Sick hen, paleness, lethargic and spot on tongue

BarelyBirding

In the Brooder
Jul 12, 2020
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One of my year and a half old black sexlink hens is sick. There is definitely something going on but I’m not sure what. She has been a bit lethargic lately, but still eats and drinks and gets around fine. Her comb and wattles are pale, and when I looked inside her mouth she had a nasty red spot on her tongue. Not sure if it’s disease or if she bit it on accident. She’s (along with all my other birds) have been vaccinated for marek’s, fowl pox, new castle, avian encephalomyelitis. None of my other birds appear sick. shes Stopped laying, a long with a couple of my other hens (one of which is broody). Also, she has some genetic abnormalities like missing middle toe, and keyhole pupil which’s she’s always had.

I’m not sure what to do, she doesn’t seem in pain, just a bit lethargic and pale. Could it be worms or parasites? I want to help her as best I can...she’s been I’ll like this for the past week. and she doesn’t seem to have have mites/lice But does look like she may be molting.

any advice would be appreciated!!

 

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I have never seen the type of red lesion on the tongue as your hen has. I would suspect a bite or peck from another chicken, but there could be some sort of cancer. Did you get human oral canker medicine, such as campho phenique, or did you get bird canker medicine such as Fish Zole. That does not look like bird canker, which is a protozoan infection. Those and wet fowl pox cause yellow thick caseous material in the beak.
 
You bird does not look well.
Is a vet visit an option?
at what age was your bird vaccinated for Marek's?
 
She was about three days old when vaccinated for marek’s. Vet could be possible, but I’d have to drive far away. I live in a small rural town with no avian vets nearby.
 
I will say her left keyhole eye has always been that way. Her other eye looks fine too, they both react to light.
 
I read that sometimes the comb can go pale when chickens molt, she is molting. But that doesn’t explain the nasty spot in her mouth. Does anyone know how to treat oral sores in chickens? I have antibiotics I can give her.
 

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