- Apr 7, 2010
- 389
- 12
- 124
Hi,
Today I noticed one of our hens, a three-year-old mixed-breed, was standing stiffly in the run with all of her feather fluffed up around her, looking for all the world like someone with a cold trying to keep themselves warm. When I picked her up, I noticed that she had lost a lot of weight, and her vent was clogged up with poop. Some of it looked recent, but the vent was definitely not a pretty sight. I took her inside, washed off the poop in warm running water (took about 20 minutes) and put her in a dog crate with a heat lamp. She stands there with her rear end down and her eyes half-closed, uninterested in anything.
Symptoms: lethargic, looks cold, lost weight, clogged rear end, and the area below the rear end appears red and swollen, but I'm not sure if that's normal for her or not.
Treatment so far: nothing, just brought her inside under a lamp and gotten her to drink.
Background: We have never wormed our girls, as there are only six and never have contact with other chickens. She was acting just fine until last night, when she seemed a little off, and last night she slept in the nest boxes instead of on the roost like she always does. I cannot tell if she has been laying or not--it's difficult to tell her eggs from eggs from one of the other girls. She is three years old, however, and doesn't lay too often anyway.
Please tell me if there's any more information I can give. I'm very concerned about her, and I don't have any background in chicken diseases or first aid. What is wrong with her, and how can we help?? Anything at all would be appreciated!!
Today I noticed one of our hens, a three-year-old mixed-breed, was standing stiffly in the run with all of her feather fluffed up around her, looking for all the world like someone with a cold trying to keep themselves warm. When I picked her up, I noticed that she had lost a lot of weight, and her vent was clogged up with poop. Some of it looked recent, but the vent was definitely not a pretty sight. I took her inside, washed off the poop in warm running water (took about 20 minutes) and put her in a dog crate with a heat lamp. She stands there with her rear end down and her eyes half-closed, uninterested in anything.
Symptoms: lethargic, looks cold, lost weight, clogged rear end, and the area below the rear end appears red and swollen, but I'm not sure if that's normal for her or not.
Treatment so far: nothing, just brought her inside under a lamp and gotten her to drink.
Background: We have never wormed our girls, as there are only six and never have contact with other chickens. She was acting just fine until last night, when she seemed a little off, and last night she slept in the nest boxes instead of on the roost like she always does. I cannot tell if she has been laying or not--it's difficult to tell her eggs from eggs from one of the other girls. She is three years old, however, and doesn't lay too often anyway.
Please tell me if there's any more information I can give. I'm very concerned about her, and I don't have any background in chicken diseases or first aid. What is wrong with her, and how can we help?? Anything at all would be appreciated!!
