SICK HEN - 3rd one in a year, all similar symptoms

[UTAHEM]

She lays down a lot, takes a few steps and lays down, will eat and drink, comb is a little droopy, bright green and white watery poo. Progresses rapidly.

She ate an egg with 1ml polyvitasol, 1/4 cup oats, and 1 tsp Dyer (well, she shared that with her remaining flock mate). They have vitamins and electrolytes in their water and she is drinking.

She hasn't laid an egg in 3 weeks - we thought it was the stress of having some (vaccinated) babies next door.

I have a broad spectrum antibiotic - I could get a wormer in the morning. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[UTAHEM]

By "next door" I mean a separate, but adjoining run and am looking for anything else I can do or if it would help to give them a wormer or antibiotic.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you take a fecal sample to the vet to have them do a fecal float test?
Could be some type of bacterial infection or possibly worms, but it would be best to know what you are dealing with.

Poop Chart:
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

[UTAHEM]

At this point I think is ok to just try a wormer. I bought safeguard. Does anyone know how k can just give it to her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes you can dose just her if you wish, dosage for Fenbendazole (Safeguard, Panacur) at 1/4 ml per pound for 5 days in a row.

 

[UTAHEM]

Thank you very much! I have no idea how much she weighs. I think 5 lbs is a safe assumption. I know it won't do her any good if she doesn't have worms, but at this point, she is going to die if I don't try it. Is there anything special I need to watch for when I give it to her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Separate her if you haven't done so since she doesn't feel well. Make sure she drinks and eats give her her normal feed, some scrambled/hardboiled egg or tuna if she doesn't want her food.
By any chance is her abdomen swollen, is she standing like a penguin or puffed up? Since she hasn't laid an egg in while she could possibly be suffering from something like Peritonitis.

 

[UTAHEM]

I'll try to catch her and see about her abdomen - thanks for the suggestion. It is so similar to how the other hens died that I just didn't go anywhere else with it. I have opted to not separate her as I only have two adult hens left and if she has Mareks, so does the other hen already so it shouldn't make a difference. I think the separation will be too much on both of the hens. I do have babies next door, but they are in a separate pen and vaccinated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If separating her will cause more stress then of course leave her be.
I do hope she gets better, I know you are doing all you can

 

[UTAHEM]

Thanks. I figure I have to try things or put her down. I know wormers are hard on them but it's a last ditch effort.