Queen Victoria wont eat or drink

[ValerieJ]

I cannot figure out what is wrong with Queen Victoria. She has been acting lethargic and is losing weight. Her crop feels empty and she will not eat. Sometimes she pants, and it is not hot here at all. I tried to get a video of that, but once we started messing with her, she stopped panting. I direct dosed 1 mil Nutri-Drench, and then added some to her water, but I'll have to go and direct dose her water too. After the Nutri-Drench she started panting even more, but by the time I got the camera she stopped. Her comb is red. I thought maybe I saw wet pox in her mouth, but they don't show up in the photos. I have dealt with injuries, but never an illness yet. I checked her over for mites. Nothing going on that way. I can't see anything wrong with her. I have been noticing this for a few days, but today I was able to just walk up to her and pick her up. I normally can't do that with any of my hens. Anyone have any idea what to look for or do?
Queen Victoria in sick bay

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. You can give her 2 ml of NutriDrench daily (1 ml for every 3 pounds.) How old is she? What do her poops look like? Has she laid eggs recently? Her tails is pointing downward. You could try lubricating and inserting your clean or gloved finger into her vent an inch or two to feel for an egg. Because of the poor appetite, empty crop, and weight loss, cancer could be one of the possibilities. Is a vet possible?

 

[ValerieJ]

thanks so much for responding!! I have just brought her in so I can monitor and answer those questions for myself. I don't see any strange poop in the run. I will try to check her vent and get back to you. A vet would be a possibility if I could find one that will see chickens. I'm going to ask on the Washington thread about that. My vet doesn't see chickens.

 

[Eggcessive]

Vets can be very expensive, and many of us do not have vets who are knowledgeable about chickens. If you can find one, they may want to do xrays and or bloodwork. Antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory drug might be prescribed if a reproductive infection is suspected. Can you feel any enlargement, hardness, or tightness in her lower abdomen? Unfortunately, in most of my sick hens in the past, I usually have not found a cause until I have done a necropsy after death. I would keep trying to get her to drink and eat something. Fluids are more important.

 

[ValerieJ]

Okay...good news! I called my vet for an avian vet recommendation and she does see chickens. I'm rather gobsmacked. Her set up doesn't give that impression at all. I'm waiting for a call back to see if there is a time I can get squeezed in because she is generally booked a week in advance, and we all know hens go fast when they start to go.

Queen V is only 2 1/2 years old and her sibling is in great health. I did check her vent and there is no egg in there.

Checking her vent sure perked up that tail! The queen is not amused.

 

[TwoCrows]

When was the last time she laid? Is it just the vent that is red or is it red and swollen below the vent?

If it's just the vent it may be Vent Gleet which is a yeast infection in the intestinal tract.

If there is redness and swelling below the vent its possible she is laying internally. All my internal layers were swollen and red low beneath the vent.

 

[ValerieJ]

Vets can be very expensive, and many of us do not have vets who are knowledgeable about chickens. If you can find one, they may want to do xrays and or bloodwork. Antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory drug might be prescribed if a reproductive infection is suspected. Can you feel any enlargement, hardness, or tightness in her lower abdomen? Unfortunately, in most of my sick hens in the past, I usually have not found a cause until I have done a necropsy after death. I would keep trying to get her to drink and eat something. Fluids are more important.

My vet always takes x-rays when my cats or dogs have something unexplained. She isn't too terribly expensive. I'd rather do that if I can save Queen V. I've been reading for a couple hours trying to figure out what to do, but nothing is definitive, and I don't want to make a mistake. So, I'm just praying Dr. Fay will be able to see her in time.

 

[ValerieJ]

When was the last time she laid? Is it just the vent that is red or is it red and swollen below the vent?

If it's just the vent it may be Vent Gleet which is a yeast infection in the intestinal tract.

If there is redness and swelling below the vent its possible she is laying internally. All my internal layers were swollen and red low beneath the vent.

There is no swelling or hardness below the vent. But it is red. Would vent gleet keep her from wanting to eat or drink? That would be good news! That's very fixable!!!

 

[ValerieJ]

Oh, I don't know when she laid last, or even if she has come back into laying since the fall molt. Not all of my hens are laying yet.

 

[TwoCrows]

There is no swelling or hardness below the vent. But it is red. Would vent gleet keep her from wanting to eat or drink? That would be good news! That's very fixable!!!

Yes Vent Gleet will make them pretty sick. Yeast eat the birds food thus making the bird rail thin. Eventually the yeast kill the bird.

You might start with some probiotics in the water and or food which help to eat the yeasts. You can use vaginal cream on her vent and just inside to kill off the yeasts. Apply it a couple times a day.

You might also need some Acidified Copper Sulfate if the probiotics and the vaginal cream doesn't do the trick. Copper Sulfate kills off all yeasts from beak to vent. You can get it at Twin Cities Poultry here... https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=340 Copper Sulfate has been a lifesaver around here, saved my birds so many times!