Sick hen! Help!

[Abigail E. Taylor]

I have a 2 year old hen who was totally fine yesterday then today she is not being active tail feathers down won't eat or drink on her own.

I'm wondering if it isn't something to do with her eggs. They have always been kinda weird shaped and thin shelled. Despite me trying to give extra calcium. I felt around with a gloved lubricated finger and didn't feel anything in there. So not sure if she's egg bound or anything

Also two of her poops had light colored blood in it. Not a lot but still noticeable.

I've already gotten her to drink a little water with some nutri drench and given her a Epson salt soak.

Should I treat for worms, coccidiosis or something else?

 

[ChicNmom]

Do you know if she laid an egg today? Since she has a history of thin shelled eggs I would give her a calcium pill now. Just put it in her beak and make her swallow it. Or some Tums if you don't have a calcium supplement. If it is a stuck egg it could be further up in her system so you can't feel it.

Poop pics would be helpful. Does it look yellowish and eggy? Coccidiosis always looks like little clumps of coagulated blood to me. What I am imagining from your description sounds like something else but again hard to tell with out a picture.

How is her crop? If it's not impacted then I would give her some egg or yogurt or fruit. Anything to give her some strength and energy,

 

[Abigail E. Taylor]

Do you know if she laid an egg today? Since she has a history of thin shelled eggs I would give her a calcium pill now. Just put it in her beak and make her swallow it. Or some Tums if you don't have a calcium supplement. If it is a stuck egg it could be further up in her system so you can't feel it.

Poop pics would be helpful. Does it look yellowish and eggy? Coccidiosis always looks like little clumps of coagulated blood to me. What I am imagining from your description sounds like something else but again hard to tell with out a picture.

How is her crop? If it's not impacted then I would give her some egg or yogurt or fruit. Anything to give her some strength and energy,

She just pooped these. More blood

I know she didn't lay today. I'll give her a tums. Her crop feels fine.

 

[ChicNmom]

OK. I could be wrong but that looks like egg material. you said she laid odd shaped eggs, Does she ever lay very large eggs? I am wondering if one broke inside her and if the shell could be cutting her? Or if she ruptured something just a little to cause some bleeding.

I am 99% sure that is not coccidiosis or worms.

In this case if it were me I would be tempted to flush her out with a light betadine or epsom salt solution to flush out the egg material to reduce the chance of an infection and to also possibly flush out any bits of shell.

It is also possible she is dropping eggs with no shell.

I would also likely start her on a broad spectrum antibiotic like Amoxicillin.

Getting some food in her and having some normal poop could also help push out any bits or soft shell that could be stuck inside.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

You can get Fish Mox (Amoxicillin) at a TSC if you have one nearby. It might also be called FishBiotic. Good luck with your hen! Hoping she heals!

 

[ChicNmom]

Also, if have ever taken a chicken to the vet and have some Meloxicam you could give 1-2ml for inflammation based on weight. I think you can give 2ml for a 5-6lb hen. Or if you know someone with an older arthritic dog they may be able to give you a little.

Amoxicillin dose is 125mg 2x a day. When I have gotten Clavacillin from the vet it is a 10 day treatment. She may not need antibiotics but I have lost a few hens by waiting too late to start treatment just hoping it would resolve om it's own. Then they ended up with a reproductive infection.

Check this out. It makes a good argument for not flushing the vent. Although I would do more of a light rinse as opposed to a forceful flush if I decided to try it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/internal-egg-break-should-i-flush-vent.1181703/

Keep giving her the Tums each day until some normal eggs pass.

I hope she feels better soon!

 

[Abigail E. Taylor]

Also, if have ever taken a chicken to the vet and have some Meloxicam you could give 1-2ml for inflammation based on weight. I think you can give 2ml for a 5-6lb hen. Or if you know someone with an older arthritic dog they may be able to give you a little.

Amoxicillin dose is 125mg 2x a day. When I have gotten Clavacillin from the vet it is a 10 day treatment

You can get Fish Mox (Amoxicillin) at a TSC if you have one nearby. It might also be called FishBiotic. Good luck with your hen! Hoping she heals!

My feed store is closed now but I do have on hand the fish mox!!

 

[ChicNmom]

Good. Not sure if you saw my post above yours. Your answer came through while I was typing.

Anyway, someone else may come along with better advice but that's what I have to offer based on my experiences with my girls. And there is a ton of info if you do a search and you may find other helpful ideas.

 

[Abigail E. Taylor]

Also, if have ever taken a chicken to the vet and have some Meloxicam you could give 1-2ml for inflammation based on weight. I think you can give 2ml for a 5-6lb hen. Or if you know someone with an older arthritic dog they may be able to give you a little.

Amoxicillin dose is 125mg 2x a day. When I have gotten Clavacillin from the vet it is a 10 day treatment. She may not need antibiotics but I have lost a few hens by waiting too late to start treatment just hoping it would resolve om it's own. Then they ended up with a reproductive infection.

Check this out. It makes a good argument for not flushing the vent. Although I would do more of a light rinse as opposed to a forceful flush if I decided to try it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/internal-egg-break-should-i-flush-vent.1181703/

Keep giving her the Tums each day until some normal eggs pass.

I hope she feels better soon!

Do I give one whole tums at a time?

 

[Abigail E. Taylor]

Good. Not sure if you saw my post above yours. Your answer came through while I was typing.

Anyway, someone else may come along with better advice but that's what I have to offer based on my experiences with my girls. And there is a ton of info if you do a search and you may find other helpful ideas.

Thank you so much for your time.