Hopefully someone's experience or research can help me pin down what I'm dealing with, as just 'going to the vet' is not an option around here despite how ideal and easy that option could be.
I have a 1.5 yr old jersey giant hen that came out of the coop one morning wobbly and off balance - as if she was drunk. She could walk and had her normal desire to start foraging and scratching, but just significantly off balance. I have had her inside since noticing that, for about 9 days.
The particulars:
They are all confined to a large run (no free ranging). There are some (no more than 4-5) field mice that get into the run some how, and I am ever working to eradicate them only to have a new batch show up some weeks later. Not sure if hens can eat their poop and get sick, or get parasites??
They have all been molting so I haven't dewormed them. But there are no signs of worm issues. Everyone else seems fine (as fine as they can be when molting).
They all get the same mash grain, grubs scattered in the morning, and an occasional vegetable treat.
Since I brought her in, I've added vitamins and electrolytes to her water (homemade electrolyte solution with Poultry cell), then switched from poultry cell to another supplement that I add to the electrolyte water - vetafarm multivet molting supp). I I also added some b vitamins to her mash for a few days, but after a couple days she stopped eating it, so I haven't added anymore. I also have been feeding her raw garlic for about 3-4 days. That's when I really noticed her balance getting better (maybe it was the vitamins, maybe the garlic, maybe both??). Since I've brought her in, her balance has gotten ALOT better - pretty much back to normal - she can preen, or scratch her face without falling over. Her appetite is good and she is drinking.
BUT, I'm still dealing with watery stool. It started out at the beginning of the week with a strong, fowl smelling odor (usually in the morning) but throughout the day, the smell isn't that strong. And now, it really doesn't have an abnormal smell to it. Also, starting yesterday, I've noticed grit in her stool that I have left for her to have free access. I've never noticed grit in any of my chicken's stools before....is this normal? Maybe I'm just noticing it because hers is so clear and watery? I was hoping the garlic would help clear up any bacterial or fungal issue, since I can't test to see exactly what I'm dealing with, I didn't want to just start giving her antibiotics and antifungals randomly.
Her crop seems to be working fine. She hasn't laid any eggs, but her abdomen feels normal - no bloating or tightness, or lumps. She seems to be fine, less the loose stool. I thought that I might take her back out in a separate area within the run, with the rest of the flock so she won't start getting depressed, and can dust bathe if she wants, but I hesitate to do that in case this could be something contagious.
Has anyone else seen a combination of these symptoms in a molting hen (watery stool and balance issues)? Does anyone have any suggestions of what worked for them, that I haven't tried? There's nothing online that I can find so far that connects these symptoms to anything. I will try to post a pic of her stool as soon as I can.
Thanks in advance!
I have a 1.5 yr old jersey giant hen that came out of the coop one morning wobbly and off balance - as if she was drunk. She could walk and had her normal desire to start foraging and scratching, but just significantly off balance. I have had her inside since noticing that, for about 9 days.
The particulars:
They are all confined to a large run (no free ranging). There are some (no more than 4-5) field mice that get into the run some how, and I am ever working to eradicate them only to have a new batch show up some weeks later. Not sure if hens can eat their poop and get sick, or get parasites??
They have all been molting so I haven't dewormed them. But there are no signs of worm issues. Everyone else seems fine (as fine as they can be when molting).
They all get the same mash grain, grubs scattered in the morning, and an occasional vegetable treat.
Since I brought her in, I've added vitamins and electrolytes to her water (homemade electrolyte solution with Poultry cell), then switched from poultry cell to another supplement that I add to the electrolyte water - vetafarm multivet molting supp). I I also added some b vitamins to her mash for a few days, but after a couple days she stopped eating it, so I haven't added anymore. I also have been feeding her raw garlic for about 3-4 days. That's when I really noticed her balance getting better (maybe it was the vitamins, maybe the garlic, maybe both??). Since I've brought her in, her balance has gotten ALOT better - pretty much back to normal - she can preen, or scratch her face without falling over. Her appetite is good and she is drinking.
BUT, I'm still dealing with watery stool. It started out at the beginning of the week with a strong, fowl smelling odor (usually in the morning) but throughout the day, the smell isn't that strong. And now, it really doesn't have an abnormal smell to it. Also, starting yesterday, I've noticed grit in her stool that I have left for her to have free access. I've never noticed grit in any of my chicken's stools before....is this normal? Maybe I'm just noticing it because hers is so clear and watery? I was hoping the garlic would help clear up any bacterial or fungal issue, since I can't test to see exactly what I'm dealing with, I didn't want to just start giving her antibiotics and antifungals randomly.
Her crop seems to be working fine. She hasn't laid any eggs, but her abdomen feels normal - no bloating or tightness, or lumps. She seems to be fine, less the loose stool. I thought that I might take her back out in a separate area within the run, with the rest of the flock so she won't start getting depressed, and can dust bathe if she wants, but I hesitate to do that in case this could be something contagious.
Has anyone else seen a combination of these symptoms in a molting hen (watery stool and balance issues)? Does anyone have any suggestions of what worked for them, that I haven't tried? There's nothing online that I can find so far that connects these symptoms to anything. I will try to post a pic of her stool as soon as I can.
Thanks in advance!
I will take her back out tomorrow for another afternoon and then place her in the coop after the lights have gone out. My roo, Fergus, was very pleased to see her and immediately started dancing for her. Chickens are so much fun 
