgot about - I wormed them all last Thursday. (5 days ago) A friend who raises chickens & is married to a vet, told me I should routinely worm them every 6 months with Ivermetin. I have had horses for 25 years, & had Equimax (Ivermectin) on hand, so each hen got a small, freckle sized dot (that would fit at the end of a tooth pick) last Thursday. I figured now was a good time to worm, since everyone's laying has slowed down anyway... and it would be less eggs wasted in the withdraw period. I"m sorry for the grossness... but here's the poop I found: I feel sick...

 

[Eggcessive]

I would be concerned about that bright yellow material in the dropping. Does it look like cooked egg matter? Sometimes that kind of dropping can indicate egg matter from internal laying, E.coli infection, and in rarer cases that is seen in blackhead disease, more a disease of turkeys, but rare in chickens. I would get a fecal float, but at least look for signs of egg material or an enlarged lower abdomen due to possible internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis.

Ivermectin has been thought to have lost effectiveness in chickens. Some use Equimax for tapeworms, but for the praziquantel, not the ivermectin. A larger dose is given—0.033 ml per pound (about 0.16 ml for a 5 pound chicken.) I would get some SafeGuard or Panacur, and give 1/4 or 0.25 ml per pound for 5 straight days. That would treat most bad and good worms.

 

[FiddleChics]

I was just reading/researching this and saw info about blackhead disease & egg yolk peritonitis... oof... (trying not to freak ou)t. Ok, if it's there tomorrow, I can scrape it up for a fecal float for sure.

I don't think it really looks like cooked egg... it was thin, watery... could it be worms being expelled? I can kinda see little dots in the yellow... gross, idk...

I did get a good feel of her... & didn't feel anything unusual, hard or distended... It didn't seem to hurt her either. I'm not sure what I'd do for an E.coli infection? I will get the SafeGuard, good idea... I didn't know that about the ivermectin for chickens, but do rotate the wormers with the horses... so that makes sense. She's about 5 lbs... so how do I get 1.25 ml's... (.25ml x 5)... I got it... 1.25 ml = .25 of a teaspoon... so it's 1/4 teaspoon... ok!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Agreed, the poop does look like it has egg matter in it. I would check her abdomen for swelling/bloat or fluid.

Eggcessive gave you good information about the dosing of Ivermectin which is give by the pound instead of a drop. I would also prefer to use Safeguard (Fenbendazole) or even Valbazen.
Since your friend's husband is a vet, ask if he can perform fecal float to check for worms and gram stain for infection.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's about 5 lbs... so how do I get 1.25 ml's... (.25ml x 5)... I got it... 1.25 ml = .25 of a teaspoon... so it's 1/4 teaspoon... ok!

For the Safeguard (Fenbendazole) get the Liquid Goat Wormer and some syringes.
Draw up the correct dosage and give it to her that way.

 

[FiddleChics]

Wow! Much easier @Wyorp Rock Thank you! And @Eggcessive, thank you both... Ok... I'll go back out and feel her again... where would the swelling be exaclty? I'm not sure where her abdomen is... under the crop?