Sick Chicken

[seattle_chicken]

Hi all. Just signed up to ask you all a question. I was just out feeding my chickens, and noticed one was having a hard time jumping into the coop. I picked her up and saw her bottom was covered in excrement, all matted into her feathers and anus.

I got these chickens in my divorce, so don't know a whole bunch about holistic care. I took a couple images of her bottom that you can see HERE

She seems in distress, so I now am as well. I really like these chickens and would like to get her healthy again. Does anyone have some ideas of what I should do?

 

[kerbotx]

Sorry your girl is ailing; diarrhea could be from many things, some serious, some not as much. Have you changed their feed recently, or anything regarding their feeding routine?

For now, your best bet is to get her clean, see if there's anything going on beyond the runny poop - wounds, swelling, lots of irritation to the vent? Smell - of course, poop is smelly, but is there more too it, that might indicate infection?

Supportive care for now would include probiotics & electrolytes. Will she eat/drink for you? Things to think about - deworming, crop issues, laying issues. Others will chime in soon!

 

[seattle_chicken]

Sorry your girl is ailing; diarrhea could be from many things, some serious, some not as much. Have you changed their feed recently, or anything regarding their feeding routine?

For now, your best bet is to get her clean, see if there's anything going on beyond the runny poop - wounds, swelling, lots of irritation to the vent? Smell - of course, poop is smelly, but is there more too it, that might indicate infection?

Supportive care for now would include probiotics & electrolytes. Will she eat/drink for you? Things to think about - deworming, crop issues, laying issues. Others will chime in soon!

Thank you for your reply! I am going to clean her up ASAP and then put new shavings in the coop.

I haven't changed their diet at all other than adding in some sunflower seeds as a treat. She does eat and drink which is good, but I'll check for obvious distress signs after cleaning her up.

Stupid question, where would I get probiotics and electrolytes for chickens? Amazon?

 

[kerbotx]

Thank you for your reply! I am going to clean her up ASAP and then put new shavings in the coop.

I haven't changed their diet at all other than adding in some sunflower seeds as a treat. She does eat and drink which is good, but I'll check for obvious distress signs after cleaning her up.

Stupid question, where would I get probiotics and electrolytes for chickens? Amazon?

I don't know where in the world you are located, but wherever you buy chicken feed should also have the supplements, but yes, Amazon or Chewy should have options. For quick options, yogurt for probiotics, and there are homemade recipes online for electrolytes. *If actually in Seattle, then Tractor Supply

 

[seattle_chicken]

Oh! I have some yogurt I can give them!! I totally forgot my ex used to give them that.

I'm in Seattle and will check with my pet store for suppliments. Seattle is a very friendly chicken city so I'm hoping they will have it.