Severe Diarrhea in Old Chicken

[Heatherella]

I have a 9 year old hen who is having very strange and severe diarrhea. She’s acting a little lethargic, but is still free ranging and eating with the rest of the flock. I’ve never seen anything like it in all my years of chicken keeping. The rest of the flock seems fine. With her age, I’m on the fence about trying to treat her. Suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

You could offer a spoonful of cottage cheese to see if that firms her poops. Is she drinking more water than usual? Check her crop to make sure that it is emptying overnight. What are you feeding?

 

[Heatherella]

Thank you for your response. It ended up being a more serious issue than I realized this morning (vent prolapse?) and she was euthanized at a veterinary clinic…at the bargain price of $200. I’m happy to pay the price because she deserved a peaceful passing for being such a good chicken all these years, but I’m disgusted by the veterinary clinic for charging us so much. I understand prices have increased, but that was ridiculous. I didn’t say anything, just paid the bill. I definitely won’t go there again, not even for my furry pets.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am very sorry for your loss. Prolapsed vents usually are a result of straining with a stuck egg or salpingitis and lash egg, or from constipation. A prolapse will attract pecking from other chickens, but they may be treated. At her advanced age, her survival would have been unknown. Not all will recover, but calcium is usually a start and keeping the prolapsed tissue from drying out is important.