Sick Hen, Need Advice.

[tinyfarmer]

Hi There,

I have a hen, about 1 year old, Black Austrolorp who has separated herself from the flock. Everyone else is healthy. She has gotten worse over the period of a week or so. Not laying, tail feathers drooping, eyes closing, like she is falling asleep on her feet.
I have a call into a local bird vet, but in the meantime I wanted to see if anyone might be able to help me.

Thanks.

 

[darncat]

Electrolytes is a good start...she could be dehydrated ...I am in kind of the same situation as you as I have been treating my RIR gal. But the electrolytes bought me some time. Hopefully someone else can help you too.

 

[tinyfarmer]

thanks darn cat. plenty of water in the run so can't imagine it's dehydration, (though it may be a side effect of being so ill.)
hopefully I'll get another answer or two.
: )

 

[casportpony]

When mine get sick, this is what I do:

• *Thorough* physical exam which includes inserting a gloved, lubed finger into the cloaca to check for an egg, masses or cancer, check for cuts, bruising lumps, smells, etc.
• Dust for mites/lice with poultry dust even if I cannot see any. DE does not work.
• Weigh on digital kitchen scale (see avatar), record weight and weigh daily. any weight loss is bad.
• Place bird in a warm, quiet place on towel with food and water that it can't drown in.
• De-worm with Safeguard or Panacur, liquid or paste (fenbendazole 10%) 50mg/kg by mouth and repeat in 10 days. Warning - Safeguard/Panacur should not be used during a molt.
• Once warm, if not drinking and crop is empty, hydrate with warmed Pedialyte or lactated ringers with a feeding tube - 30ml/kg every 6-8 hours.
• If not eating after 24 hours and crop is empty, tube feed baby bird food mixed with Pedialyte
• Inspect poop.
• If I suspect a stuck egg, treat for egg binding.
• If I suspect a bacterial infection, treat with antibiotics.
• If I suspect a fungal infection, treat with Nystatin.
• If I suspect coccidiosis, treat with Corid (amprolium).
• If I suspect canker or histomoniaisis (blackhead), treat with Metronidazole

 

[casportpony]

thanks darn cat. plenty of water in the run so can't imagine it's dehydration, (though it may be a side effect of being so ill.)
hopefully I'll get another answer or two.
: )

She probably is a little dehydrated... What does her poop look like? Post a picture if you can.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799802/tube-feeding-info

-Kathy