- Oct 8, 2010
- 832
- 388
- 241
Hey, just want to chime in here..
I think this is EYP. I'm sorry to say that. If you get some antibiotics to your hen now, I think you can save her, at least for now. She is defiinitely very ill. If she's not eating at all, (and her green poop indicates this) then you should try and tube feed her. Don't wait too long on doing this because time is of the essence. A bird that is not eating is one that is typically in pain, from something. I would've agreed with (I'm sorry I forget who it was) about her neck being lowered like that being a normal chicken resting position atnight, but looking over Margo's photos it shows her doing this also during the day. I agree, it seems indicative of something. I find it very odd.
Why not try a round of antibiotics? I think its a good place to start. If its bacterial, then she'll be helped. If its EYP it will temporarily help her feel better until you decide what to do about it. (Sorry, its not curable, though you can have her get an operation that the survival rate is 50/50- two of my hens did not make it, but the vet said it was because I waited too long.. they need to be strong to go through the surgery, when they are weakened by not eating and being sick, its when the other pathogens and stuff start to take a toll on the bird's ability to recover) I don't think its worms, but heck, I've been wrong about my birds not having worms before, so worming with Valbazen is a good start as well.
I've seen that stance in my one of my hens with EYP before- she was not so enlarged, but please understand that they don' t have to have very extended abdomens to have complications. All that has to happen is that the blockage within the tubes gets so big that it will burst and cause infection. She doesn't look like she's having a major emergency (I mean immediate emergency) but she could be fighting infection from such a thing. That's why I suggest antibiotics. The vet gave me some antibiotics to help save my hen and it did perk her up. Her body still had this blockage though and within a year she did die from it. Its a terrible insidious disease. Its a shame that so many poor hens suffer from it. Its the most prevalent form of death for my flock of 7 years- and I FREERANGE too! Like I said, I had two of my sick hens operated on- neither one made it, but some people's hens have done ok after. Again, I want to stress you can do this still if you tube feed her and get her some antibiotics now. Can you take her to a vet? I know I am lucky to have a vet that will try with my chickens and that not everyone else is lucky to find an experienced or willing vet to help.
So definitely keep her with the flock and let her freerange (unless she is too sick to run away form predators, then keep her in). Birds get depressed being away from the group. Being with the group will perk them up and encourage them to survive. This is good spirit to have, but eventually she will need some attention with this problem. As far as what antibiotic to use... It would probably be best to have a vet perscribe. I think if all I had to give was over the counter meds, I'd choose duramyacin 10. Not sure if that would help, but heck its worth a try.
You are doing a great job with her. I'm sorry you and her are going through this. Its never easy. OH and also someone mentioned ascites- Yes, if its that, you will have to drain her and she will feel instantly better. Its rather easy to do, though kinda gross and difficult to poke a needle into your bird like that, but you will see how they will be relieved. If her abdomen is swollen just a bit you might want to look into that as well. If her comb is turning dark brackish colors, then it could be something with her heart.
Keep trying! Sometimes these things can get better! As I said, with one of my hens I had her for a good year more before EYP took her. She was healthy for most of those days. She was an older hen though, so not much egg laying going on for it to be a quick ordeal.
I think this is EYP. I'm sorry to say that. If you get some antibiotics to your hen now, I think you can save her, at least for now. She is defiinitely very ill. If she's not eating at all, (and her green poop indicates this) then you should try and tube feed her. Don't wait too long on doing this because time is of the essence. A bird that is not eating is one that is typically in pain, from something. I would've agreed with (I'm sorry I forget who it was) about her neck being lowered like that being a normal chicken resting position atnight, but looking over Margo's photos it shows her doing this also during the day. I agree, it seems indicative of something. I find it very odd.
Why not try a round of antibiotics? I think its a good place to start. If its bacterial, then she'll be helped. If its EYP it will temporarily help her feel better until you decide what to do about it. (Sorry, its not curable, though you can have her get an operation that the survival rate is 50/50- two of my hens did not make it, but the vet said it was because I waited too long.. they need to be strong to go through the surgery, when they are weakened by not eating and being sick, its when the other pathogens and stuff start to take a toll on the bird's ability to recover) I don't think its worms, but heck, I've been wrong about my birds not having worms before, so worming with Valbazen is a good start as well.
I've seen that stance in my one of my hens with EYP before- she was not so enlarged, but please understand that they don' t have to have very extended abdomens to have complications. All that has to happen is that the blockage within the tubes gets so big that it will burst and cause infection. She doesn't look like she's having a major emergency (I mean immediate emergency) but she could be fighting infection from such a thing. That's why I suggest antibiotics. The vet gave me some antibiotics to help save my hen and it did perk her up. Her body still had this blockage though and within a year she did die from it. Its a terrible insidious disease. Its a shame that so many poor hens suffer from it. Its the most prevalent form of death for my flock of 7 years- and I FREERANGE too! Like I said, I had two of my sick hens operated on- neither one made it, but some people's hens have done ok after. Again, I want to stress you can do this still if you tube feed her and get her some antibiotics now. Can you take her to a vet? I know I am lucky to have a vet that will try with my chickens and that not everyone else is lucky to find an experienced or willing vet to help.
So definitely keep her with the flock and let her freerange (unless she is too sick to run away form predators, then keep her in). Birds get depressed being away from the group. Being with the group will perk them up and encourage them to survive. This is good spirit to have, but eventually she will need some attention with this problem. As far as what antibiotic to use... It would probably be best to have a vet perscribe. I think if all I had to give was over the counter meds, I'd choose duramyacin 10. Not sure if that would help, but heck its worth a try.
You are doing a great job with her. I'm sorry you and her are going through this. Its never easy. OH and also someone mentioned ascites- Yes, if its that, you will have to drain her and she will feel instantly better. Its rather easy to do, though kinda gross and difficult to poke a needle into your bird like that, but you will see how they will be relieved. If her abdomen is swollen just a bit you might want to look into that as well. If her comb is turning dark brackish colors, then it could be something with her heart.
Keep trying! Sometimes these things can get better! As I said, with one of my hens I had her for a good year more before EYP took her. She was healthy for most of those days. She was an older hen though, so not much egg laying going on for it to be a quick ordeal.
