Old Hen

[roxanne]

6 years old is not an old hen! She has Infectious Bronchitis a viral disease.

She had none of the symptoms of this. No sneezing or coughing, no discharge from the nose. She just is balled up, sequestered from the flock gurgling as she breaths. Her comb is still bright red, her eyes are clear. Her stance is wider and her walk reminds me of a penguin. I believe she may have “water belly”.
The rest of the flock is good. No gurgling, all are eating and drinking. I am inclined to put them all in a probiotic and a dewormer since the weather is changing and we get fluctuations in weather temperatures.

 

[Iworkforangels]

She needs antibiotics. Do you have a feed store near you that might carry it? I know they have stopped selling antibiotics most everywhere but might not be the case in your area?

Have you tried a large animal (farm) vet that will come to you? We have issues with Vets not treating chickens too

If you cant find them you could try garlic water which is a natural antibiotic. 1 clove to a quart of water, make sure to crush the clove and let it sit in the water for a bit. Keep the water in the refrigerator and remake after 2 days to maintain potency. I eyedropper full 3 times a day

And Pray

 

[roxanne]

She needs antibiotics. Do you have a feed store near you that might carry it? I know they have stopped selling antibiotics most everywhere but might not be the case in your area?

Have you tried a large animal (farm) vet that will come to you? We have issues with Vets not treating chickens too

If you cant find them you could try garlic water which is a natural antibiotic. 1 clove to a quart of water, make sure to crush the clove and let it sit in the water for a bit. Keep the water in the refrigerator and remake after 2 days to maintain potency. I eyedropper full 3 times a day

And Pray

I have something that I was told works as an antibiotic for chickens called “Fishbiotic” that I mix together with coconut oil to make a pill. You can make two doses from one capsule. I can give that to her.

 

[Iworkforangels]

I know there are fishbiotics that will work in that instance. Have you ever treated one with it? I haven't so I can't advise. I tried to get it for one of my chickens who was sick and was unable to so I did garlic.

 

[MysteryChicken]

She had none of the symptoms of this. No sneezing or coughing, no discharge from the nose. She just is balled up, sequestered from the flock gurgling as she breaths. Her comb is still bright red, her eyes are clear. Her stance is wider and her walk reminds me of a penguin. I believe she may have “water belly”.
The rest of the flock is good. No gurgling, all are eating and drinking. I am inclined to put them all in a probiotic and a dewormer since the weather is changing and we get fluctuations in weather temperatures.

I'd just put her down if she's got water Belly(Ascites). It's chronic, can't be fixed, & has many causes.

 

[MysteryChicken]

6 years old is not an old hen!

It's actually old for a chicken. Average lifespan for a chicken is between 5 - 10yrs.

 

[roxanne]

I know there are fishbiotics that will work in that instance. Have you ever treated one with it? I haven't so I can't advise. I tried to get it for one of my chickens who was sick and was unable to so I did garlic.

I have used it. I open up and dump out the powder. I mix one capsule with coconut oil and divide it into two mounds and then freeze it. It becomes a frozen chunk (pea size). I did that this evening and gave her one with a calcium tablet and a dropper full of water.
Praying

 

[nuthatched]

6 years old is not an old hen! She has Infectious Bronchitis a viral disease.

Based on what symptoms?

 

[nuthatched]

I know there are fishbiotics that will work in that instance. Have you ever treated one with it? I haven't so I can't advise. I tried to get it for one of my chickens who was sick and was unable to so I did garlic.

Garlic is toxic to chickens to cats in any amounts its recommended for antibiotic use. Please be careful.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good morning ladies,
I have an old lady hen that should be close to 6 years old now (one of the last of my pandemic chickens) that is really not doing well. It breaks my heart to see her like this, all balled up with her eyes closed, distanced from the rest of the flock. Just wanted to know how you all handle this with your flocks? I don’t treat my ladies like pets … they aren’t pets. They are treated very well, but they are livestock. It’s pulling at my heartstrings whether I should go and remove her from the flock and give her the space and comfort to pass or should I cull her instead. Just wanted some group encouragement

She is a brown sexlink. She is gurgling when she breaths. No discharge from the nose. Sometimes fluid from her beak. She sounds so pitiful. No discoloration in her face, eyes or her comb. I have not seen her eat or drink at all today.

6 years old is not an old hen! She has Infectious Bronchitis a viral disease.

Doesn't sound anything like Infectious Bronchitis or a respiratory disease.

6 is getting on in years for a Sexlink.
Do you feel any bloat or feeling of fluid in her abdomen?
Has she laid eggs recently?

A laying hen that is standing about, balled up with her eyes closed, gurgling is, ime, is having a hard time expelling an egg, is suffering from a reproductive disorder like Cancer, EYP, Internal Laying, etc., may have Ascites which is a symptom of fluid in the abdomen and/or is having some crop dysfunction as well.

I'd check her abdomen for bloat or fluid below the vent between her legs, make sure her crop is emptying. Do look her over for lice/mites while you are examining her.
If she's got bloat/fluid and/or swelling of the abdomen, sometimes fluid can be drained to offer supportive care and comfort - this is not a cure and sometimes this does not relieve symptoms and make a hen feel any better.
If she's been laying eggs and hasn't laid one, then I'd get some Calcium into her asap. This may help her push out any egg or material that's making her feel bad. 1 Calcium Citrate with D3 tablet daily for 1 week.

Gurgling and water coming form the beak is very likely the crop. (Sometimes gurgling is heard when a hen has fluid in the abdomen (Ascites) too).
If the crop is not emptying, then address that symptom, but very often a crop problem is going to accompany a reproductive disorder - inflammation, swelling, etc. in the body just slows the body's processes.
This is the methods I use to address the crop. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

An antibiotic might help short term, but sometimes medication doesn't help at all. You can try something like Amoxicillin if you have it.

The antibiotic is part of supportive care and comfort for the hen, it's not going to be a cure either.
Unfortunately, these symptoms and problems seem to be very common in laying hen, I've had my share as have others.
It's up to you to determine how well she is, if she can bounce back for a while longer or if it's time to put her out of her misery.