Sick Hen

[SharonC]

My hen is 5 years old, suddenly could not get up on her perch to sleep. Pale comb, beak open to breathe, panting. No cough or runny eyes. Won't move, just lays down. Won't eat or drink. My other 5 hens are doing fine. Not sure what is going on...any suggestions, ideas or advice greatly appreciated.

 

[leadwolf1]

Has it been really hot where you are?

If so, she could be experiencing a little heat exhaustion. If not, does she still lay eggs? What do her droppings look like? Has she been eating and drinking?

 

[ChickSter99]

My hen is 5 years old, suddenly could not get up on her perch to sleep. Pale comb, beak open to breathe, panting. No cough or runny eyes. Won't move, just lays down. Won't eat or drink. My other 5 hens are doing fine. Not sure what is going on...any suggestions, ideas or advice greatly appreciated.

Is it the heat? I've been giving mine electrolytes in their water because it has been so hot here. I hope she feels better soon. I have only gotten started in this but there are a lot of people on here that can help. Maybe someone will come along with a solution.

 

[dawg53]

My hen is 5 years old, suddenly could not get up on her perch to sleep. Pale comb, beak open to breathe, panting. No cough or runny eyes. Won't move, just lays down. Won't eat or drink. My other 5 hens are doing fine. Not sure what is going on...any suggestions, ideas or advice greatly appreciated.

When was the last time you wormed your chickens? Inspect her for lice/mites.

 

[SharonC]

She doesn't have mites. She has stopped laying, green diarrhea and is weak. Won't stand or walk. I am syringe watering her. Have given antibiotics.

 

[leadwolf1]

Green diarrhea can mean several things but the most common is starvation and bacterial infection. How is her weight? Have you tried making a mash with layer food, water and yogurt? Sometimes they will eat this when they will eat nothing else. Some poly vi sol might help keep her strength up. I would give her .5mls per day.

 

[SharonC]

I've tried yogurt. Will try layering the mash. Thanks.

 

[dawg53]

Green diarrhea can mean several things but the most common is starvation and bacterial infection. How is her weight? Have you tried making a mash with layer food, water and yogurt? Sometimes they will eat this when they will eat nothing else. Some poly vi sol might help keep her strength up. I would give her .5mls per day.

You're right about green diarrhea as an indicator of starvation. What would cause starvation? Worms.
If it were an infection, the cause would usually be E coli, which normally causes yellowish/green diarrhea. If this were the case, high powered antibiotics in combination with poultry nutri drench and probiotics would be required IF caught in time, she would gave to be tube fed. Death usually occurs once E coli gets ahold in their system. I've dealt with E coli. Sorry SharonC, it may be too late for your hen, I wish you the best.

 

[terryg]

Two things could be going on. At her age she could have cancer, tumors, ascites, internal laying or an infected, impacted repro tract. The list is long. The outward symptoms are all similar, and the outcome bad for all of those issues. By the time there is off-colored diarrhea the diseases have progressed. (I write about all of those things on my blog.) Five is old for a hen and I suspect that she's near the end. You might want to read this: http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/06/the-kindness-of-euthanizing/

If her symptoms were just a pale comb and listlessness, it could be something that could be put to right. Older hens are nutritionally depleted and sometimes my "spa treatment" will help. http://hencam.com/faq/the-spa-treatment/
The epsom salt bath helps the mineral balance, and also move things along so that any blockages get expelled. It's often just the thing for hens with pale combs. (BTW, I'm skeptical that it would be worms, but if there is a severe infestation you'll see bits of them in the manure.)