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Not sure what else to do for hen

Jayywhat

In the Brooder
Feb 11, 2022
31
15
46
Seems like my hen has been getting sick on and off. At one time, she was pretty bad, very puffy, messy bottom, little energy, pale comb, green watery poop, laying in nesting box. Brought her inside and treated her with penicillin. Then stopped and treated her for vent gleet and worms. Doing the vent gleet and worm treatment brought her back to 100%. We put her outside, and she roosted one or two nights, then she was back in the nesting box. Her bottom was getting a little messy again, but her comb looked fine, she wasn’t puffy. We started vent gleet treatment again. She seemed to be ok, but still not roosting. Even if we picked her up and put her by the poles, she would just sit on the floor. We stopped the vent gleet treatment, and she seemed fine, still sleeping in the nesting box. We have noticed one of the chickens bites her here and there. Sometimes will pick at her bottom and will bite her comb hard. She was doing this when the sick chicken was her worse. We thought she was doing this cause she knew the other hen was sick, but when we thought the hen was 100%, she was still getting picked on it seemed like. After a few days of being ok and just sleeping in the nesting box, she’s now a little pale, very quiet, tail down a little bit. Basically, I don’t no what else to do, I’m at a loss. This was my first time owning chickens, I started out with 5 and now have 3. I don’t no if that’s an issue? I think it’s time for me to rehome them, give them a better home, someone who knows more than I do. I just don’t no. I’m going to bring her in the house tonight and observe. I know someone won’t take a sick chicken and the other one who is picking on the sick chicken. Anyone have any idea of what’s happening?
 
How does her poop look? While I'm not 100% sure what could be going on, I am sure of what could help bring her back to feeling well again.

https://www.naturessunshine.com/product/silver-shield-w-aqua-sol-20-ppm/

It's expensive, but it works so incredibly well. I've been using this stuff for my chicks who keep getting sick and dying within 20 minutes, and, if I can catch it before they start seizing, it will literally make them all better by 2 days. You can even give it to your family once the chickens are done with it. I just pour enough of it so that there's plenty in every drink they take. And if she gets really bad, then you can give just straight. It's tasteless and completely natural. I cannot stress how well this works. I thought one of my chicks was going to die this morning, but a few straight shots of it has got her back on her feet. (Literally)
 
How does her poop look? While I'm not 100% sure what could be going on, I am sure of what could help bring her back to feeling well again.

https://www.naturessunshine.com/product/silver-shield-w-aqua-sol-20-ppm/

It's expensive, but it works so incredibly well. I've been using this stuff for my chicks who keep getting sick and dying within 20 minutes, and, if I can catch it before they start seizing, it will literally make them all better by 2 days. You can even give it to your family once the chickens are done with it. I just pour enough of it so that there's plenty in every drink they take. And if she gets really bad, then you can give just straight. It's tasteless and completely natural. I cannot stress how well this works. I thought one of my chicks was going to die this morning, but a few straight shots of it has got her back on her feet. (Literally)
I will look into it. I am wondering if she has a reproductive disease now. After searching vent gleet on here, people were mentioning reproductive disease due to the symptoms, so I’ve been researching it online.
 
Sorry that she's not doing well.

From your description, I'd say she's having reproductive problems. Hens cans go up and down with these problems until they just are not longer able to bounce back.

I'd work on hydration, see that she's eating. If she's having troubles, then she likely will not roost, so I would make sure the nesting box is cleaned out from overnight poops and she has fresh bedding to sleep on. I've found that my hens once in a decline, often bloat, fluid or whatever was going on inside (I've found cancer, fluid, eyp, etc. in mine) that roosting seems uncomfortable for them.

Often all you can do is address symptoms as they arise. Antibiotics may help for a short period of time to reduce infection or inflammation. Treating crop problems if there's any. Keeping parasites under control. All of these can be a part of supportive care and comfort. Keeping her bottom cleaned up to prevent Flystrike as well.



Here's your older thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/something-wrong-with-chicken.1568319/page-2
 
Sorry that she's not doing well.

From your description, I'd say she's having reproductive problems. Hens cans go up and down with these problems until they just are not longer able to bounce back.

I'd work on hydration, see that she's eating. If she's having troubles, then she likely will not roost, so I would make sure the nesting box is cleaned out from overnight poops and she has fresh bedding to sleep on. I've found that my hens once in a decline, often bloat, fluid or whatever was going on inside (I've found cancer, fluid, eyp, etc. in mine) that roosting seems uncomfortable for them.

Often all you can do is address symptoms as they arise. Antibiotics may help for a short period of time to reduce infection or inflammation. Treating crop problems if there's any. Keeping parasites under control. All of these can be a part of supportive care and comfort. Keeping her bottom cleaned up to prevent Flystrike as well.



Here's your older thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/something-wrong-with-chicken.1568319/page-2
Thank you so much for this response. I was going crazy trying to figure out what was wrong with her. The reproductive disease is starting to make more sense because none of my other chickens are sick, and the other symptoms she has sounds like that’s what it is from the research I’ve been doing. She does get a swollen belly when she’s not doing well, so that must be fluid like you said. I have her in the house now, I don’t think I should put her back outside since she gets picked on. I don’t think that’s going to stop. We tried ‘resetting the pecking order,’ but I don’t think it matters if she’s sick. I only have three chickens all together. Thank you for your input!
 
Sorry for your loss. When I lose a hen, although it is not easy, I like to open the abdominal cavity briefly to have a look at the major organs, liver, intestines, oviduct, etc. If you do this, take pictures to post here, and note if there is any yellow fluid when opening the belly. Here is a necropsy video where the organs are labeled:

 

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