Sick hen- anyone know what could be wrong?

[Amanda052389]

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.

She was put down unfortunately but it was the right decision. I checked the birds she was with and all of them appear healthy but I did find some more lice. I did put each of them in diatomaceous earth and rubbed it all over them. I plan on doing that the next few days. Thankfully I’ve kept them separate from my other birds so it hasn’t spread.

 

[GlicksChicks]

She was put down unfortunately but it was the right decision. I checked the birds she was with and all of them appear healthy but I did find some more lice. I did put each of them in diatomaceous earth and rubbed it all over them. I plan on doing that the next few days. Thankfully I’ve kept them separate from my other birds so it hasn’t spread.

You did what you could, but unfortunately not every bird can be saved.

 

[Amanda052389]

Thank you everyone for your help! I really appreciate it!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about the hen.

Look like she was in poor condition, she may not have made it no matter what you tried.

I do suggest that since she came with the other birds, that you go ahead and get some Permethrin poultry dust and dust all of them for lice. That was the bug you found and have a picture of. Repeat dusting in 5-7 days intervals. It's a very good idea to treat housing too, Permethrin spray is easier to use in housing to spray down nesting boxes, roosting bars and get into corners of coops.

 

[Myah1011]

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.

I could be wrong but it looks like her feet have a Bumblefoot issue, I would definitely look at your other birds feet since the feet shouldn’t be swollen like that. Very sorry you had to put her down but I would definitely check the others for the same issue!
Bumblefoot is a common issue among chickens so there is lots of resources if it does end up being bumblefoot.

 

[Amanda052389]

I'm sorry about the hen.

Look like she was in poor condition, she may not have made it no matter what you tried.

I do suggest that since she came with the other birds, that you go ahead and get some Permethrin poultry dust and dust all of them for lice. That was the bug you found and have a picture of. Repeat dusting in 5-7 days intervals. It's a very good idea to treat housing too, Permethrin spray is easier to use in housing to spray down nesting boxes, roosting bars and get into corners of coops.

I bought diatomaceous earth and dusted all the birds that were around her and planned on repeating it for a few days. Do you think that’s effective enough or would you recommend the Permethrin dust instead? I went to my local tractor supply and they were very limited in what they had. They had a couple of things to prevent lice but not to treat it. The guy there said the DE was my best option.

 

[Amanda052389]

I could be wrong but it looks like her feet have a Bumblefoot issue, I would definitely look at your other birds feet since the feet shouldn’t be swollen like that. Very sorry you had to put her down but I would definitely check the others for the same issue!
Bumblefoot is a common issue among chickens so there is lots of resources if it does end up being bumblefoot.

I don’t believe it was bumblefoot only because it appeared to affect both feet on all the joints. When I looked over the rest of the birds with her their feet looked ok. I picked each one up individually and looked them over before dusting them. Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I bought diatomaceous earth and dusted all the birds that were around her and planned on repeating it for a few days. Do you think that’s effective enough or would you recommend the Permethrin dust instead? I went to my local tractor supply and they were very limited in what they had. They had a couple of things to prevent lice but not to treat it. The guy there said the DE was my best option.

No, I don't believe DE is effective as a lice/mite treatment.

You can find Permethrin based poultry spray and dust at TSC. If the store is out of stock, order it online for store pickup, this avoids shipping costs. Usually you can get it within a couple of days.

 

[Amanda052389]

No, I don't believe DE is effective as a lice/mite treatment.

You can find Permethrin based poultry spray and dust at TSC. If the store is out of stock, order it online for store pickup, this avoids shipping costs. Usually you can get it within a couple of days.





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Thank you! I will order some now.