Sick Hen, Multiple Variables

[Anon112]

Preface: I've been having a rough week at work and I'm sick and haven't been sleeping well. I have that "not thinking clearly" feeling and could use some feedback/advice.

A few weeks ago, I was perplexed by some of my hens (but not all) being in a cycle of having diarrhea, then it would clear up, then they'd get it again. I took them to the vet who was concerned about e coli. That wasn't it, but based on the symptoms she decided it was probably an environmental bacteria and that these hens (all Delawares) were perhaps more vulnerable to it. They've been on Oxytetracycline since last Monday (so today is day 11 of treatment). They are also all at the end of a molt, and it was a hard molt for many of them.

I found one of the hens in the nesting box one morning and gave her a feel over. She had a big lump in her crop. After some advice here, a few days of coconut oil and crop massage, her crop was back to normal. But she has not gotten stronger, she's gotten weaker. Today I could tell that she's distinctly lost some weight since two days ago, approaching that sharp keelbone stage. I gave her some mash (she ate a few bites), half a vitamin B tablet, and a vitamin E gel capsule.

A few days ago I found a roundworm in one of their poops. The vet wanted to wait a few days to let them get through the molt. But I was so alarmed by the one hen's condition that I drove out to the vet to pick up the dewormer, which is Albenzadole. I dewormed only the girl who is in bad shape.

I can tell I'm veering into "kitchen sink mode", which is what happens when I get stressed about an animal being sick.

I would love some advice/perspective on what interventions to take at this point.

My thought was to have her in a large dog cage that I have in the run so that she can still be around her flock but I can tell if she's eating. Maybe offer her some scrambled egg and yogurt along with some mash.

Should I repeat the vitamins? Anything else I should be doing?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to treat them all. I haven’t wormed my chickens but i know you need to repeat the dose after a week or so to get the eggs. Let me tag someone with more experience @Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They are also all at the end of a molt, and it was a hard molt for many of them.

few days ago I found a roundworm in one of their poops. The vet wanted to wait a few days to let them get through the molt. But I was so alarmed by the one hen's condition that I drove out to the vet to pick up the dewormer, which is Albenzadole. I dewormed only the girl who is in bad shape.

Should I repeat the vitamins? Anything else I should be doing?

Albendazole is a good dewormer. Dosing is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeated in 10days. This will treat Roundworms and most other worms that poultry can have except for Tapeworms.
Albendazole is a good choice to use when birds are molting or finishing up molting compared to Fenbendazole.

Since all are on antibiotics, when finished, give them probiotics to help restore the gut. Yogurt is fine or you can use purchased probiotics.

It won't hurt to give your girl vitamins for a few weeks to see if they make a difference.

See that she's eating and drinking. Egg, fish or meat a few times a week can give a nutritional and protein boost.

I'm sorry you're not feeling well, I hope you get better soon.

 

[Anon112]

Thank you guys!

This morning I left her with about 1/2 cup of feed made into mush, mixed with a scrambled egg and topped with some yogurt. When I got home, the bowl was cleaned out. She was eager to get out and join her flockmates (I'm letting her roost with them at night), and really went after some apple chunks I gave as an end-of-day treat.

Now, the cage she was in is not rat-proof. But yesterday I did much the same thing and not much was eaten. Tomorrow I will put her in one of my "nurseries" (smaller space, but rat-proof) to make sure she's the one eating. Tonight I will again give her some vitamin B and vitamin E.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sounds like she's improving, I hope so.

Keep us posted.