Sick hen, need advice

[Farmingmum91]

My hen has been looking ill this past week, her comb has drooped, she’s looking thin compared to her sister. She has diareah that’s white with yellow and it’s made her bum really mucky.

she’s been lying down a lot, I’ve bought some energy boost to put in their water that also makes them have an appetite. And an all complete feed that has wormer in it (in case this is worms) but she’s not eating.

any suggestions what this can be?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of the hen and her poop?

Is she laying eggs?

I would check her crop to see if it's empty in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink, feel her abdomen for bloat/fluid and look her over for lice/mites.

If she's not drinking, you may need to syringe fluids into her, getting her hydrated would be the first thing I would do.

What is the feed with a wormer in it? Got a name or photo of the product?
Where are you located in the world?

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she, and has she recently been laying eggs? Photos of droppings may be helpful.

 

[Farmingmum91]

Hi Thankyou for your replies, she’s not laying any eggs, no lice or mites as thoroughly checked the coop and both hens. I’m in the U.K. in Northamptonshire..the other hen is very alert and healthy. It’s just this one that’s gone the other way the poops are a lot better than what I last saw yesturday, but their massive. She’s been in this spot all day and hasn’t moved.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi Thankyou for your replies, she’s not laying any eggs, no lice or mites as thoroughly checked the coop and both hens. I’m in the U.K. in Northamptonshire..the other hen is very alert and healthy. It’s just this one that’s gone the other way the poops are a lot better than what I last saw yesturday, but their massive. She’s been in this spot all day and hasn’t moved.

She's not feeling well.

If she's not laying eggs, then I would feel her abdomen to see if there's bloat or fluid.

I would suspect with her drooped over comb and the slight purple/blue tint of the comb that she has a reproductive disorder. Peritonitis, cancer, Salpingitis, etc. are common in laying hens. Sadly there's not a lot that can be done but to offer some comfort and supportive care.
I would get some poultry vitamins into her, check her crop to see that it's empty in the morning and re-evaluate. I've had some that bounced back after a day or so, but others have declined and I made a decision to cull.

 

[Farmingmum91]

She's not feeling well.

If she's not laying eggs, then I would feel her abdomen to see if there's bloat or fluid.

I would suspect with her drooped over comb and the slight purple/blue tint of the comb that she has a reproductive disorder. Peritonitis, cancer, Salpingitis, etc. are common in laying hens. Sadly there's not a lot that can be done but to offer some comfort and supportive care.
I would get some poultry vitamins into her, check her crop to see that it's empty in the morning and re-evaluate. I've had some that bounced back after a day or so, but others have declined and I made a decision to cull.

Thankyou very much for your reply, she’s been like this for a week, this would be her second week and no improvement, I’ve just been to see her and she full on squirted out poo, it’s pure liquid....she’s had cornflakes this evening as that’s all that’s appealing to her, she looks at the layers pellets and looks at her water but doesn’t touch it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thankyou very much for your reply, she’s been like this for a week, this would be her second week and no improvement, I’ve just been to see her and she full on squirted out poo, it’s pure liquid....she’s had cornflakes this evening as that’s all that’s appealing to her, she looks at the layers pellets and looks at her water but doesn’t touch it.

The only other thing would be to have a fecal float to check for worms, but that would be more for supportive care.
I'm very sorry that she's not doing well. It can be heartbreaking when a hen is like this.

 

[Farmingmum91]

The only other thing would be to have a fecal float to check for worms, but that would be more for supportive care.
I'm very sorry that she's not doing well. It can be heartbreaking when a hen is like this.

I’m just not sure as to why she’s like this when her sister is doing absolutely fine and she’s not affected, they share the same coop, they roam together etc. So not sure what’s happening.
Today the sick hen has laid down all day and not roamed once, apart from this evening and then I witnessed her squirt her poop out I’m not sure what I can do. I feel useless really.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m just not sure as to why she’s like this when her sister is doing absolutely fine and she’s not affected, they share the same coop, they roam together etc. So not sure what’s happening.
Today the sick hen has laid down all day and not roamed once, apart from this evening and then I witnessed her squirt her poop out I’m not sure what I can do. I feel useless really.

No 2 birds are alike.

For me, 2 weeks is a long time for a bird to be like that. If I can't get them to rally in a few days with supportive care then I put them out of their misery. I do investigate further to see if I can find a reason for their decline. All the laying hens I've performed necropsies on have had some type of reproductive problem. Sadly, there's no cure or no way to fix them, I'm sorry.

If vet care is an option, then taking her for evaluation would be a good idea.

 

[Farmingmum91]

just given them more cornflakes seeing as she’s eating these. And just watching them...the healthy hen is pecking away the sick hen as if to say “get away from my food” ....could this be the reason that my hen has declined? Coz this hen is bullying her and won’t let her eat??