Pale Chicken

[H Fletcher]

Her name's Happy, and she's been extremely pale the past few days. She's young, maybe 2, and isn't acting lethargic, but isn't as enthusiastic about being a chicken and free roaming right now. Late at night, as Happy was getting ready to sleep, she almost turned white. Her poops are kinda green, sometimes watery. It isn't right...

First picture is normal Happy, second is from yesterday. Any ideas what could cause this and some home remedies I can give her are so appreciated.

 

[RedHillChicken]

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Her name's Happy, and she's been extremely pale the past few days. She's young, maybe 2, and isn't acting lethargic, but isn't as enthusiastic about being a chicken and free roaming right now. Late at night, as Happy was getting ready to sleep, she almost turned white. Her poops are kinda green, sometimes watery. It isn't right...

First picture is normal Happy, second is from yesterday. Any ideas what could cause this and some home remedies I can give her are so appreciated.

What breed is she? Has she laid any lash eggs? Is there any yellow discharge in her poop. You should take as many pictures of her poop as you can, and keep posting them. Is she eating? What does she eat? Is her stomach bloated below her vent? Can we see some clear pictures of her eyes? Any respiratory issues?

 

[H Fletcher]

I'm not sure if her breed, looks like a Wyandotte Chicken. I also haven't seen her in the nesting box lately, but there's been a few weak eggs, not quite soft shell.
Today Happy's a lot more lethargic. Tried to feed her some yogurt and eggs, but she wasn't as interested until other chickens ate with her. She's been just laying there, and when they free range, Happy's just picking, not quite eating.
Don't have photos of her poop, but right now, it's either runny, almost like egg whites, or firmer and green. I can't tell of any respiratory issues, but I'd assume a pale comb is a sign of lacking oxygen.

I've been checking her abdomen. Seems normal, just a little skinnier than usual, and she doesn't seem to have mites. I was reading that this could be E coli, and she did eat one of our eggs about a week ago.

 

[H Fletcher]

 

[RedHillChicken]

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I'm going to see if some of the BYC experts can chime in on this.
@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@coach723
Please keep the poop pics coming. The E.coli bacteria, from what I've read, is the villain that causes salpingitis. Also, in most of the cases of salpingitis, you will see a yellowish discharge either dripping out of her vent or mixed in her poop. Most of the cases I've read about have an initial discharge of lash egg or lash egg material. Also, most of the breeds that are affected by salpingitis are hybrids, high volume layer breeds. One of the three above experts will probably have some more suggestions, but please keep us informed of her condition, and keep posting pics of her vent area and her poop.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old exactly is she? Is she due for a molt? Do you know if she has been laying recently? Can you look under her vent, wings, belly and neck for any mites or lice? Mites can make them anemic. If you have any Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell, it may be good to give her 2 ml daily or some chopped beef liver for iron. Watery chicken feed and scrambled egg are good to offer. If you have not wormed her recently, I would give her Valbazen 1/2 ml orally once and again after 10 days. Or use SafeGuard liquid goat wormer 1.25 ml orally for 5 consecutive days. Hens can suffer from reproductuve disorders, cancer, and crop problems often. Feel of her crop first thing in morning bebfore she eats to see if her crop has emptied overnight, and also to see that it feels up by evening.

 

[coach723]

Any signs of molt on her anywhere? Any pinfeathers, check under wings and around vent, neck, head? They most often molt in late summer or fall, but some birds molt at other times, I used to have one that molted in April every year. Have you ever wormed her? I would crate her for a couple of days to see if she lays. If she is not laying, and possibly the soft eggs you've found could be her, or if she lays and you confirm the shell issue is hers, then I would give her calcium to see if it helps her pass anything. Calcium citrate +D is the best form, has better absorption, Citracal or generic equivalent, doesn't matter. Aim for about 600-800 mg once a day, for a week or two, or until she lays normally. It will help with contractions to pass anything, and if her calcium is low will help with shell quality. Just put it in her beak and push it back, she will swallow it. That particular dropping doesn't look terrible, but may have a bit of mucous in it. Hard to tell from one picture of one dropping. If there are other droppings that look different, please post pictures of those. Also check her crop. See if it's empty, full, hard, soft and squishy, etc. Check it again first thing in the morning, before she's had any food or water, it should be empty then.

@Eggcessive and I hit 'post' at the same time I think...
looks like we are both thinking along similar lines.

 

[H Fletcher]

I check regularly for mites, but might just treat her anyways. I got her from someone else, don't know exact age. I can't see signs of molting, at least not like other chickens. No pin feathers.
I wormed all of my chickens about 2 months ago, and no crop problems right now. I can try to separate her.