Need help identifying what's wrong with my hen

[Farmlife16]

Hey everybody,

This evening when I went outside to do my evening chores, I noticed that one of my hens was puffed up and looked "out of it." She also seemed a bit lightweight when I picked her up. I checked her over for mites/lice and didn't notice any infestation. I also checked her vent and it looks normal. The only other "symptom" I've noticed in my flock is a red stringy substance in their droppings. About 2 months ago I noticed the abnormal droppings and got a fecal float test done at my vet; the results came back negative for worms. The redness cleared up and my flock seemed to be acting normal, so I moved on. Now I'm wandering if they have cocci or some other sickness, maybe even worms. Any ideas?
I can post some pics of the droppings tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

 

[STACEYH]

If it is just one having problems,try watching for bullying. Pictures always help.

 

[Farmlife16]

If it is just one having problems,try watching for bullying. Pictures always help.

That's an idea, though my hens seem rank pretty much the same on the pecking order. Could it be the cold? We've had quite a few days this month with snowy and below freezing temps.

 

[STACEYH]

It depends on breed. Pecking order changes often. A lower girl might be trying to edge up.... How is the coop? Enough room? Enough roosting space?

 

[Eggcessive]

Intestinal shed can appear stringy and orangey red, like tomato. If in doubt, I would worm with Valbazen 1/2 ml orally, and repeat it in 10 days. Safeguard liquid goat wormer or horse paste can also be used instead at 1/4 ml orally for 5 days in a row. Coccidiosis usually is more common in young chickens, but could affect a sickly older chicken. Corid is pretty safe to use though. I would check her out really well. Feel of her crop to see if it is empty and flat, full, hard, doughy, or puffy soft. See if it empties by morning. Look her over for mites and lice on her skin under the vent and elsewhere. Does she lay eggs and have they looked normal? I would take her aside and try feeding her some moistened chicken feed, scrambled eggs, and offer water. Poultry NutriDrench is very good 2 ml orally. Stop it if using Corid.

The cold is hard on hens. Whenever I lose an older hen it is during the extreme cold months or during a molt. Pictures of her may be helpful.

 

[Farmlife16]

It depends on breed. Pecking order changes often. A lower girl might be trying to edge up.... How is the coop? Enough room? Enough roosting space?

They have enough space in the coop and get fresh grass every day. I'll keep an eye on the hens to see if there's some bullying going on.

 

[Farmlife16]

Intestinal shed can appear stringy and orangey red, like tomato. If in doubt, I would worm with Valbazen 1/2 ml orally, and repeat it in 10 days. Safeguard liquid goat wormer or horse paste can also be used instead at 1/4 ml orally for 5 days in a row. Coccidiosis usually is more common in young chickens, but could affect a sickly older chicken. Corid is pretty safe to use though. I would check her out really well. Feel of her crop to see if it is empty and flat, full, hard, doughy, or puffy soft. See if it empties by morning. Look her over for mites and lice on her skin under the vent and elsewhere. Does she lay eggs and have they looked normal? I would take her aside and try feeding her some moistened chicken feed, scrambled eggs, and offer water. Poultry NutriDrench is very good 2 ml orally. Stop it if using Corid.

The cold is hard on hens. Whenever I lose an older hen it is during the extreme cold months or during a molt. Pictures of her may be helpful.

I'll check her out again more thoroughly. I think I might send off another fecal test to the vet. I have been getting one less egg everyday for the past week/ week and a half, but its hard to tell if one hen hasn't been laying at all.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

When checking for lice/mites, did you check all around her vent feathers well after dark? Eggcessive shared lots of helpful information and she's very knowledgeable. Any chance you have a picture of the poop? Sharing a picture of it will be helpful. There are several things it could be, covered by Eggcessive. I would separate her so you can try to get her to eat and drink tonight and then check her crop first thing in the morning before she has anything to eat or drink. You'll also be able to see her poop if she's isolated. Does she have messy butt feathers? Has she had an annual molt? Any chance she's broody? Have you checked her over really well all over to make sure she doesn't have an injury that's hidden under her feathers?

 

[Farmlife16]

When checking for lice/mites, did you check all around her vent feathers well after dark? Eggcessive shared lots of helpful information and she's very knowledgeable. Any chance you have a picture of the poop? Sharing a picture of it will be helpful. There are several things it could be, covered by Eggcessive. I would separate her so you can try to get her to eat and drink tonight and then check her crop first thing in the morning before she has anything to eat or drink. You'll also be able to see her poop if she's isolated. Does she have messy butt feathers? Has she had an annual molt? Any chance she's broody? Have you checked her over really well all over to make sure she doesn't have an injury that's hidden under her feathers?

She does have messy feathers, but her vent looks normal. She is less than a year old, but she would molt sometime this spring. I doubt that she's broody (hybrid). I will try checking her again tomorrow for injuries and will look again for mites/lice.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

She does have messy feathers, but her vent looks normal. She is less than a year old, but she would molt sometime this spring. I doubt that she's broody (hybrid). I will try checking her again tomorrow for injuries and will look again for mites/lice.

At her age she's not being bogged down by a difficult annual molt and she's not broody. With a messy bum, I'd definitely check very close for mites and lice and have another fecal float ran or start her on a dewormer. Are you located in the USA?