Sick hen, super-puffy, asleep on feet, NOT NORMAL Please Help!

[alamogirl]

Here's my case:

8 month americauna/isa brown mix, great layer, always really healthy except for a little diarrhea a few weeks ago. But she's seemed totally fine since.
It's been super cold (like everywhere) we've mostly been in low teens, but some nights in negatives.
I only have 2 birds in a 4x4 ft coop. Was worried about the cold, got them a heat lamp but then it seemed like they were never sleeping.
I should add, they've been free in the backyard all summer, but since the snow, they don't venture out of the coop, or right under it (where their food and water is). So, they've been really "cooped up." And my other girl seems just fine and normal and healthy.

But today Ida Brown is just standing there, like she's asleep and her feathers are SUPER puffy. Her rear has a little dried poop on it, like she had a few weeks ago. She's been like that all day, only pecking at food a little bit. She wouldn't even go to bed, she pecked at me (definitly not normal!) and it seemed like she could barely move.

She laid her egg on the poop plank this morning which cracked it. That's definitely not normal either.

Any ideas? I lost one to a hawk 1 month ago. I'm down to just two. I'd hate to lose another.

Thanks so much!

 

[purpletree23]

Instead of a heat lamp get a sweeter heater. It is inexpensive and does not 'light up' and is very safe so there is a lot less chance of a fire. Go to sweeterheater.com and purchase a small unit. One that hangs. If you mention that it is for poultry they will ship it for free.

Sorry your girls is not feeling well. Is she eating and drinking? This weather has really done a lot of damage to a lot of chickens and other animals. Sounds like she is under a lot of stress poor thing. Your other hen is experiencing the same thing so treat both at the same time. Put some gatorade in their water for a day or 2. Go with a 50/50 mix. Give them extra treats to give them some energy. Scrambled egg, chopped fresh greens, well cooked pasta and scratch.

What are they eating now?

Have they ever been wormed?

Is their coop draft free and what is the temp usually?

Mix some yogurt, approx a tablespoon with some cheerios and give it to them everyday for a week. Sometimes this can clear up digestive issues.

Clean up her rear end and cover it with vaseline so the poop won't stick anymore.

 

[JP33]

I just lost a bird this evening exhibiting some of those same symptoms. After going through what I did the last four days, the most sensible advice I could give is bring the birds in out of the cold as chickens are social birds and one lone bird out in the cold is likely a recipe for disaster.

I was advised to feed like Purpletree suggests and to give electrolytes/vitamins in water (packets from feed store, readily available) for no more than 3 days.

I was too late in bringing my bird in. Please don't make the mistake I made. I put mine in a large dog carrier on pine bedding.

Best wishes!


...JP

 

[alamogirl]

Thank you! I will try all those things. I just hope she makes it through the night.

To answer some questions,

they eat the purina layer crumbles from tsc.

they've never been wormed.

i feed them oatmeal and other treats, and scratch every other day-ish.

i try to keep the coop at about 20*, but before I got the heat lamp, it's been down to 0.

I change their water 3x a day or more.

Their coop is very draft free, but not insulated.

If she doesn't make it, I will try to find a home for the lone bird. I don't want her to be alone. I will be so sad to not have any chickens.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Sorry, dear. Sometimes, they just up & die. I had a SLW that was a dear, dear girl & she got a pale comb & died within a couple days. Soooo sad. I have researched the heck out of this. The only way I can explain this to the family is to say that it's like cancer in humans. You are smart to make plans for a sole survivor.

 

[purpletree23]

How is she today? Because it has been so cold out is it possible to keep them in the house. Maybe not the main part of the house but an enclosed somewhat warm porch?

 

[alamogirl]

OK, I think my hen may have coccidiosis. Is it possible for an 8 month old to have that?

She's got the super runny poop with bright yellow.

So I give her corrid, right? Where can I find the dosage instructions? What I have is 20% and it's a powder.

Any help?

 

[Andora]

I don't think cocci causes yellow poop? All of my birds always get bloody poop, it looks like ground beef then progresses to just straight blood splats instead of poo.

I do think that yellow mustard looking poop is a sign of worms. Someone who knows more could chime in! Worms are one thing my chickens haven't had.

You should try giving your sickly hen grape fruit seed extract. (They sell it at places like Whole Foods in the health care section.) If she has an infection brewing somewhere inside of her then it will help knock it down pretty fast! You can put 10 drops of it in a gallon of water, or a couple drops in a little bowl of water then suck some up with a syringe to drip on her beak. Put it in the water for 3-5 days, like an antibiotic. Organic apple cider vinegar in the water will help also, and they seem to like the taste of it a lot. The combination of organic ACV and the GSE almost always works when I have a mysteriously ill bird. (It won't hurt your other hen to drink it too!) GSE is also supposed to kill parasites, but I'm not sure how effective it is.

If she's lethargic and not eating or drinking, then a little bit of warm honey water or smashed berry in warm water will perk her up.

I hope she gets better!

 

[alamogirl]

Thank you! I happen to have GSE on hand and I love it. I use it all the time for myself, but never thought of for the birds! I have organic APV too. I will add to water. It can't hurt.

She's doing TONS better today. I was prepared for death this morning, when I brought out the yogurt and cherrios (well, actually chex since I didn't have cheerios) she hopped down and ate a bunch. Good sign.

She's been considerably less ruffled and fluffed up today and moving around like normal. Eating well too.

But not drinking much.

I gave her a bath and got the dingleberries unstuck and cleaned up. I feel like that was some farmgirl rite of passage I went through...
Her bum was more crusted up than I thought, so I'm glad I did it.

I'll look into the worms thing too.

thank you!