Please Help - Hen Emergency!

[lisa67steve99]

Her poop looks normal, just a little thin, nothing different in the coop/run. Her crop is not hard, extended, etc. and her breath is not sour. She is just lethargic, limp necked and warm to the touch. She will take water but not food.

 

[ten chicks]

How old is she? Some other issues that it could be are peritonitis,cancer or even ascites(water belly)if abdomen is more squishy feeling. Have you recently introduced any new birds?

 

[lisa67steve99]

She has not had Marek's vaccine as far as I know. She is from a group of chicks I bought 17 weeks ago at TSC.

 

[lisa67steve99]

No new birds recently. She is 17 1/2 weeks old.

 

[ten chicks]

Something else to consider is coccidiosis as it is basically everywhere and can be spread by just about everything,birds are only immune to the strains they have had prior exposure to. Are any other birds displaying any unusual symptoms?

 

[lisa67steve99]

All my others birds are business as usual, no symptoms at all.

 

[Wol1]

Check out page 739 at this link: http://avianmedicine.net/publication_cat/avian-medicine/ This is a detailed book for avian vets. It's in the section on neurology. I can't copy and paste, so I will summarize.

Botulism can be contracted from eating/drinking decaying animals, maggots, or stagnant water. Usually starts with hind leg paralysis, then wings, then the neck droops in the latter stages. Death is by paralysis of respiration. Green diarrhea with pasting is also common. Treatment is with "cathartics, laxatives, and drenches", to "flush unabsorbed toxins through the gastrointestinal tract. Follow with "support" for the bird including keeping warm, tube feeding if bird is unable to eat.

Excellent article with clear pictures on tube feeding if necessary: http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/oral_dosing_article.htm

This site: https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/medicine-chart suggests Epsom salts to flush toxins. I've done some weights/measures/equivalents and 1/2 tsp in 1 cup water should be safe.

Other suggested treatments from non-professional site: http://gardentenders.com/members/XploreOrganics/blog/40 :
1/8 cup (2 Tbsp) molasses to 1 and 1/4 cup water
activated charcoal in a slurry (1/2 to 3/4 tsp with water)

Personally, I'd take the bird to an avian vet.

 

[lisa67steve99]

My little hen is doing much better. I really didn't have any meds to give her, I gave her small amounts of Gatorade and epsom salt water and made her a soft mash of feed and water that she ate. Yesterday she could not stand, walk, or hold her head up. Today she is walking around and cooing, holding her head up on her own, and drinking and eating well. I plan to keep her crated for a couple days more to watch her progress before putting her back in the coop with the others. Thanks to all who offered advice.