Sick chicken-HELP!

[Chicalina]

A quick Google said that purple comb means she could be cyanotic, meaning not enough oxygenated blood is going round her system and that could be heart or lung related.

https://cluckin.net/the-sick-chicken-symptom-checker.html

Is she gaping with her mouth, sneezing or gasping? Does she have a raspy voice. I just suggested gape worm on another thread

Read this and see what you think https://thisnzlife.co.nz/signs-your-chickens-might-have-gapeworm-plus-how-to-treat-it/

When was the flock last dewormed?

 

[Chicalina]

Just to add, if her lungs are badly infected by gapeworms/lungworms, this can cause cyanosis, turning her comb purple and the lethargy you see.

 

[Chicken Chiquita]

This is how Red will sit all day long if I didn't move her.

Oh, i'm sorry thats happening, i think the dark comb is cause of poor circulation/not enough oxygen, or breathing problems. Maybe this will help: http://www.raising-chickens.org/why-did-hen-comb-turn-purple.html

 

[Chicken Chiquita]

No need to clarify. By production red, I meant red sex link, ISA Brown, RIRx etc etc. Not her name. They are all bred to produce an egg a day, and they get worn out much quicker than other hens, and can sometimes (not always) only live a few years because they are accelerated.

I've had them and they often had reproductive problems after 3 or so years. It is something to be aware of if they seem sick, like check that first kind of thing.

Thats been my experience too. Especially with the Sex-Links.

 

[Lisaaa]

That is good, it means that if she is egg bound then it hasn't broken inside her. That can lead to nasty infections.

Can you feel a hard egg when you palpate her lower abdomen?

Nothing hard. I even checked a couple of the other chickens to have something to compare.
No panting

 

[Lisaaa]

No need to clarify. By production red, I meant red sex link, ISA Brown, RIRx etc etc. Not her name. They are all bred to produce an egg a day, and they get worn out much quicker than other hens, and can sometimes (not always) only live a few years because they are accelerated.

I've had them and they often had reproductive problems after 3 or so years. It is something to be aware of if they seem sick, like check that first kind of thing.

Ahh. Thank you. As I said, I'm new to chickens.

 

[Chicalina]

OK, not egg bound. Other things to check:

Poop- recent? was it normal and soft or foamy, green, yellow, watery or stinky?

Crop- is it hard, soft or squishy? Does her breath stink if you open her mouth and sniff?

Has she eaten something she shouldn't have recently? poison, metal, something sharp?

Abdomen- no hard egg you say. Does it feel like she has a bag of water between her legs? Look up "Ascites", it can be common in RSLs.

I have focused on keeping her cool, because it was 35°C here in the UK today and all my animals need extra care because of it. Too hot!! The link someone else posted said to keep her warm. Use your judgment here, as you know your weather where you are.

If i think of anything else, I'll post more.

It would do no harm to deworm her now, just in case worms are overloading her system, and if not causing the current illness, could be weakening her and making her more susceptible to other illnesses.

 

[Chicalina]

Ahh. Thank you. As I said, I'm new to chickens.

You are having a steep learning curve by necessity, and your flock will be all the better for it.

You should prepare yourself for the possibility that she may go downhill very quickly, that you may not get to the bottom of why and there is nothing you can do except make her comfortable.

Chickens are funny animals. They hide how ill they are because they are prey and vulnerable to attack from other hens and predators, so you often don't know how sick they are until it is too late. If they are lying still then they are seriously ill. And sometimes they bounce back quickly once they get prompt treatment and are real fighters. I hope yours does.

 

[Beeottfirst]

From the look of her feet in the pictures they look quite inflamed...if so the infection may be affecting her body as in septicemia. A stiff round of antibiotic may be required to get it under control then soaking feet in Epson salt solution and cleaning with a SOFT brush and using antibiotic salve. I hope you get this figured out soon. Septicemia does not give you a very long window for treatment if that is the problem

 

[Lisaaa]

You are having a steep learning curve by necessity, and your flock will be all the better for it.

You should prepare yourself for the possibility that she may go downhill very quickly, that you may not get to the bottom of why and there is nothing you can do except make her comfortable.

Chickens are funny animals. They hide how ill they are because they are prey and vulnerable to attack from other hens and predators, so you often don't know how sick they are until it is too late. If they are lying still then they are seriously ill. And sometimes they bounce back quickly once they get prompt treatment and are real fighters. I hope yours does.

I wanted to thank you so much for all of your help, suggestions and kind words. Red did not make it. ((
She stopped eating or taking any water at all. I was giving her water through a dropper and she just hung her head down and it all dribbled out. I wish I knew what happened to her and why she became so ill. So far the rest of the flock seems to be healthy, although I will definitely be keeping a closer eye on them. Due to everyone's suggestions, I feel I have some supplies and information on hand for the future.
Thank you all again.