Sick hen- anyone know what could be wrong?

[Amanda052389]

This is a Welsummer hen I got about 2 months ago and I was told she’s around a year old. Yesterday I noticed she was standing with her wings drooped (it has been 90+ degrees) but also that she looked thin but I was unable to get her. Tonight she looked worse and when the rooster jumped on her she fell down and did not get back up. I was able to get her then and she’s thin, her legs are not strong (she hasn’t tried to stand since catching her) and her wings are splayed out. She’s laying down and her breathing is very raspy sounding. Her comb is still healing and feathers still coming in from being over bred at her last home (she came from a place with 65 birds that were mostly roosters). The other birds in her coop are not displaying any symptoms that I could see. Any thoughts on what this could be?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Has she been allowed to eat by the others? How have they been treating her? Did you do a see, but not touch period to introduce her to your flock? Where you got her from was it a clean tested flock?

 

[Amanda052389]

Has she been allowed to eat by the others? How have they been treating her? Did you do a see, but not touch period to introduce her to your flock? Where you got her from was it a clean tested flock?

I got her and 5 other hens and a rooster all from the same place. I kept them together and they have not been in with any of my other birds. I’ve kept them separate the entire time. She has eaten and drank from the waterer- she’s usually the first one to run over and check things out. Her previous flock was not tested but mingled with the neighbors birds because the houses were right next to each other. The other flock had been NPIP tested the day I picked them up and everything was ok with them. I assumed since the birds mingled they would be ok also. There has been a lot of rain in that area so the ground was a muddy mess and the coops were pretty dirty.

 

[Amanda052389]

I just went to check on her again. Her breathing was not raspy but I did see a white mucous like substance between her open beak. When I tried to handle her to see it better she fussed and when I let go she dropped her head down and started her raspy, labored breathing again.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’d consider some sort of insidious wasting disease process (organ failure or cancer most common): something that just causes her to waste away, muscle atrophy, weakness, susceptibility to other pathogens (immunocompromise), etc. Prognosis isn’t great but usually not highly contagious. Basically she’s using more energy than she can take in and she’s burning muscle to make up for it and wasting away on process. You can try feeding her a higher energy feed (in dogs I would go with puppy food, so maybe feed her some chick starter on the side?). Keeping her comfortable and treating symptoms is about all you can do besides euthanize when she’s miserable. Maybe get her necropsied when she does die? Might not be a bad idea to rule out mareks.

 

[Amanda052389]

I’d consider some sort of insidious wasting disease process (organ failure or cancer most common): something that just causes her to waste away, muscle atrophy, weakness, susceptibility to other pathogens (immunocompromise), etc. Prognosis isn’t great but usually not highly contagious. Basically she’s using more energy than she can take in and she’s burning muscle to make up for it and wasting away on process. You can try feeding her a higher energy feed (in dogs I would go with puppy food, so maybe feed her some chick starter on the side?). Keeping her comfortable and treating symptoms is about all you can do besides euthanize when she’s miserable. Maybe get her necropsied when she does die? Might not be a bad idea to rule out mareks.

Thank you! I’ve been reading into Mareks and am already considering euthanasia because she’s struggling. I don’t see how she can come back from this and I don’t want her to suffer for my sake.

 

[GlicksChicks]

Euthanasia could be a good option, but if you want her to perk up, try getting some electrolytes in her and see if she will eat. If she won't eat on her own then I suggest syringe feeding her some chick food that has been turned to mush enough to be put out of a syringe, unless you know how to tube feed.

 

[Momsbusiness]

This is a Welsummer hen I got about 2 months ago and I was told she’s around a year old. Yesterday I noticed she was standing with her wings drooped (it has been 90+ degrees) but also that she looked thin but I was unable to get her. Tonight she looked worse and when the rooster jumped on her she fell down and did not get back up. I was able to get her then and she’s thin, her legs are not strong (she hasn’t tried to stand since catching her) and her wings are splayed out. She’s laying down and her breathing is very raspy sounding. Her comb is still healing and feathers still coming in from being over bred at her last home (she came from a place with 65 birds that were mostly roosters). The other birds in her coop are not displaying any symptoms that I could see. Any thoughts on what this could be?

I would first say she is under nourished. That happens often in pecking order. In would also suggest she is dehydrated. Chickens need access to lots of water in this awful heat. Cool water and water that offer electrolytes are great if able to do so. Shady areas too are needed. These are some basic and simple ways to help them. Offering them greens from the garden weeding, watermelon, chopped romaine lettuce adds more nutritional foods and hydration .
Lastly, I wound out her in a separate kennel or something to fed, water and nurture her fur a few days to see how she does.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is a Welsummer hen I got about 2 months ago and I was told she’s around a year old. Yesterday I noticed she was standing with her wings drooped (it has been 90+ degrees) but also that she looked thin but I was unable to get her. Tonight she looked worse and when the rooster jumped on her she fell down and did not get back up. I was able to get her then and she’s thin, her legs are not strong (she hasn’t tried to stand since catching her) and her wings are splayed out. She’s laying down and her breathing is very raspy sounding. Her comb is still healing and feathers still coming in from being over bred at her last home (she came from a place with 65 birds that were mostly roosters). The other birds in her coop are not displaying any symptoms that I could see. Any thoughts on what this could be?

I just went to check on her again. Her breathing was not raspy but I did see a white mucous like substance between her open beak. When I tried to handle her to see it better she fussed and when I let go she dropped her head down and started her raspy, labored breathing again.

What's her crop like?
Can you look inside her beak for lesions or canker?

I'd work on hydration. Offer her sugar water. 1tsp sugar to 1 cup water. See if she can drink on her own.

Do look her over for any injuries, taking care when you pick her up that you don't press the crop up. Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs for bloat or feeling of fluid. Take note if she has lice or mites.

Photos of her poop?
When was her last egg?

Once she's drinking, offer her some wet mushy feed.

She may just be dehydrated, overbred and exhausted or having trouble with heat (heat stroke).

Could be a reproductive problem - hard to know, but hopefully we can start putting a few pieces of the puzzle together.

 

[Amanda052389]

Euthanasia could be a good option, but if you want her to perk up, try getting some electrolytes in her and see if she will eat. If she won't eat on her own then I suggest syringe feeding her some chick food that has been turned to mush enough to be put out of a syringe, unless you know how to tube feed.

She made it through the night. I’m giving her electrolytes now with a syringe. Shes not very receptive to it. I get a little in and she shakes her head to get it out. I’ve had to close her beak after putting it in with her head tilted up slightly and that seems to help. It’s slow going. I have some chick feed soaking now and have some yogurt too. I’ve never tube fed and would not feel comfortable doing that. The picture is from this morning. You can see her beak is slightly open and her eyes are closed and she’s generally very weak.