SadesBlack
In the Brooder
- May 28, 2025
- 1
- 0
- 11
Good Morning,
Well, I wasn't wanting this type of issue for my first post on BYC but...life happens. I would like to say I have learned so much already and really, deeply appreciate all the sharing of information and care on this site. It's wonderful! Thank you!
So, on to our issue. We have a 2 month old barred rock hen named Inky that has come up sick. Thursday she was perfectly fine. I went to get my boys from a church activity around 8 and when we got back she was standing tall with her mouth open a little and not wanting to move. I checked inside her mouth and throat and felt around her neck and crop but found nothing abnormal. However, it was obvious the right of her crop was sensitive.
The next morning she had mucus in her mouth along with the other symptoms, a pale tongue, and she was very tired. Her crop was still sensitive but empty. Still no weepy eyes or running nose or any other outward signs. We sat at the vet's office for two hours while she slept.
I don't think we got the experienced "exotics" vet because other than suggesting an x-ray, he didn't seem to know what to do. We are poor, so no x-ray, but I'm pretty confident I couldn't feel anything lodged in her crop or throat. We got antibiotics though. TMS syrup 200 mg/40 mg 5 mL 0.7 mL every 12 hours. And Tylan powder to mix in the water Inky shares with our other bird, HenHen.
I am very experienced with mammals, reptiles and birds of all kinds. However, I've been blessed to not have experience tending chicken illness. I'm not at all sure what she is experiencing. I think it's some kind of infection though. I feel it's been too long for her to still be sick if it were a poison and we don't have anything I'm aware of around. Her droppings have stayed completely normal. She is hungry but can't eat or drink well because of the mucus. She looks tired around her face earlier in the day and tires easily, needing naps. Her face looks better by bedtime but she is very tired then anyway. She is slightly improved with the antibiotics and doing her best to peck around outside and even scratching a little. However, i feel like she should be more improved by now if the antibiotics were the appropriate treatment. I'm sorry this is so long but I tried to include all I could in this post. I'm sure I'm not thinking of everything to look for and beg someone's experience in helping diagnose what is going on. Our other young hen is fine. Can someone please give me some ideas of what illness this could be so I can mention it to the vet and get treatment? She is an exceptional chicken. So calm and gentle, even with our crazy busy boys. She even comes to us to snuggle. We hope, with help, we can get our Inky back to her good-natured, healthy self asap. Thank you in advance for any help. We very much appreciate it!
Well, I wasn't wanting this type of issue for my first post on BYC but...life happens. I would like to say I have learned so much already and really, deeply appreciate all the sharing of information and care on this site. It's wonderful! Thank you!
So, on to our issue. We have a 2 month old barred rock hen named Inky that has come up sick. Thursday she was perfectly fine. I went to get my boys from a church activity around 8 and when we got back she was standing tall with her mouth open a little and not wanting to move. I checked inside her mouth and throat and felt around her neck and crop but found nothing abnormal. However, it was obvious the right of her crop was sensitive.
The next morning she had mucus in her mouth along with the other symptoms, a pale tongue, and she was very tired. Her crop was still sensitive but empty. Still no weepy eyes or running nose or any other outward signs. We sat at the vet's office for two hours while she slept.
I don't think we got the experienced "exotics" vet because other than suggesting an x-ray, he didn't seem to know what to do. We are poor, so no x-ray, but I'm pretty confident I couldn't feel anything lodged in her crop or throat. We got antibiotics though. TMS syrup 200 mg/40 mg 5 mL 0.7 mL every 12 hours. And Tylan powder to mix in the water Inky shares with our other bird, HenHen.
I am very experienced with mammals, reptiles and birds of all kinds. However, I've been blessed to not have experience tending chicken illness. I'm not at all sure what she is experiencing. I think it's some kind of infection though. I feel it's been too long for her to still be sick if it were a poison and we don't have anything I'm aware of around. Her droppings have stayed completely normal. She is hungry but can't eat or drink well because of the mucus. She looks tired around her face earlier in the day and tires easily, needing naps. Her face looks better by bedtime but she is very tired then anyway. She is slightly improved with the antibiotics and doing her best to peck around outside and even scratching a little. However, i feel like she should be more improved by now if the antibiotics were the appropriate treatment. I'm sorry this is so long but I tried to include all I could in this post. I'm sure I'm not thinking of everything to look for and beg someone's experience in helping diagnose what is going on. Our other young hen is fine. Can someone please give me some ideas of what illness this could be so I can mention it to the vet and get treatment? She is an exceptional chicken. So calm and gentle, even with our crazy busy boys. She even comes to us to snuggle. We hope, with help, we can get our Inky back to her good-natured, healthy self asap. Thank you in advance for any help. We very much appreciate it!
