My chicken is shaking, tail down, not eating much

[TWolfBC]

Hi, I've been raising my chickens for a few years now (about 3), and they've been perfectly healthy until now. Three of them are about 1 year old, the other is about three. When they were chicks, one of my 1-y/o's were quite weak, but getting older she had become much stronger
She was still the most gentle and loving towards humans.

This morning I noticed that she wasn't moving from her spot. She was shaking, almost like she was shivering, except it's 61 degrees F, which is not that cold considering where we are. Her feathers look scruffy, nothing falling out or anything, but like they're thinner and puffed up.

Her tail is down and she's not sitting or standing, a sort of in between. When I picked her up, she was very weak. Usually she tries to squirm a little, but she was just limp. Her eyes were closing and opening, and yesterday evening she was similar. (yesterday she was standing and fully alert, nothing was strange except that her beak was open and she was standing in the same spot). She still appears to be alert, but very, very weak. She drank some water and ate a little bit of scratch when offered, but not her usual pellet food.

I have her in a separate box from her sisters, just in case, with some bedding and a small cup of shallow water next to her. I'm still not sure if she wants to eat, but I also have a little bit of food next to her.

The box is inside the house, to keep her warmer.

Please help!

**edit: she is an americauna (easter egger)

 

[evelynchicks]

I just came back from the vet with my hen. She is only 8 months old and had all those symptoms that you described. I was worried to see her lethargic, sort of sad, closing her eyes like sleeping with a little trouble breathing. The vet did an x-ray because I thought it was egg bound, but she saw her lungs and told me it was pneumonia. I was given Baytril. Hopefully that will help her. I hope yours feels better.

 

[azygous]

How long exactly has she been sick? Was she laying regularly before this? Were any eggs thin-shelled or soft? What does her poop look like?

Do you have a compost pile where you dispose of rotting food? If so, was any mold on it?

 

[TWolfBC]

How long exactly has she been sick? Was she laying regularly before this? Were any eggs thin-shelled or soft? What does her poop look like?

Do you have a compost pile where you dispose of rotting food? If so, was any mold on it?

She was fine yesterday, but only started to show symptoms this morning. She had also laid an egg yesterday.

Only her first few eyes were thin-shelled, but after that they were perfectly fine. Her poop was fine, and today she had not pooped so far that I know of.

We don't have a compost pile. Their water is one of the nipple waterers, so I don't think there was anything rotten in it?

Thank you

 

[azygous]

She could have eaten a darkling beetle and gotten a dose of botulism toxin. Have you seen them in your run or coop? It can make a chicken very sick very quickly, and unless you get them on an antibiotic immediately, they are likely to die.

Darkling beetles are usually ignored by chickens, but occasionally chickens will eat them. These beetles exist in rank, damp spaces where the toxin thrives, so control of darkling beetles around chicken coops and runs is a very wise practice. I use Elector PSP, a biological insect control that's very long acting and non-toxic.

Get her on an antibiotic and I hope it's not too late. I should have suggested it sooner.

 

[TWolfBC]

She could have eaten a darkling beetle and gotten a dose of botulism toxin. Have you seen them in your run or coop? It can make a chicken very sick very quickly, and unless you get them on an antibiotic immediately, they are likely to die.

Darkling beetles are usually ignored by chickens, but occasionally chickens will eat them. These beetles exist in rank, damp spaces where the toxin thrives, so control of darkling beetles around chicken coops and runs is a very wise practice. I use Elector PSP, a biological insect control that's very long acting and non-toxic.

Get her on an antibiotic and I hope it's not too late. I should have suggested it sooner.

I don't think it was botulism. I had my mother check her for bugs (since I have very bad eyesight) and she said she might have found some small bugs on her. They look like poultry lice. Would lice make her that sick? She isn't shaking as much now, and ate a little bit of tomato.
We don't have beetles much at all near the coop, I've never seen an unusual one near them except for rolly-pollies and worms and other regulars.
She's still pretty lethargic but she's fallen asleep now. We covered the cardboard box with a towel to keep her warmer in the evening.

 

[TWolfBC]

We also dusted her with Diatomaceous Eartha few hours ago.

 

[azygous]

DE won't cure lice. You need permethrin or some other poultry dust. No. Lice will not make a chicken sick.

You didn't answer my question about the compost and rotting vegetable matter.

You may never see darkling beetles. You need to tip over rocks and other items they hide under. They are about half inch long and black.

What does her crop feel like this morning? Is it empty? Is it full? If so, is it soft and squishy or is there a hard lump?

 

[TWolfBC]

DE won't cure lice. You need permethrin or some other poultry dust. No. Lice will not make a chicken sick.

You didn't answer my question about the compost and rotting vegetable matter.

You may never see darkling beetles. You need to tip over rocks and other items they hide under. They are about half inch long and black.

What does her crop feel like this morning? Is it empty? Is it full? If so, is it soft and squishy or is there a hard lump?

We have no compost pile, there's a separate community one in our neighborhood.
Her crop seems to be full, or at least there's something in there, and soft.

This morning we went to check up on her and she's now standing up and alert. She stopped shaking and ate both chicken feed and tomatoes. Is she better now? When should I officially say she's healthy?

 

[Dani & Mikey]

She could have eaten a darkling beetle and gotten a dose of botulism toxin. Have you seen them in your run or coop? It can make a chicken very sick very quickly, and unless you get them on an antibiotic immediately, they are likely to die.

Darkling beetles are usually ignored by chickens, but occasionally chickens will eat them. These beetles exist in rank, damp spaces where the toxin thrives, so control of darkling beetles around chicken coops and runs is a very wise practice. I use Elector PSP, a biological insect control that's very long acting and non-toxic.

Get her on an antibiotic and I hope it's not too late. I should have suggested it sooner.

Holy crap. I had not heard of this before! Adding it to my list of things to to reaearch. Thanks!

Op, I hope your chicken gets feeling better soon! I have no advice to offer being very new but I do know chicken love. Sending hugs & prayers!