RIR Acting Lethargic - Please help

[Lemon-Drop]

Just the one dose today since she got two yesterday. Any noticeable improvement?

Yes, a tiny bit of improvement. She seems a little bit more alert. Also one other type of dropping, instead of the green ones

She’s not panting as much either!

 

[azygous]

Many good signs! You may be surprised to learn that the best sign is that cecal poop. Cecals don't usually happen when there's a serious obstruction.

The lack of green poop means some nutrients are being processed in the liver.

The alleviation of her panting indicates she may be past the crisis, also.

But did you check her crop first thing this morning? How full was it before she had access to food and water?

 

[Starburst]

Also, Ponyo is acting a lot better than yesterday! She was walking with more ease when we set her on the ground, and she was fighting more when we were giving her the water!

 

[Starburst]

Many good signs! You may be surprised to learn that the best sign is that cecal poop. Cecals don't usually happen when there's a serious obstruction.

The lack of green poop means some nutrients are being processed in the liver.

The alleviation of her panting indicates she may be past the crisis, also.

But did you check her crop first think this morning? How full was it before she had access to food and water?

That is so amazing! I’m feeling so happy right now!
I did check her crop, it was a little full, and kind of soft and squishy.

 

[azygous]

Have we talked about giving her a probiotic to repopulate her intestines and crop with good bacteria to counter the effects of the antibiotic killing off the microbes in her digestive tract? Yogurt, keifer, buttermilk, or probiotic or acidophilus tablets will all reseed the intestines with good bacteria. That can help her crop get back to normal.

I think she's turned the corner and is solidly on the mend.

 

[Starburst]

@azygous, a quick update - we’ve been trying to give Ponyo yogurt and probiotics as you suggested. Currently, we’ve been giving her about 10 ml of water every hour or so - she was drinking on her own, but now she's stopped.
She also won’t eat that much anymore - just a piece of egg, then refuses to keep eating.
Been giving her all of her medicine and supplements, but today she does seem less alert and more tired...not sure if that's just because she's been trying to lay an egg for days, or if she’s going downhill again....

 

[azygous]

It's not possible for us to know exactly what's going on with this hen. All we can do is treat her symptoms and hope it works. When it stops working and the patient goes into decline, we may be left to assume this is something we can't treat, such as a tumor blocking her works and starting to shut down her organs.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

It's not possible for us to know exactly what's going on with this hen. All we can do is treat her symptoms and hope it works. When it stops working and the patient goes into decline, we may be left to assume this is something we can't treat, such as a tumor blocking her works and starting to shut down her organs.

Thank you for letting us know and thank you so, so much for helping us. We’re going to keep treating her the best we can, and hopefully she will heal. If not, we pray she will pass peacefully. She seems to be gasping much more now, and her eyes are closed more.

Besides the mucousy poop, she had one slightly greenish/brown one

 

[azygous]

Did you manage to find plastic tubing to try tubing food and fluids into her? It's the one last thing I usually try in the event that the chicken's apparent decline is due to weakness from starvation.

A couple months ago, I had an eleven-year old Black Cochin hen that had symptoms similar to your hen. I brought her in and tube fed her some fluids and raw egg with sugar water to see if it would revive her. Unfortunately, she died shortly after I had fed her and returned her to the flock.

I didn't do a home necropsy on her, but I strongly suspect she had cancer.

 

[Starburst]

Did you manage to find plastic tubing to try tubing food and fluids into her? It's the one last thing I usually try in the event that the chicken's apparent decline is due to weakness from starvation.

A couple months ago, I had an eleven-year old Black Cochin hen that had symptoms similar to your hen. I brought her in and tube fed her some fluids and raw egg with sugar water to see if it would revive her. Unfortunately, she died shortly after I had fed her and returned her to the flock.

I didn't do a home necropsy on her, but I strongly suspect she had cancer.

Sadly, we haven't been able to get our hands on any plastic tubing, but we can see if any other stores nearby might carry some. If so, we’ll try to get more food into her.
I’m so sorry for your loss You are amazing when it comes to caring for chickens, and I know that she lived an amazing life in your care.
For now, I’m just spending as much time with her as possible, trying to care for her the best I can and getting ready to say goodbye to one of the sweetest, most spirited chickens I’ve been blessed with in my flock if that’s what happens.