Need some help diagnosing - 2 1/2 year old Buff Orpington Hen

[rugbyrebel]

Has her voice changed at all? It is normal sounding or weak/raspy? One of my chickens had a lump in her throat and her voice went all raspy. It turned out to be canker (trichnomasis) which is treatable. Canker can cause weight loss because it's harder for them to eat and lesions can occur in the crop. If you take a flashlight and look in her mouth can you see any yellow cheesy lesions? The lump could also just be part of her trachea, you can feel if the other chickens have the same bumpiness.

I've also experienced gradual weight loss with my flock that a fecal test proved was coccidiosis. After I treated them for it I fed them a grower feed for a while (with calcium supplementation on the side for the layers). So I agree with the other posts above that if a fecal test is available it might be a good idea.

However, since she is suddenly 'skin and bones' after a gradual loss I'm wondering if she has a infection in her digestive system. I had a bird die after becoming 'suddenly' skinny and I thought it was mycotoxicosis (because she had gotten into a moldy bag of corn a month earlier).... unfortunately, after necropsy it was confirmed she died from a severe bacterial infection in her abdomen that eventually spread. It would have been treatable with the right antibiotics, I felt so bad. She also had a very strong sweet smell to her from her mouth and also her bottom (feces). She acted very normally aside from the weakness and loss of condition. She was still eating but not getting any nutrition - that is was caused her weight to drop so rapidly. Her droppings became watery and green/yellow. Her feathers looked bad.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If she seems to be eating and drinking fine, I would return her back to the flock after her bath. Separations can cause pecking order reshuffling upon return.

So, most scratch grains come in around 8% on the protein. You would want to keep that to like less than a tablespoon (maybe less) per bird to maintain balance or to not decrease your overall protein intake.

I might consider not mixing the grit and OS, but providing them in separate containers, because they do provide for different functions. OS makes egg shells while grit helps grind the feed.

Peas are a great protein source as well as the other ones mentioned. Frozen if you have hot summers and sprouted if you have wet winters. Meal worm are a favorite snack of course. I raise live ones, but I'm stingy about treats... The general consensus is 5% of the daily intake for conservative people, and 10% by others just striving ton keep a good balance but know it's a lot of fun to give treats. Plus you can use it as a time to assess the flock.

I would use epsom... I believe (not 100% sure) the potassium soaks in and absorbs into the muscles aiding in the relaxation and repair for athletes.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the response

I'm positive there is no hidden nest. They were chicks when I got them, so I am positive about their age.

We do feed layer pellets, mealworms as treats (sometimes with black sunflower seeds), scratch grain through the winter months, and table veggie scraps at times (raw, but not often). We have been giving them a mix of oyster shell/grit on the side.

I can definitely look into starter or flick raiser - that's easy. Any other protein ideas other than egg and tuna that was mentioned before?

And what's your opinion on Epson salt in the bath? Yay or nay? And how long to bathe?

And is it possible that the "bulge" I'm feeling on her neck is an impacted crop? It just doesn't seem low enough down, but then again she is skinny...

I did get a pic of very fresh poop!

Were you able to get the poop cleared off the vent to see if there's anything going on there?

You can give her a soaking in epsom salts if she has a swollen vent, swollen abdomen, etc. Some people add it the water as a soother, it won't hurt her.

The lump under the beak/neck, I just don't know - look inside her beak to see if there are any plaques/lesions. It's possible she may have crop issues - the best way to determine this is to let her eat/drink normally. Then feel the crop at bedtime (dark) it should have food in it (ideally it should be firm and full). Then feel it first thing in the morning before she has had anything to eat or drink - the crop should be flat or feel empty. If it still has a considerable bulge or feels "doughy", then she may have sour or impacted crop. Sour crop her breath would smell yeasty or sour as well.

Crop issues usually are a symptom of an underlying cause like reproductive disorders, worms or cocci. So checking the crop is a good idea.

Given her age and that she has not laid an egg in about a year, she may have an internal laying/reproductive disorder like Peritonitis, Salpingitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors. Supportive care with vitamins and making sure she is eating well is usually the course of treatment. If caught very early, then antibiotics may help with some infections associated with these conditions, but usually treatment/recover is short term.

Here's some information on crop issues:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Poultry nutri drench doesn't have to go through the digestive system to be absorbed and is supposed to taken up almost instantly like main lining it. I might consider using it instead of other supplements. I hear really good things about it. But I have never tried it yet. Says it's measurable in the blood stream in 10 minutes and 50% absorbed within 30 minutes and 99% utilization. It is sold at amazon and feed stores, my link is just for an example of the product. Like with anything else, use your own judgement.

http://www.nutridrench.com/poultry-nutri-drench.html