Sick hen- anyone know what could be wrong?

[Amanda052389]

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.

I would agree she appears undernourished. It has been consistently hot here. In her coop there is a 5 gallon waterer that I change out daily. They barely get through half of it but I change it and wipe it out to prevent growth in the heat. I have a feeder that holds 25 lbs of feed that I top off when needed and she has access to shade all the time. I do try to get them some type of greens regularly whether I just pluck a bunch of grass and flowers or have extra fruit/veggies for them.
I do have her separated now. I’ve kept her in my house overnight in a spare room that’s dark and quiet and cooler than outside. Im syringe feeding her pedialyte and going to attempt yogurt. Someone recommended mixing chick feed with water to make a mush so I’m trying that too.
Her breathing stopped being raspy but her beak remains open with a droopy head and eyes.

 

[Amanda052389]

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.

Her crop is empty as of this morning but it was also empty last night when I took her in. I don’t see anything odd in her mouth but have attached a picture of her mouth to see if you see something I don’t.

I have been working on hydration with pedialyte- do you recommend sugar water over that? She’s not drinking on her own so I’m using a syringe. I tried to bring the pedialyte up to her beak and she shakes her head away from it.

I haven’t noticed any injuries other than her toes look weird to me. They’ve looked like that since I got her. She used to roost up in trees all day to avoid the roosters per her previous owner and would fly down at night and run into the coop. I’m not sure if it’s from that? I’ve attached a picture of her feet. Do you have any idea what’s wrong with them?

Her abdomen is bony and not fluid filled. I have a picture where you can see her bone protruding from between the feathers. No signs of lice or mites but feeling her over she’s so bony and thin.

I don’t have any photos of her poop. She did not go last night while separated and her back end is pretty clean. No runny diarrhea or poop stuck to it.

I’m unsure of her last egg. The welsummers do not lay daily. There were no eggs from them yesterday but the day before I had 2 Welsummer eggs but I’m unsure if it was hers. She has not laid today as of yet. Based on her condition I doubt she’ll be laying.

 

[Momsbusiness]

Yes, I'd keep. Pushing the electrolytes. Or may take a couples of days to improve her. Making some layers mash mush would be good. Maybe try some small amounts of cooked Oatmeal and even scrambled eggs for some protein. Applesauce is a good hydration food and can help with sugar lows. Keep us updated.

 

[GlicksChicks]

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.

It may take a good amount to get her to perk up. The electrolytes and water in her food should also help give her some hydration.

Can you listen to her chest and see if there is any rattling?

Has she pooped since she has been inside?

 

[Amanda052389]

Yes, I'd keep. Pushing the electrolytes. Or may take a couples of days to improve her. Making some layers mash mush would be good. Maybe try some small amounts of cooked Oatmeal and even scrambled eggs for some protein. Applesauce is a good hydration food and can help with sugar lows. Keep us updated.

I’m giving her electrolytes now. She’s on my lap as I respond. I’m giving her a little break. She’s pretty weak so being cooperative because of it. I didn’t think of applesauce. That’s a good idea! I was considering scrambled eggs but did the chick feed mash and yogurt for now. I will try that also. Thank you!

 

[Amanda052389]

It may take a good amount to get her to perk up. The electrolytes and water in her food should also help give her some hydration.

Can you listen to her chest and see if there is any rattling?

Has she pooped since she has been inside?

I don’t hear any rattling and she has not pooped yet. Someone else mentioned lice or mites and I didn’t initially see any but must not have looked enough or in the right spots. I just saw a small bug crawling and upon further inspection found more! Could they cause this?!

 

[Amanda052389]

Her crop is empty as of this morning but it was also empty last night when I took her in. I don’t see anything odd in her mouth but have attached a picture of her mouth to see if you see something I don’t.

I have been working on hydration with pedialyte- do you recommend sugar water over that? She’s not drinking on her own so I’m using a syringe. I tried to bring the pedialyte up to her beak and she shakes her head away from it.

I haven’t noticed any injuries other than her toes look weird to me. They’ve looked like that since I got her. She used to roost up in trees all day to avoid the roosters per her previous owner and would fly down at night and run into the coop. I’m not sure if it’s from that? I’ve attached a picture of her feet. Do you have any idea what’s wrong with them?

Her abdomen is bony and not fluid filled. I have a picture where you can see her bone protruding from between the feathers. No signs of lice or mites but feeling her over she’s so bony and thin.

I don’t have any photos of her poop. She did not go last night while separated and her back end is pretty clean. No runny diarrhea or poop stuck to it.

I’m unsure of her last egg. The welsummers do not lay daily. There were no eggs from them yesterday but the day before I had 2 Welsummer eggs but I’m unsure if it was hers. She has not laid today as of yet. Based on her condition I doubt she’ll be laying.

UPDATE- I did find bugs on her! I didn’t search throughly enough the first time I guess! There so small and yellow/tan in color with a black dot on their backs. Could they be causing all of this?! How do I treat this and should I be treating the other birds that were with her as well?

I tried to take a picture but it’s hard due to its size. I put it on a yogurt top to prevent it from moving and contrast.

I have toddlers/dogs/cat- I should no longer keep her in my house correct? I don’t want it to spread. I also have eggs due to hatch tomorrow

 

[GlicksChicks]

I don’t hear any rattling and she has not pooped yet. Someone else mentioned lice or mites and I didn’t initially see any but must not have looked enough or in the right spots. I just saw a small bug crawling and upon further inspection found more! Could they cause this?!

I would suggest an epsom salt bath and soak her in it, and also a dawn bath, it should hopefully smother them. Make sure to rinse her off thoroughly after.

It could be possible depending on the type of mites.

 

[Amanda052389]

I would suggest an epsom salt bath and soak her in it, and also a dawn bath, it should hopefully smother them. Make sure to rinse her off thoroughly after.

It could be possible depending on the type

I would suggest an epsom salt bath and soak her in it, and also a dawn bath, it should hopefully smother them. Make sure to rinse her off thoroughly after.

It could be possible depending on the type of mites.

She’s taken a serious turn for worse. Her one eye appears to have a red ring around it. I went out to get supplies and when I got home her head was at a weird angle and she knocked over the food and water I left for her. She let me correct her head position but is declining rapidly. This is gross but she just shot a big squirt of yellow diarrhea out. Just liquid and her breathing is getting worse. I think it’s time to call it

 

[GlicksChicks]

She’s taken a serious turn for worse. Her one eye appears to have a red ring around it. I went out to get supplies and when I got home her head was at a weird angle and she knocked over the food and water I left for her. She let me correct her head position but is declining rapidly. This is gross but she just shot a big squirt of yellow diarrhea out. Just liquid and her breathing is getting worse. I think it’s time to call it

Unfortunately, I think calling it would be for the best. A necropsy could be good to see what is wrong.

When you find out what is wrong, if you do a necropsy, I would suggest letting the person who gave you the hen know what happened, just in case other birds could have the problem.