Panting and Lethargic Hen - SHE DIED.....

[mrbstephens]

This morning when I went to let the chickens out of the coop I noticed one of my 1 year old EEs on the roost panting hard. She wouldn't come out. I nudged her off the roost and outside. She was extremely lethargic. Tail down and wings out slightly. I brought her inside. She's in my shower stall right now. I tried giving her water and a scrambled egg. She's not interested in eating or drinking. I don't think I feel anything in her abdomen, but what do I know. I don't see any injuries. No discharge. She's been laying very well and I believe she laid just yesterday. I gave her a warm bath and put her in a box with straw in case she needs to lay. The only thing I have changed is the bedding in the hen house. I just cleaned it out yesterday and replaced the bedding with some small pine shavings that my husband brought home from work. He's a cabinetmaker. Yes, I'm positive it's pine and it was not treated with anything. I thought of the possibility that maybe the shavings are too fine and it's irritating her lungs, but the other chickens are acting completely normal. I've been using the same bedding for the new chicks for the past 3 weeks and there's been no problems there either. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks so much!

 

[rancher hicks]

The shavings are fine. I would try to use an eyedropper to give her watered down yogurt. If she' s not eating I don't know there is anything you can do. Unless you can afford to take her to the vet. Unfortunately this can be the nature with chickens. Check her throat for blockage and the usual signs of illness. Discharges from the nose or mouth. Diahria. If you've got a rectal take her temp. Check her crop. Is it empty, full , or is there anything in there. With out and exam and/or xray it would be hard to know if there is something internal going on. If she takes liquid from the eyedropper don't over do it. Just a couple of drops or so every half hour. Watch for poop, to see if anything is going through her system.
Sorry for your trouble.
All the best
Rancher

 

[chickenzoo]

It sounds like she may be egg bound, as the tail down posture is often seen. The panting is because she is in distress . Do a search at the top of the page for egg binding and see if any of them fit, lots of info... but basically you give them warm baths to soak and relax the muscles, rub the vent and insert in the vent mineral oil etc... to try and loosen things, carefully massage the abdomine, or as a last resort break the egg inside, put her on antibiotics and hope that the egg parts don't cut her and she passes the egg.

 

[mrbstephens]

I checked her crop. It's not full, but it feels like there's gravel in it. I don't know if that normal or not.

 

[mrbstephens]

OH NO! I THINK SHE DYING!

I tried giving her watered down yogurt in a syringe and she wouldn't really swallow it. She getting worse FAST! She's got her eyes closed now. I don't know what else to do!

 

[mrbstephens]

WHAT CAN I DO??? HELP!!!

 

[easttxchick]

IF she laid yesterday it's not eggbinding.
Does she have any other respiratory symptoms besides panting-can you hear anything in her lungs? Is she pale in the face/comb area? Could she have gotten into moldy food? Do you have an ammonia smell in your coop?
Just trying to get some more info.
I wish I had some advice for you, darn it.

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
I don't hear any wheezing. There's no discharge or odor. Her comb is still pink. It's possible she got into the compost which is next to their coop and there may be mold in it. There's no smell in the coop.

 

[rancher hicks]

I am so sorry. Sometimes even doing all we can isn't enough. I know it's hard to go through, but without medical care from a vet there really isn't anything we chicken lovers can do, except

and mourn the loss.

Rancher

 

[easttxchick]

To be honest, with no other symptoms than panting and lethargy, I really don't know what it could be. Supportive care is the best you can do until you really know what you are dealing with.
Keep her warm and quiet and TRY to get her to eat maybe some mashed boiled egg with PolyViSol with no iron and she really needs to be kept hydrated.
I am so sorry I can't help you.
I sure hope she gets better for you.