Sick chicken—any help allreciated

[Rachel_2525]

Hello—one of our Rhode Island reds appears ill. She has been increasingly lethargic for two days, and this morning did not come down from the roost. She appears to have a little drool that is slightly sticky coming from her mouth; it appears mostly clear but a little brown. She also has a goopier poo than normal that is white, light brown and dark dark brown. Not sure if she has stopped eating altogether; we just isolated her this morning to try to figure that out and protect the other girls. But she did not come out for morning treat this morning. She had sour crop a few months ago which we (I believe) successfully treated and her crop is not swollen now. Final piece of info is after my husband picked her up this morning he had an itch/pain and has several tiny bites around where he held her. Any advice/guidance is much appreciated!

Sorry, should also note this girl had pasty butt as a chick. We cleaned the poo off last night and it was back this morning. Do not feel a stuck egg but of course could have missed it.

 

[Debbie292d]

That's a horrible way to find out your chickens have mites.

I would pick up some Permethrin/garden powder and dust her and every chicken. If you can clean the coop out, haul everything out and burn it, then put fresh bedding in and dust it all again, including the nests. One method some use to dust their chicken is to put the powder in an old tube sock and pat it all over them. Pay special attention to their butt and under their wings. Gently get their head and neck too, basically, their whole body. Repeat in a week to 10 days as some mite eggs will hatch in the meantime, so this gets them as well.

Mites can take a toll on a chicken, so no telling if this is the cause or not, but they can also kill a chicken, so good to take care of this, then reevaluate.

I'd also put them on a probiotic ritual of a two to three times a week. You can put powdered probiotics in their water, give them a teaspoon or two of Greek yogurt, or ferment grains, the three best ways to give probiotics. That can help their digestive system, crop and the pasty butt.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? Does she have any food in her crop now? Check and feel her crop first thing in the morning to see if her crop is empty and flat. I would hold some fluids with electrolytes up to her beak to sip. Has she been laying eggs recently? Have you seen any thin shelled eggs? Does she she any signs of starting to molt? Permethrin garden dust or the spray may be used on the chicken for mites or lice. Martins or Gordons Permethrin 10 concentrate can be mixed in water 1 tsp for each quart of water, and used on the chicken or to treat the coop, nests, and roosts. About 15 ml (1 tablespoonful) per chicken is all that is used.

 

[Rachel_2525]

That's a horrible way to find out your chickens have mites.

I would pick up some Permethrin/garden powder and dust her and every chicken. If you can clean the coop out, haul everything out and burn it, then put fresh bedding in and dust it all again, including the nests. One method some use to dust their chicken is to put the powder in an old tube sock and pat it all over them. Pay special attention to their butt and under their wings. Gently get their head and neck too, basically, their whole body. Repeat in a week to 10 days as some mite eggs will hatch in the meantime, so this gets them as well.

Mites can take a toll on a chicken, so no telling if this is the cause or not, but they can also kill a chicken, so good to take care of this, then reevaluate.

I'd also put them on a probiotic ritual of a two to three times a week. You can put powdered probiotics in their water, give them a teaspoon or two of Greek yogurt, or ferment grains, the three best ways to give probiotics. That can help their digestive system, crop and the pasty butt.

Thanks so much! We found some permethrin powder and also the liquid. Do you recommend one over the other?

 

[Rachel_2525]

How old is she? Does she have any food in her crop now? Check and feel her crop first thing in the morning to see if her crop is empty and flat. I would hold some fluids with electrolytes up to her beak to sip. Has she been laying eggs recently? Have you seen any thin shelled eggs? Does she she any signs of starting to molt? Permethrin garden dust or the spray may be used on the chicken for mites or lice. Martins or Gordons Permethrin 10 concentrate can be mixed in water 1 tsp for each quart of water, and used on the chicken or to treat the coop, nests, and roosts. About 15 ml (1 tablespoonful) per chicken is all that is used.

She is almost three years old. I gave her some bio mass today along with some egg on the suggestion of the feed corral employee who raises chickens. Please tell me if that was a mistake. I am not sure if she is laying but we have her isolated now from the others so should know soon if she is laying or not. Her crop definitely does not feel like it did the last time she had sour crop, but maybe it is that and I caught it earlier?

 

[Rachel_2525]

She is almost three years old. I gave her some bio mass today along with some egg on the suggestion of the feed corral employee who raises chickens. Please tell me if that was a mistake. I am not sure if she is laying but we have her isolated now from the others so should know soon if she is laying or not. Her crop definitely does not feel like it did the last time she had sour crop, but maybe it is that and I caught it earlier?

And thank you so much for responding!

 

[Eggcessive]

Either type of permethrin is fine. The liquid can be sprayed in the coop, roosts, and in nests once coop bedding is removed. The dust is preferred in cold weather on chickens bodies or to keep from getting wet and chilled. The crop should be empty and difficult to feel normal in the morning and have food and water in it in the late afternoon/evening. A boost of electrolytes and vitamins and some cooked egg would be good for her.