Rhode island reds acting strange and then passing away

[21hens-incharge]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-binding-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention.66978/

One from here on BYC.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

she is lethargic, not foraging around, not talking to me, not running up to me to see if I have treats,

I'm uploading pics of their coop. I'm a little embarrassed because we dont have a fancy one. My daughter and I built it using as many repurposed items as we could

I was told to put the red heat lamp on them at night so they would think it's more daylight and lay eggs throughout the winter months

How do I know if that is what it is and if so how do I fix it?

As far as hard abdomin and egg binding I wouldnt have a clue. I'm going to Google it now.

I agree, I would feel her abdomen for swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid. Cup your hen and feel below the vent, between the legs - compare her to the Wyandotte if you need to.

Check her crop to make sure it's empty in the morning before she has had anything to eat/drink. Look through her feathers for lice/mites.

As for feed - what do you normally feed? Mealworms as a treat are fine, just don't overdo it. A good guideline is to make their balanced poultry feed (layer, all flock, etc.) 90-95% of their daily intake.

If you have a vet that can run a fecal test to check for worms that would be good too.

There is no need to be embarrassed about your coop, no need for a fancy one!
A chicken has basic needs - fresh food, fresh water, shelter/protection from predators and it looks like you have nailed it.

 

[50-45-1]

My daughter and I built it using as many repurposed items as we could. Old milk crates for laying boxes, mismatched chicken wire and garden fencing, etc but please dont tell my hens they dont know they live in low income housing[/QUOTE)
Dont apoligize for the great job you have done! You must have done a pretty good job as you have not lost your birds due to a preditor gettin in. Your girls are lucky to have you. My own coop is almost entirely built out of repoursed lumber, Discarded windows and old reused metal roofing. Plus the memories you and your daughter will always share from building it.
I hope you have read up on egg binding. If your hen died from that, her rear end would have been real messy. They straIn and strain to pass the egg that will never come. As far as i know there is no stopping a hen from becoming egg bound, but there are techniques to release the egg once you know that is what the problem is.
Are both of your reds gone, or is one just now acting ill?

 

[faithbygrace]

I felt her belly but didnt feel anything hard. I did soak her in a warm water Epsom salt bath and tried to get her to drink some water mixed with calcium. Maybe a few sips in a half hour, not much though. She pooped on me, yellow and runny. After the bath and dry I took her out to the dandelions she usually loves. She pecked at them a little and then another yellow runny poop. What is wrong with my poor sweet girl?

 

[faithbygrace]

I feed them a cup of frozen thawed corn in the morning. A cup of meal worms for treat in the afternoon. There are always organic layer pellets outside on the ground and inside their coop for when they go in at night is a dish of pellets and fresh water. They have several places throughout the yard to get clean water too when they are out foraging and free ranging in the daylight hours.

 

[faithbygrace]

Them being 3 hens

 

[21hens-incharge]

That is a lot of treats.

My 26 hens share 2 &1/2 cups of scratch a day. Even that seems a bit much when I do the math.

Your 3 birds should be getting about 1/3 cup of treats a day maximum. That is total for 3 birds not 1/3 cup each. Yes use a measuring cup.

Corn is very nutrient deficient. It is also high in carbs and sugars.

I would stop all treats for a few weeks at least.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I feed them a cup of frozen thawed corn in the morning. A cup of meal worms for treat in the afternoon. There are always organic layer pellets outside on the ground and inside their coop for when they go in at night is a dish of pellets and fresh water. They have several places throughout the yard to get clean water too when they are out foraging and free ranging in the daylight hours.

Them being 3 hens

I agree, that is too much corn and mealworms.
Keep your pellets in a feeder, don't put those on the ground, if they are not cleaned up (eaten), they can mold quickly/spoil and attract wild birds and rodents.

To me, the poop is not normal. If you have vet care, get a fecal float.
If you don't, then consider worming her and treating for Coccidiosis. She may have an underlying condition as well like a reproductive issue.

I would use Valbazen or Fenbendazole for worming them.
You can find Safeguard (Fenbendazole) at Tractor supply - dosage is .23ml per pound of weight, given orally for 5 days in a row. Valbazen you would need to order online, dosage is 0.08ml per pound of weight give once, then repeat in 10days.

For treatment of Coccidiosis get some Corid you can find that at Tractor Supply in the cattle section. Dosage is 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water. Give for 5-7days as the sole source of drinking water.

You can deworm and treat for Coccidiosis at the same time.

Look her over really well for any external parasites too.

 

[faithbygrace]

Everybody thank you for all the help and suggestions. I hope whatever is wrong with my girl is treatable and I dont lose her too. Headed to tractor supply in the morning. Tried the Epsom salt bath and giving her calcium for egg bonding today.