Sick chicken, need advice

[algae75]

Hello Everyone,

I took in a rescue this summer, a Rhodesian Island Red hen, and put her in the barn with my one legged roo whom I named Peggy. Everything was fine until late Oct/early Nov when Lizzie, the hen in question, started giving all the signs of either worms or coccidia. She had watery poops that were yellowish green, listless, not really interested in eating, etc. I wormed her with Safeguard for goats (Peggy as well, they are separated from the rest of the flock) and treated with Corid for the appropriate time. Everything seemed fine, Lizzie got back to her old self and was eating great. About 2 weeks ago she started acting listless again, not really eating. I treated her this time with Valbazen, she did not perk up. I treated with Corid again, still nothing. I treat her with 5 days of amoxicillin (100mg twice a day), still nothing. I’m back to the Valbazen again, I’m on day 3, and I have been tube feeding her twice a day. She is not improving. I fed her around 11am this morning ( with the hopes of a 3:30pm feeding) and when I went to feed again at 3:30 her crop was still pretty full so it didn’t tube feed her. She has lost so much weight, I don’t know what to do. Any advice?

 

[azygous]

You certainly have tried everything possible. One thing I can think of to try would be a flush in the event there was a heavy worm load that couldn't be absorbed or eliminated.

Due to the crop being full, and that is a symptom of a blockage, by the way, I recommend the Epsom salts flush. One ounce of warm water and one teaspoon of Epsom salts dissolved in it. Syringe it into the beak. It all needs to get into her. This acts as a mild laxative and should dissolve the blockage and flush it out.

Do the syringe like this photo and it will avoid getting into the airway.

 

[algae75]

Thank you, I will try that in the morning.

 

[algae75]

This was her poo this morning. She as not had access to corn in over 5 days.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

This was her poo this morning. She as not had access to corn in over 5 days.View attachment 2475482

Oh! Maybe that kernel was causing the issue?? I sure hope that was it and maybe now she’ll improve .

 

[dawg53]

What are you feeding Lizzie? Why are you dosing her Valbazen 3 days in a row? It's not necessary to dose Valbazen 3 or more days in a row.

 

[algae75]

She is fed a layer mash (always available) with whole corn and sunflower seeds as a treat in the morning and at night. She has grit available as well. Several years ago I had a sick peahen so I was going off of advice given then in regards to Safeguard (3 days) and Valbazen (5 days). I think the length of days given was to be able to treat capillary worms. I can’t get a fecal done on Lizzie because we do not have a resident vet where I live, which happens to be an island 32 miles off the coast of mainland Michigan, so I can drive anywhere either.

 

[PluckyJen]

Hi there. I'm really keen to see how your chicken is after the espom flush?
My hen Hariett has been exactly the same as yours. Her comb is also darker on the ends. Was shaking her head last time she was sick, vet shop said it was worms. Treated her and she was better in no time. Now we back to unhappy again but not shaking head or showing signs of worms. I even got her two chicks recently for company as her mate passed away a couple months ago.

 

[algae75]

I gave her the warm water/epsom salt laxative at 11:30 this morning. She did another poo just like the above pic, even with a corn kernel, and that’s it. Crop feels gelatinous and is not emptying completely.

 

[dawg53]

She is fed a layer mash (always available) with whole corn and sunflower seeds as a treat in the morning and at night. She has grit available as well. Several years ago I had a sick peahen so I was going off of advice given then in regards to Safeguard (3 days) and Valbazen (5 days). I think the length of days given was to be able to treat capillary worms. I can’t get a fecal done on Lizzie because we do not have a resident vet where I live, which happens to be an island 32 miles off the coast of mainland Michigan, so I can drive anywhere either.

It would be best to feed layer feed only. Stop the whole corn and stop the sunflower seeds. Make sure she's not gorging grit.
You were given wrong advice about the wormers. You give Safeguard liquid goat wormer orally for 5 days to treat capillary worms and other types of roundworms. Then there is no need to give her Valbazen at all.
In the future if you use Valbazen, dosage is 1/2ml orally, then redose again in 10 days, and that's all. Valbazen will take care of capillary worms and other roundworms as well.
Use one wormer or the other, but not both at the same time, it's not necessary.