Please respond: hen right eye closed, leans head to right when breathes.

[Me and the Flea]

All of my hens free range during the day while I'm outside with them. This is a 2 month old light brahma cochin. I noticed her right eye was closed most of the day yesterday. I checked for scratches and injuries and didn't find anything. Today, right eye is still closed and she's laying around the yard. I put her in a small cage so I could keep an eye on her. She ate layer pellets with scrambled egg mixed in today just fine and is drinking fine. This evening she was laying down, head leaned to front, appears to be breathing heavier than normal, and with each inhale her head leans to the right (the side with the closed eye). She was not interested in scratch or bananas when I tried to entice her/arouse her. Right now she is perching, both eyes closed, and leans head to far right with every breath. She does not sound congested, not wheezing, eyes are clear, no runny nose, icky beak, etc. and her poop is a little soft but not runny.

Any suggestions for what I should do for her, or get for her at the feed store tomorrow morning? I have her inside where it's cooler.

I called the only avian vet in town and it's $150 to see her. Unfortunately, I can't do that.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Makomd]

I can't answer your question, but I hope with a bump you will get an answer. Sounds like you are doing everything I would do until something more precise comes about.

 

[Me and the Flea]

She is perching okay. Her head is drawn down and to the right with her breaths.

Does anyone have experience with these symptoms?

I've started her on Sulmet but I'm not sure how much to give her by dropper since she's not drinking on her own.

She will hold her head up for a couple of seconds only, then droops.

 

[Me and the Flea]

Has anyone ever had to give Salumet by hand if the chicken is too lethargic to drink on her own? I'm not sure why there are no responses to my questions. Am I posting in the wrong place?

 

[Makomd]

No you are posting in the correct place. I assume holiday weekend a lot of people are running around. Unfortunately I have no experience with this but have been watching for future knowlwdge. Any improvements with you hen? If Salumet is liquid form you could use a eye dropper to feed it to her just be carefull not to drown her. I usually place the dropper on the tongue about mid way and let her swallow rather than force feed if possible.

 

[Me and the Flea]

Yes, the holiday weekend. Forgot about that. She is still hanging in there. It's very strange...she appears completely fine one minute then droopy, head hanging, lethargic the next. I have been feeding her pellets softened with V&E liquid with a syringe being careful of her airway. She ate 3 pellets on her own today and I had a party. She free fed some of my muesli so I offered dried muesli (Bob's Red Mill) and she scarfed it down. I collected small worms and grubs from the garden this evening and she scarfed those down too. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I gave her only one day of Sulmet (about 4cc total) because I just didn't know how much to give her. I started with a little VetRX today on her head and under her wing. Again, I have no idea what's wrong with her so I don't know how to treat her. She started gaping a few times today and I was fearful of gapeworm but she did that yawn-thing only a few times. She is much better today but I still feel it's touch and go until she eats and drinks normally. Her poop ranges from normal to cecal looking.

Again, no discharge, wheezing, watery eyes, or anything abnormal.

 

[chickenzoo]

First at 2 months old she needs to be on chick starter not layer.layer.has too much calcium in it for chicks and can cause organ or growth problems. I would not give scratch either until older. Always mix Sulmet with water....never give it straight. Only Corid can be used.straight. You can mix the.Sulmet with water and put some in a syringe. Pull up some loose skin over her shoulders and inject into the void under the skin. Do this with some poultry vitamins also since she can't drink...it is safer to give that way to a bird that can't drink. Coccidia is the most common problem in young birds.