I have a two year old black sex link hen, Verna. Yesterday, we noticed that she was walking most unusual. She walks one foot very slowly at a time and as if her stomach weighs alot. She stands like and owl, not like a hen. She is swollen everywhere but her face. Her stomach has two very large lumps stretching the skin. She drinks an abnormal amount of water. She will just drink and drink and drink with out stopping and then poop out water. She eats and poops normally. We have her inside as it is very cold, and she pecks around in the hay in her box. What do I do? What is wrong with her? I have dealt with a couple cases of eggbound but she is not acting like any of the other eggbound hens.
I recently had a sick hen so I bought "The Chicken Health Handbook". by Gail Damerow. It covers just about every disease a chicken can get. The only one that mentions "a penguin-like posture" among it's symptoms is Colibacillosis (aka E. coli infection). Which would fit because in her other book "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens" she says that Enteric Diseases such as E. coli (among others) are characterized by loose droppings, weakness, increased thirst, dehydration, and weight loss. The Health Handbook lists some of the other symptoms as- a clear eye that becomes blind, swollen leg joint filled with golden-colored fluid (could that be why she's walking strangely?), yellow, watery, or foamy diarrhea, cessation of laying, upright penguin-like posture. Cause- many strains of the bacteria commonly found in the poultry environment often infect birds with impaired resistance: often occurs as a secondary infection. Transmission- is through infected droppings, so if you think this might be what she has I would keep her isolated and try to do some clean-up as much as possible where you keep the rest of your flock. I would also watch them closely to see if any of them are showing any signs of illness. Unfortunately the book does not go into great detail about any particular disease, as far as treatment goes, and it's fairly vague as far outcome is concerned. She does say to keep birds warm and supplied with a high protein ration; also that Vitamin E supplement is recommended and it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. However, she doesn't specify what "early" is. But if it's only been a couple of days, you might be ok. She does go into what the postmortem findings would be, which I won't give you the details but I think it explains why her stomach is distended. If you think that this sounds like what she has I would consult a vet, for treatment options, outcomes, recovery (like will she ever lay eggs again?), etc. as the book is fairly vague on these points. I hope that helps a little. Good Luck!
Try a warm bath, they usually like the warm water and it may not heal her but it might make feel better. Sounds like she has fluid in her adbomen, called ascites, often from liver isssues( in humans anyway) are you sure she is not egg boumd? the bath would be the treatment for that anyway
I'd try bacitricin mixed equal part to neomycin and put 1 heaping teaspoon in a gallon of water and let her drink it for a few days and if you see improvement continue for a total of 5 days or until overcome. If you use an injectible, Baytril 10% at 1/4 cc or Pen G at 1/2 cc might work quicker. I hope you can save her. Let us know what you do.
What about the drug Corid 9.6% that is supposed to be the thing for Coccidiosos? Some posts say that it is the best treatment for that, if that is what it is. I think my new pullets may have this. They poop watery brown, but it squirts out just like water and they too seem to drink eccessively, but they eat very well also. What do y'all think about Corid and how much would you give pullets. Is it mixed in the water?
She seems to be better!!! Her stomach is still lumpy, but she is walking around fine and eating, drinking, and pooping normally. It was a nice day so we let her back outside and other than walking slow, you would never know anything was wrong with her. We will continue to keep an eye on her and thank you everyone for the feedback, it was very helpful!!!
