RIR enlarged abdomen, lost appetite, & lethargic

[SweetieBirds]

Temps for Hen # 1; 107.9 and Hen # 2; 105.4 .
Hen # 1 picked at & ate a little fresh chard, hen # 2 didn't eat anything. Both hens were up walking around when I let them out of the coop this morning. I have Baytril 60 mg tablets but don't know how to administer if the hens won't eat anything. Both appear to be feeling better.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
You can quarter the Baytril pills and just open their beaks and shove down the pieces. Normal temp should be about 107, so the one is a little cold, probably why she won't eat anything.

 

[speckledhen]

I have read in numerous places that the normal body temp is around 102-103, maybe a degree higher at times, so I think theirs is a bit high, but I've seen different temps on other sites, so I'm not sure that 107 is the best body temp.

 

[kathyinmo]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/576010
On the morning the average temperature of the growing chicken. It is found at 41.8 degrees C +/- 0.18 degrees. After one day without having eaten, the bodily temperature diminishes to 40.41 degrees +/- 0.97 degrees (-1.39 degrees). After two days without having eaten the temperature diminishes to 39.68 degrees C +/- 0.89 degrees (-2.12 degrees). After the first day of re-feeding the average temperature is 41.28 degrees C +/- 0.52 degrees C. During the period of no feeding the reduction in bodily temperature depends on the metabolic material availability. We can assume that the thermoregulator mechanisms are not modified by non-feeding and that the reduction in temperature is caused by the non efficiency of their normal efferents.

41.8 C = 107 F
41.28 C= 106 F
40.41 C = 105 F
39.68 C = 103 F

 

[speckledhen]

Ok, so they have a range that is much wider than ours is, then. Thanks!

 

[SweetieBirds]

Wednesday (3/23) both hens ate some cooked oatmeal. We were very encouraged by that. Thursday & again this morning, they ate very little but are walking around & going inside to roost at night on their own. Hen # 2 seems to be feeling worse than Hen # 1. Hen 1 ate a little fresh chard for me this morning. Both hens came outside (sick bay) their fence and picked at the grass. They then went over to their home coop & sadly stood outside the fence looking at their sisters inside. Do you think we should give them another Ivermectin injection? No one else is displaying their symptoms.

Also, I did not mention that the home coop these girls came out of has an area that retains water & doesn't drain well after rain. We worry that there's bacteria growing in it from the coop runoff and are wondering if this could be the source of their sickness. There are several little ponding areas on our property that hold water badly. The hens like to fish for tadpoles but even when there are no tadpoles, they walk thru it & drink from it (even tho they always have plenty of fresh water). Do you think we need to move their coop & fence? The coop is build on a trailer.

 

[Willie647]

What we are really looking for here is advise about another injection of Ivermectin. Our hen who died after the same symtoms died quickly but these two have held on for 10 days or so. The only difference in treatment between these was the shot. Makes me think I need to do it again. What do you think? I am the husband.

 

[TheyThinkI'mTheirMom]

When one gives a chicken an antibiotic or other medicine, and she gets better and starts to lay again, should one be concerned about any of the medicine getting into future eggs? Is there a period of time that one should let go by before one starts eating eggs from a formerly ill hen?

I ask because when one of my RIRs had egg perionitis [spelling!], a medicine I saw cautioned to wait at least six months before eating eggs from a chicken given this, etc. so I did not give it to my hen, and she died. By then though, she was very weak, had trouble walking, I isolated her during the day and she was very thirsty, ate very little. This lasted for about 4 days until she died, and I could tell she was suffering. I guess it is part of the experience, you lose some at times. Dots had a nice little funeral.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
No, in my opinion that would not be a good thing.

I am wondering, if not for the swollen abdomen, if this could be a case of botulism. If so though, it is progressing slowly, and I think it acts more quickly. I wish I could help, but am just not coming up with anything.

 

[Willie647]

The abdomen on both of these birds is swollen but not hard to my touch. The wife has been saying hard but I don't think so. I also keep seeing them improve,albeit slowly. If it is worms I would think a follow up shot would be called for. But I don't know,that is why I am asking for advise.