My hen is very quiet and her wings are drooping...

[spook]

Strangely, I had a chick that had cocci here in the spring, placed her in the cage (in the kitchen of course), medicated, had to feed her yet she would stand for hours and eat shaving particles. She was very thin and in with a wild bunch, in a small area until I got her. Needless to say, it was not cruel conditions, but added to this situation of "what is it". So I put her on bare news paper with shredded paper for a "nest" with a sock filled with shredded paper. At that point she began to clean up the mash that was on the paper and in the dish. After that, she began to perk up, and eat again.
I swear all my animals have pica! LOL. Is this something you can look into or have you covered that base?
I'd continue treating her with the gel the vet gave her, maybe it will relax her enough to let things pass. Even cutting back on fibrous foods and give her softer things, like the grain they eat and yogurt, boost up her energy a bit. (I'm clueless but tossing things out there!)
Lets hope tomorrow she will be 100% better. Have a good night.

 

[rebecca10782]

The vet did suggest Merricks Disease. She thought it would be a good idea to have an atopsy done if she does die.

 

[destorieswind]

She also may have over ate. Sometimes baby chicks do it. Try massaging her crop downward. It will help the food to digest. Sounds crazy but Id give it a shot.

 

[rebecca10782]

Well that is what I was thinking. They all stuff themselves with oatmeal. They loooove it. I don't know this vet, she was the only app I could find yesterday. She was very nice and seemed to be a good vet, but she might not be to educated in birds

Ellie is a Barbanter, so she is not supposed to have a huge chest, but she is underweight. I was thinking mabye if she ate a huge nut or something and hasn't digested it, it could be blocking her crop??? I don't know anything about chicken digestion.

 

[spook]

Now you do offer gravel don't you? I say that accusingly lowering my eyes that I need to refill my area for it....Perhaps she doesn't have grit to grind with. My girls will eat as much as they can, like a shark that hasn't eaten for a year!
Thinking of you. If she is still up and going well tomorrow, don't give her the treats, but perhaps some olive oil? It might "move" things along.

 

[rebecca10782]

They live in the dirt, so they don't need grit. But I was thinking that she might not be getting enough on her own. I will try the olive oil. The vet said it did not look like a burn on her back. We don't have a rooster. But if she does have Merricks, why would her feathers be developing agian. I think if she were dying, she woudl not grow any new feathers.

 

[ruth]

I would suggest you back off on adding DE to their food each day and maybe back off on all the added feed and just give layer crumbles and maybe cooked rice or scrambled egg - soft foods she can eat and digest. The grains and nuts may be too much for her right now and I believe it's possible to eat too much DE. Personally I've never used it. Finally, if all they have is dirt, that is not the same as grit. You need to add some gravel or oyster shell. They need the gravel bits to help digest the food, especially grains and nuts. If they free range, as mine do, they don't need to be fed grit because they will find gravel or bits of pebbles to eat but confined birds in a dirt run do need grit.

I hope she gets better.

 

[sammi]

if she is having any crop or digestion problems, I wouldn't give her any grains or corn.
some hens have problems digesting them..
just try giving the feed, and egg as Ruth suggested.
don't mix the feed with oyster shell, or DE, etc..
grit and oyster shell should be in separate feeders.
but do try giving some oil..you can soak a tiny piece of bread in oil..
and massage the crop..
do give her the vitamins I posted above..
yogurt can sometimes help the digestion process.

describe the droppings..color and consistency.

sometimes worms can cause blockages,, and make them lose their legs..
but if she is very weak..worming, unless you're sure she has them, might be hard on her right now.
did the vet suggest a fecal sample test?
might be a good idea to take a fresh sample to the vet as soon as possible.

fingers crossed for the hen.

 

[rebecca10782]

Thank you so much everyone for your help, but Ellie died yesterday. I loved that bird so much. She was the sweetest thing, I could pick her up and she would put her chin on my shoulder and fall asleep like a baby. I was so bonded to her.

 

[needmorechickens!]

I'm sorry to hear about your girl...I have a sick one now too.
It's crazy how we get so attached to these wonderful birds.
Hugs
~Rebecca