Not sure what is wrong nor what to do?

[newchickmomma4]

I am hoping you can help me. My RHode Island Red is acting strange. Yesterday she was laying around a lot and her comb got very pale, almost white. She also had a really bad pasty butt and has a "bulge" under her vent. I was certain she was egg bound. This morning got up, brought her in for a warm soak (with Epsom salts). Got her all cleaned up and put her in a nice warm isolated spot. No egg. Checked her with a gloved and lubricated finger,,,,,nice and soft, no egg. Since doing that, she seems to have a very slight and intermittent rattle to her breathing. Any ideas?

 

[chooks4life]

You say her comb got almost white; what color is it normally?

If it's just pale pink despite her being a layer and adult, then she's already unwell, but if it went from red to almost white she's in serious trouble. Such a drastic color change possibly indicates one or several of a few things: severe shock, heart failure, severe pain or illness.

My bet would normally be on pain and heart problems with just a few of those symptoms, but if her comb returns to normal red she may survive. If it goes blueish or purplish or other dark colors, like grey or brownish, her chances are very slim. Because of the bulge under her vent and the rattling breathing it might not be her heart though, or it could be a multi-factor case.

Heart attacks are comparatively common in poultry because we keep them on the exact diet known to cause heart problems in humans and other animals. Cooked oils and proteins and fats, specifically. Raw oils are very necessary to the cardiovascular system's health, and not just any oils. Raw (cold-pressed) olive oil is one of the best. Not the leftovers of deepfrying anything, like some people give to their animals. I've seen dogs, cats and poultry so desperate for good oils they drink cupfuls of synthetic oils which does far more harm than good. Some people sell 'cold-pressed' olive oil which has actually been re-pressed so many times it's almost useless, so better to get 'extra virgin' cold pressed. If it's imported it's often been irradiated and is no longer truly raw.

The rattling breathing, the sudden change of color, and bulge under her vent, suggest she may have broken something internally and suffered an internal hemorrhage. Did you hear a noise at any time of the day like a chicken got hurt? Another hen could have come down from the perch onto her and broken something internally.

Letting her rest is the best bet right now, and I'd do some research on sites that have disease charts to see if anything matches her symptoms, but I'd bet it's an injury of some sort.

Best wishes.

 

[newchickmomma4]

Thank you for the help! Her comb is normally pretty dark pink to light red. It definitely isn't as bright red as her flockmates. But......Well, she WAS egg bound! This evening My husband and I were out, so I texted our son to have her go back to her pen to spend the night with her flockmates. Within 10-15 minutes she had laid an egg. Hoping that tomorrow she is back to her old self.

 

[chooks4life]

Good to hear. The paleness is a worry though, it's generally a serious sign, so while it's recovered for the moment, I would personally give her raspberry leaf in her feed or mixed in something like yoghurt, just in case.

Raspberry leaf tea, just dried raspberry leaves, contains compounds which tone and cleanse the female reproductive system, it's an old cure and aid for birthing, egg laying, prolapses, etc. I've used it with cats, dogs, herbivores and poultry and it does make a significant difference, sometimes the difference between life and death for females who have experienced a traumatic time birthing or laying. It will lessen the chances of her having any repeat issues. It acts strongly specifically on the female reproductive tract but helps the whole body as well. It's used to stop hemorrhaging and as an antiseptic.

Another old farmer's remedy I've found works is raw olive oil in the diet. I've been told it stops egg-binding, and figured it couldn't hurt to add some to their weekly diet to see if it was true, and in all the years I've kept chickens of all sorts of breeds and mixes and states of health, I've never had a single egg binding case so I reckon there's something to it. Olive oil, like any healthy raw oil, causes capillaries and mucosal membranes to be supple and healthy, so it makes sense medically.

Best wishes.

 

[newchickmomma4]

Good to hear. The paleness is a worry though, it's generally a serious sign, so while it's recovered for the moment, I would personally give her raspberry leaf in her feed or mixed in something like yoghurt, just in case.

Raspberry leaf tea, just dried raspberry leaves, contains compounds which tone and cleanse the female reproductive system, it's an old cure and aid for birthing, egg laying, prolapses, etc. I've used it with cats, dogs, herbivores and poultry and it does make a significant difference, sometimes the difference between life and death for females who have experienced a traumatic time birthing or laying. It will lessen the chances of her having any repeat issues. It acts strongly specifically on the female reproductive tract but helps the whole body as well. It's used to stop hemorrhaging and as an antiseptic.

Another old farmer's remedy I've found works is raw olive oil in the diet. I've been told it stops egg-binding, and figured it couldn't hurt to add some to their weekly diet to see if it was true, and in all the years I've kept chickens of all sorts of breeds and mixes and states of health, I've never had a single egg binding case so I reckon there's something to it. Olive oil, like any healthy raw oil, causes capillaries and mucosal membranes to be supple and healthy, so it makes sense medically.

Best wishes.

Thank you for the tip on the red raspberry leaf. I keep the herbs around for tea for monthly cramps, so I will see about getting some into all 4 adults. May be able to sprinkle it liberally over their watermelon . Or something like that. I have an excellent source for top quality locally grown first press extra virgin olive oil. It is the only oil we use as a family. I will toss their greens with it in the mornings. Thank you do much for the assistance. And I will be keeping a close eye on Dixie

 

[chooks4life]

Sounds great, good to hear.

The olive oil and raspberry leaf combo will likely over a short time put some strong red into their crests as well due to better circulation, it's good for the whole body, but most importantly it could prevent this ever happening again.

Best wishes.