My Hen Izzie Floppy Pale Comb Too Weak to Walk PLEASE HELP!!! 5th day!

[tammye]

so sorry your hen is not doing well. I am also new and can offer little advice except to try and give her some food and water. I get concerned when I read that people administer a bunch of meds without really knowing what is going on, some may be harmful to an already weak hen. You can search each of these possible infections in the BYC search engine, you may find some simular symptoms to help you to Dx her problem. She is lucky to have you and your daughter as her care takers, some humans are as well taken care of. Good luck, i hope she gets better.

 

[my1smthop]

Highlander, Ranchh and Tammye, thank you all for you kind messages and support. Sorry I got frustrated this morning, I just know that my window for helping her is closing very quickly and it breaks my heart that I am unable to help her get better. I am a huge animal lover and my hens are my first adventure outside of dogs and cats. They are my silly fat ladies and they are my babies just as much as my dogs and cats are.

Jenski,

I felt her crop this morning and it was flat. I don't think she's taken in enough food to fill it. Also her breast bone is sticking out and she is VERY THIN. No meat that I could fill on the sides of her breast bone, but I was in a hurry so maybe I didn't feel right. I will check again when I get home this evening.

I gave her some tetramycin mixed in her water this morning with her electrolytes and vitamins. I syringed her about 5ml worth before leaving for work. I did not give her the ivermectin this morning and since you said she doesn't look wormey I guess that was a good thing! She was snapping her beak like she was ready to eat. I offered yogurt and some softened layer feed. She took very little yogurt and would not have the feed. She doesn't have any cuts that I can find although I haven't looked under her. I pressed against one of her feet this morning and she pushed back slightly, so that's good, right?

Should I stop the Tetramycin and give Amox? The local vet will not give me any amox since unless he sees the animal but he doesn't treat birds period. I have some amox left from my 6 year olds ear infection, would that work? Can I get it at like the Tractor Supply I wonder?

I was thinking about getting some baby parrot food adding her vitamins, mixing it up and syringing it to her this evening if she's still with me. What do you think?

How do I check to see if she is egg bound?

 

[oliviad51]

Is she standing on her hocks all day? Does she seem very alert ans bright except the walking problem? If so, I think me and you are having the same problem. I have seen at least 10 other people on BYC that are having the same problem. I am replying and subscribing to all of the posts I see with this problem. My hen has had this problem for about 4 months now. She has not laid one egg ever since. I have tried Wazine,yogurt,wheat germ,vit. B,electrolytes, antibiotic, and I believe that's all. Nothing has worked so far. I hope that subscribing to all of the previous topics that are similar to yours, i will find something that works. Good luck and keep us updated please!

 

[my1smthop]

Please forgive my ignorance but which part is her hocks??? LOL! I am such a newbie! She doesn't stand at all now because she is too weak. She is at the point of just laying on her side and if you move her she stretches out her neck in an attempt to re-balance herself. Poor girl!

 

[oliviad51]

In other words, is she standing on her legs other then her feet.

 

[Jenski]

Courtesy of http://4hembryology.psu.edu/c-biology.html

 

[my1smthop]

Quote:
At first I believe yes she was, but now she is sitting. It seems due to weakness because when I pick her up she will wrap her toes around my finger.

 

[my1smthop]

Okay...Izzie is a little better this morning. Was smacking her beak lips together again like she's ready to eat. Last night I fed her baby parrot food with honey and egg yolk and bird vitamins in it via syringe. If I get in her mouth she will take it. Then she also got another dose of tetramycin in her electrolyted water via syringe. This morning she got the same but I also cooked some rolled oats and mixed in the baby parrot food. I rolled up the oat baby parrot food mixture and placed it in the middle of her mouth then followed with syringed medicated water and she ate it! She ate about 5 of these and she ate some solid egg yolk that way too. She started looking at the food like she wanted it but she didn't go after it.

Her crop was empty this morning...flat
Still not walking or standing but she thinks she wants to try a little. Too weak I think still.
Eyes are bright. She liked looking at herself in the mirror while I cleaned her up from breakfast and told her how pretty she was. She was really admiring herself. too cute!

Questions....
1) How do I know if she's getting enough of the tetramycin?
2) I feel her crop as I'm feeding and I've been stopping when it feels like a balloon with just a little water in it..I can push on it but I don't know if I should keep feeding or not. I don't want to overfeed.
3) How do I give her a bath and can I use baby shampoo...what??? Not sure. Her hinney is covered with dark green poo because she can't stand.
4) Can I put a diaper on her to help???

Thank for the anatomy pic Jenski and all your help! Thanks to all of you for putting up with the newbie!

 

[coolchickens]

Hi - Hope your hen is still hanging in there. I'm working with my favorite hen who got chewed up by a racoon and doing basically the same thing, tetracycline in water, Poly Vi baby vitamines ea. AM, egg yolks mashed with yogart but also treating wounds. What I'm wondering about your hen routine that I noticed you mentioned is several times you mentioned you were giving her Ivermectrin. You are not giving this as an option for an antibiotic are you? Ivermectrin is a worming agent, much stronger than Wartzine (sp.?) and there are some good threads re worming with these. Ivermectrin is used only 1 x (as you would worming your dogs 1 x) not every day or you will overdose your hen. It is also recommended not to worm when a chicken is sick as this overstresses their system while dealig with an illness. Also, I just saw a thread for myself re using honey for wound care (strongly recommended by avian vets) but to be careful they can't eat it as it is harmful to them if eaten. I'm worried you are feeding your hen honey. Maybe someone else can jump in on that issue for you. You are doing a wonderful, caring job. We are all with you and hopefully, a little helpful to you. Sharon

 

[Buugette]

Quote:
I think she mentioned that she stopped using the Ivermectrin since the poo shows no signs of worms.

I'm glad you mentioned the Poly Vi Sole (WITHOUT Iron) vitamins. Not sure how they would compare with the baby parrot vitamins she mentions using.

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You are doing everything you can... you are a good chicken mommy... healing vibes coming your way.

D