Panting, eyes-closed, not eating

[Ali123123123]

My dearest chicken is not well. Panting with her mouth open, closing eyes, not moving a lot, head retracted. She hasn’t been eating much and is dehydrated. Pale comb. She eats when hand fed and likes when the pellet food is mushed with water.

I took her to the vet and they did a poop test too. No external or internal parasites to be found. They said they could feel an egg developing inside her, but that it wasn’t stuck. They gave her 30cc of liquid under the skin to rehydrate her.

I’m not sure what to do now. The vet said they can do a blood test and xrays, but do you think that could show things that are easy to treat? I don’t want her to have surgery or anything too invasive.

Any suggestions about things to do to keep her hydrated or comfortable?

 

[nchls school]

The blood test should show what disease it is. You could use a broad spectrum antibiotic.

 

[Ali123123123]

The vet recommended antibiotics. I’m going to start her on them today.

She is less and less interested in food. I’ve been giving her water by syringe and she drinks it that way.
How much water should I feed her per day??

She is not interested in mushed food or tuna or scrambled eggs anymore. Any suggestions of how to get her to eat?
The vet didn’t think electrolytes would help her.

 

[nchls school]

Consider giving her a little water (2-4 mL) every two hours. Before using the syringe dip her beak in the antibiotic/water to encourage her to drink on her own then if she doesn't drink use the syringe. Before repeating the syringe method check her crop to be sure the water isn't staying in the crop. Should her crop become mushy-soft and full feeling do not give her water until the crop empties.

Force feeding is about the only option, but you might want to wait and see if the antibiotic improves the hen's condition. Use caution when syringing or force feeding as the bird could choke and suffocate.

 

[Ali123123123]

This is very helpful!

The antibiotic is in a large pill format. The vet said push it right to the back of her throat, but I’m worried about choking or suffocating her. Could I add it to water somehow? The vet said I could add it crushed to a fruit, but now she’s not eating the fruit like she was yesterday.

I have just been syringing water onto the outside of her beak and then she moves her mouth and then swallows it. I’m not forcing it down. She seems to drink more than the 2-4mL so I hope I haven’t given her too much. I’ll try the 2-4mL every 2 hours now.

 

[nchls school]

This is very helpful!

The antibiotic is in a large pill format. The vet said push it right to the back of her throat, but I’m worried about choking or suffocating her. Could I add it to water somehow? The vet said I could add it crushed to a fruit, but now she’s not eating the fruit like she was yesterday.

I have just been syringing water onto the outside of her beak and then she moves her mouth and then swallows it. I’m not forcing it down. She seems to drink more than the 2-4mL so I hope I haven’t given her too much. I’ll try the 2-4mL every 2 hours now.

It would be best to follow the vet's directions and have the hen swallow the whole pill. Dissolved in water would cause it to loose strength as the hen would not be ingesting the whole pill. If she's not being forced to drink don't worry about the amount of water; let her have all she will drink just keep an eye on her crop.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My dearest chicken is not well. Panting with her mouth open, closing eyes, not moving a lot, head retracted. She hasn’t been eating much and is dehydrated. Pale comb. She eats when hand fed and likes when the pellet food is mushed with water.

I took her to the vet and they did a poop test too. No external or internal parasites to be found. They said they could feel an egg developing inside her, but that it wasn’t stuck. They gave her 30cc of liquid under the skin to rehydrate her.

I’m not sure what to do now. The vet said they can do a blood test and xrays, but do you think that could show things that are easy to treat? I don’t want her to have surgery or anything too invasive.

Any suggestions about things to do to keep her hydrated or comfortable?

The vet recommended antibiotics. I’m going to start her on them today.

She is less and less interested in food. I’ve been giving her water by syringe and she drinks it that way.
How much water should I feed her per day??

She is not interested in mushed food or tuna or scrambled eggs anymore. Any suggestions of how to get her to eat?
The vet didn’t think electrolytes would help her.

This is very helpful!

The antibiotic is in a large pill format. The vet said push it right to the back of her throat, but I’m worried about choking or suffocating her. Could I add it to water somehow? The vet said I could add it crushed to a fruit, but now she’s not eating the fruit like she was yesterday.

I have just been syringing water onto the outside of her beak and then she moves her mouth and then swallows it. I’m not forcing it down. She seems to drink more than the 2-4mL so I hope I haven’t given her too much. I’ll try the 2-4mL every 2 hours now.

How old is she?
The vet could feel an egg developing? Did she ever lay that egg?
Any bloat/swelling or fluid in the abdomen?

What is the antibiotic the vet prescribed?
Is she pooping? What's that like?
Crop emptying overnight?