Pale and dry comb

[Galaxy_rules]

Poor girl!
@LTAY1946 @Tookie @TwoCrows

 

[Mercyr79]

I would check her over for lice or mites to make sure she doesn't have any.
Also check her crop early in the morning and see if it's empty or not.
Is her abdomen bloated at all? (Abdomen is located underneath the vent and behind the legs.)
Is she having any trouble breathing?
How's your weather been?

Thank you. I will check those things this morning. It’s just hard because I don’t really know what an empty crop feels like. They always feel the same to us when we check them… Will the abdomen be hard if it’s bloated?

 

[Tookie]

The weather is starting to get colder but we are still at 70F in the day and in the high 40’s at night. I tried to give her some Nutri drench but she spit it out. Her crop seems to have emptied overnight. I checked her abdomen but I have to go compare it to the other chickens since I don’t know what to look for. Her poops have looked like this for a couple of days. They have a yellow color to them…

How were you administering the Nutri-Drench?
Glad to hear her crop was empty.
The yellow droppings are of concern, it can mean she has a reproductive disorder or liver problems.

 

[Tookie]

I tried to use a syringe but I bought some that were way too big and fat so I couldn’t use them. I have been putting it in her water since she is hydrating. I gave her scrambled eggs and she ate a little. We soaked her in an epsom salt bath today.

Ah, a smaller syringe would work better. I have some 1ml syringes and they're great, but they don't hold much in them. But putting the Nutri-Drench in the water will be just fine.
Keep up the care you've been giving her.

She’s just laying there and doesn’t get up much. I’m not sure what else to try. I feel so bad for her

I'm so sorry.

I'll tag some experts, they know more than I do.
@azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[Mercyr79]

The dark comb is often an indicator of cardio/pulmonary issues. Listen carefully to her breathing. Does it crackle like crumpling cellophane?

A dark comb can also indicate multiple organ failure. The yellow in the poop can also support this hypothesis, meaning the liver is failing. Is she drinking a lot of water? That's also a symptom of liver failure.

There is also another possibility - lymphoid leucosis which would be the underlying pathology that would cause all of the above.

I'm sorry. Your hen is very sick, and may be in her final weeks. Supportive care to make her happy and as comfortable as possible is what I suggest, meaning keep doing what you've been doing, but it's not likely she will get better.

She is drinking a lot of water. Do you know what causes lymphoid leucosis or liver damage? Can we have done something different? At what point do you put a chicken out of its misery? Thank you.

 

[StinkyAcres]

We got them from a neighbor and she sold us Golden sex links, Black sex link, Dominique, and Buff Orpington. Not sure which one she is….

@Tookie took the words out of my mouth! I'm sorry you're going though this.

 

[azygous]

Lymphoid leucosis is an avian virus, very, very common. It's similar to Marek's but caused by a different virus. If this is what is making your hen sick, likely, the flock you got her from has it. All chickens exposed to it become carriers, although not all carriers of the virus become sick and die. Flock owners with this virus often never realize it's in their flock as only occasional chickens die from it.

Unfortunately, your hen will likely die if this is what she has. The only way to know is to have a necropsy done after she dies. Usually, the identifying feature of leucosis is a grossly enlarged liver. It's easy to spot even by a chicken owner doing their own necropsy.

My flock carries this virus, and when I took the young rooster in for the necropsy that identified the virus, he had a two pound liver.

Your hen will let you know when she wants it to end. She will close her eyes and stop eating, and will not move or be responsive. Or she may still be alert, but will not be able to move or eat.

 

[Mercyr79]

Lymphoid leucosis is an avian virus, very, very common. It's similar to Marek's but caused by a different virus. If this is what is making your hen sick, likely, the flock you got her from has it. All chickens exposed to it become carriers, although not all carriers of the virus become sick and die. Flock owners with this virus often never realize it's in their flock as only occasional chickens die from it.

Unfortunately, your hen will likely die if this is what she has. The only way to know is to have a necropsy done after she dies. Usually, the identifying feature of leucosis is a grossly enlarged liver. It's easy to spot even by a chicken owner doing their own necropsy.

My flock carries this virus, and when I took the young rooster in for the necropsy that identified the virus, he had a two pound liver.

Your hen will let you know when she wants it to end. She will close her eyes and stop eating, and will not move or be responsive. Or she may still be alert, but will not be able to move or eat.

Thank you so much. I have another bird that isn’t as lively and not interested in snacks. She’s molting and has been broody. Yesterday she pooped clear liquid bubbles. That was concerning since my other hen is sick. Have you ever seen this?

 

[Tookie]

We need to keep her isolated, right? My husband mentioned putting her back so she’s not alone but what if she infects the others?

X2 on what @azygous said.

I would keep her separated from the flock though, but where she can see her flockmates so she has company.

 

[azygous]

Molt can affect some chickens as seriously as an illness. Most suffer a decrease in appetite, but occasionally one will stop eating all together. I have one in my flock right now that has quit eating, lost half her body weight, and was beginning to fade. Yesterday, I intervened and tube fed her some raw egg, pureed Fancy Feast beef, Nutri-drench , a dash of baby cereal, and a teaspoon of sugar. It revived her almost miraculously, but she still refuses to eat, so she will get another tube feeding in the morning.

There is a chance your hen has an infection, but it's too soon to jump to that diagnosis. Sometimes just a little sugar in the water can bounce a chicken back to normal. I'd try that. Also, I can't recommend Poultry Nutri-drench highly enough. Get some.