Sick hen...what do I do now?

[brusternme]

I need someone's opinion please. I have a sick ISA Brown hen. I have been treating the whole flock (7 girls and 1 roo) for lice the last two weeks. I am going to dust again on Thursday and I think that the lice problem will be a thing of the past! Yea! Now I have one girl who is very listless. She is not eating very well and has a slimy, runny poo, and no eggs. Any ideas? Does she need to be worked, if so what do I use? I am fairly new to raising these wonderful birds. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[leenie]

That one girl might have a ton of lice on her which can kill her if you don't get them dead quick. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=480275 Here is a thread just started on lice and I will absolutely agree on using VCO to stop lice in a very short time. VCO starts immediately destroying the lice exoskeleton as well as the egg shells and they DIE.

Like the wicked witch and water

I'm melting, I'm melting. . .

Chemicals take time and well. . . they are chemicals.

Start there, kill the parasites, give her TLC with some electrolytes and scrambled egg for starters. Someone more knowledgeable may suggest better pick me ups for her than I did. I know how to fight lice.

 

[eggfire]

Mine LOVE cooked oatmeal. LOVE it!

 

[brusternme]

What is VCO? Is that the brand name? Can I get it at TSC? (Tractor Supply)

 

[leenie]

Quote:
Sorry, virgin coconut unrefined oil. Find locally at healthfood or vitamin stores, Wholefoods, Trader Joes and sometimes Walmart. Online tons of places. Good for you too

 

[leenie]

dbl post

 

[brusternme]

Hi guys...I feed my girl some scrambled egg today and she ate the whole thing! I am going to try and give her some more protien tonight. Thank you all so much for your help! I will have to see if I can find the VCO online. Nothing around here that would carry it.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I had one of my hens behave the exact same way a few months ago: listlessness, lack of appetite & energy, lack of production and diarrhea. I brought her in, kept her warm, fed her oatmeal, worms, cooked green beans, peppers; foods with high amounts of vitamins A & K are good for a sick chicken, as is a lot of protein. And lots of water. Make sure she stays hydrated, even if you have to force it into her with an eyedropper.
She was back to her old self in 4 days. Hope you fare equally as well. Good luck!

 

[leenie]

Quote:
Someone else recently stated here that regular vegetable oil worked similarly to the VCO. Maybe start there and see how it goes. BTW I order my VCO online all the time. . . it's usually much less expensive.

Glad to hear your lady is perking up. Those lice can literally suck the life out of a bird.