My sick Bantam is better - now this hen is sick....

[cocoloco]

I had 2 hens with yellow runny poop last week-my bantam was lethargic-the other, Gigi, was still very active. I gave them lukewarm baths (to clean the vent area), dosed the flock water with Corid - which has always worked great - and lightly sprayed them with permethrin (noticed a few mites on the bantam) Within 2 days, they were both fine. Last night, before bed, Gigi looked distressed. She had green/yellow diarrhea and she was moving slowly. I brought her into the house, put her in 2" of lukewarm water for 5 min., then put her on a towel to dry her backside. Her vent was moving as though trying to lay (she had laid an egg earlier that day.) All of a sudden, a membrane egg came out of her along with loose green poop. After that she perked up. I gave her 200mg of calcium, put some VetRx on her nostrils and gave her a dropper of Nutri-Drench poultry vitamins. This morning, she is lethargic, I brought her into the house where she has been laying on the cold floor. Her crop is small and squishy. She ate some canned corn (her favorite) and drank a bit - but, basically, she is not eating or drinking. I made an appointment at 4:30 for the vet. Here is a photo of her poop. Any suggestions?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What did the vet find?

 

[cocoloco]

The vet found - through a blood test - that she did indeed have an infection - no shocker threre, I expected as much. She said it could be respiratory - her lungs sounded a bit raspy but she had no other symptoms of that - or gastro. An ultrasound did not reveal fluid in her belly - so they do not think it is Egg Yolk Peritonitis. Her crop was fine, she had no mites, or gapeworms in her throat. She prescribed Amoxycillan and meloxicam for inflamation and pain. (I have Amoxy at home and was going to give her some yesterday morning, but,then decided to wait for the vet.) They gave her fluids and electrolytes. As soon as she got home, she started eating a bit. I got half a pill into her (she's brutal when it comes to pills) - today she is doing much better but I am still keeping her inside to rest. Just gave her a full pill and Meloxicam. I know from her being sick 3 months back that she responds well to Amoxicillin. At that time, I received 2 weeks of Amoxy - this time I got 1 week supply!?! Not sure why. I promised the vet I would check back in 7 days - but I don't want to bring her back in - that's another $100 just to walk through the door. sigh

 

[cocoloco]

oh - forgot to mention - she will now eat and drink anything I put in front of her - unless it has a pill in it!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You are very lucky to have access to a vet that will see chickens even if it is a bit pricey. Glad she's doing better. It's always better that you know what's going on, and that you get the best treatment for what she has.

 

[cocoloco]

I am fortunate. We actually have 3 vets in a 10 mile radius that will see them - but you need to go when their exotic animal dr is on duty. In this case - I was lucky to get that appt - there was a cancellation - and the exotic pet specialist was there. The other 2 vets could not see her until next week. I was dreading the thought of going the whole weekend not knowing what she had or how serious it was. I don't know what it is - this is the 3rd year in a row, I have had a sick chicken right before 4th of July!