Sick Hen?

[MissBridgie]

I think one of my hens might be sick. She was still standing in the roost at 8:30am, the rest of the ladies were let out at 5:30am. By 9:15 she was out just standing by the water and she hasn't moved more than a few inches in the last hour and a half. I'm not sure where to start or what to look for! This is my first flock and my first sad hen! I took a picture because her comb is leaning to the side and looks discolored.

Please help!

 

[Naunnie]

Hard to say what is going on with her. More information would be helpful. What do they eat? Has she been laying? Have they been dewormed? Can you handle her?

I would isolate her so you can observe her closer. Need to know if she is drinking/eating and what her poo looks like.

 

[FLSwampStomer]

her legs look blue?

 

[MissBridgie]

Her legs do look blue in the picture but that was just the shade or angle they are normal color. She has not moved more than two feet since this morning. She is either standing or laying in the shade in the covered outdoor run. She ate and drank just once and it wasnt much. They are fed organic chicken feed with a little cracked corn and oyster shells sprinkled in. I sat with her in my lap for about an hour. She seems to be breathing fine. I didn't find any bugs or anything on her. She had one bowel movement and it was diarrhea but no blood or anything. I hope that helps?! I don't know what else to check or if I should try treating her with something.

 

[Eggcessive]

Her comb looks to have blue tips. She might have a heart problem. Have you had any cocci problems in the past. Adult hens can sometimes get exposed to a new strain they are immune to, maybe from moving to a new place, having other birds move in, or just bring it in on your shoes. Corid liquid (2 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days) would be the drug to treat with if you suspect that, and it won't hurt her to treat for it, even if she doesn't have it. Blood may not be present in the poo to have cocci. Look her over for lice and mites all over and around her vent, feel her crop to see if it is emptying in the morning. Has she been wormed?

 

[FLSwampStomer]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/blue-comb

 

[MissBridgie]

Thank you so much for your help so far! I do not know if they have been dewormed. We got our flock from my husband's uncle who was moving. They moved within the last two months to our house. They are just over a year old. He lost three hens last year but didn't say much other than they were beaten up by the others. He is old school so I'm willing to bet they haven't been given much other than food and water. Should I deworm them now? We have just had a drop in egg production the last 3 days so I don't know if she hasn't been laying.
Should I treat all the hens? Are the eggs safe to eat right now? Anything else that I should think about or look out for?

 

[Eggcessive]

The best wormer is valbazen cattle and sheep wormer, and it is 1/2 ml per chicken by mouth, and repeat in 10 days. If you can't find that, try Safegard liquid goat wormer, 1/2 to 3/4 ml dose. Through out the eggs or feed them to the dogs for 14 days after last dose. They all probably should be wormed, but I'm concerned what is really wrong right now. If you see any blood in the droppings, I would definitely treat everyone for cocci. The eggs are safe to eat now, and while on Corid for cocci, but not after treating for worms. It is up to you to decide whether to worm or treat for cocci first.

 

[MissBridgie]

Should I just treat for cocci to be on the safe side? Would I treat all of them? Then once she is healthy again I can deworm. Is there any harm in giving the worm medicine if they have already been dewormed? Is there any illness a chicken could get that would clear up on its own? We removed her from the flock and she seemed to be eating and drinking more this afternoon but she was still not moving around too much. Her comb does seem to be blue on the tips. Should I treat for possible bluecomb too? I really appreciate all your help

 

[Eggcessive]

The question on which way to go in treatment has to be made by you. You can worm her today. Then you can start them all on Corid for 5 days. Did you remove her for her safety, or that you felt she might be contagious? If she has anything contagious, the others would already be exposed. If you feel she will be better off, leave her separate, but if not I would put her back in with the others. If she is still doing the same after cocci treatment, you might want to think about antibiotics. Or you could start the antibiotic and skip the Corid. Your vet might be able to run a stool sample to test for cocci if you call.