Sick Hen

[ceidrelynn]

I have three backyard chickens. A year ago we had an intruder of some sort kill two and only Ms. Blow was left. We got two new hens in spring for her to have friends and Peanut Butter & Jelly have been great with her. Two days ago Blow was on her roost when I got home. I know it's winter and but it was only 445pm. The other two were frolicking like normal. In the morning I gave them a little treat and Blow didn't seem interested, but she was out in the yard- just not her normal self.

Last night I examined to make sure she was not egg bound as the last egg I remember getting was Saturday. Again though, this isn't abnormal since it's winter and been it's coldest in the last week. I felt no egg anywhere along her. Sometimes they ruffle their rump feathers in the winter when they roost (I assume to keep warm) and she was doing that. I also noticed a HUGE amount (I feel huge) of feathers in my yard. They were white feathers though so they must be Peanut Butter's. This morning she was out again in the morning with the others and pecking a little at the ground, but she still seems lethargic to me. This evening when I got home it was just at dark, so all three were in the coop up on the roost. Blow still has the fluffed up rump feathers, and she seemed to have them this morning when she was out walking also. I can't tell if she's pulling her neck in or those feathers might be fluffed up too. I checked vents tonight and Blow and Peanut Butters look very similar, nice and pink and when you're around the area they kind of...pucker and loosen. Blow did have some little bits of white poo in her feathers around her vent also. Peanut Butter did not. (I can't catch Jelly to see hers- shes wide open 24 hrs a day!)

They are all Americauna. Blow is 2 years old and the other two are just about a year now. They have a red heat lamp in their coop since the weather has been nippy and they lay in the box closest to the heat lamp in winter. Now that I'm looking so much, I can't remember how they sleep normally with their tail feathers, honestly. Peanut Butter was sitting on the roost, crouched down, with ruffled rump feathers also tonight. I don't know if she's mimicking the "leader", Blow or is catching whatever she may have?
Normally in the winter I add a little chick feed to their laying crumble as I was told extra protein is good in the winter. I was out and just started adding this last night when I could get a bag. Also added a little probiotic to their water.

I can't bring Blow inside as I have a cat & dog inside, and the cat was recently sick. She seems content and no one is picking on her as far as I can tell. Peanut Butter and Jelly pick on each other a little, but it's always for the sleeping "pleasure" of being in the middle of the three. I've included two pictures of them- the first one is better but with a lot of red light, so I added the second. Peanut Butter seems to be tucking her wings pretty high on her back also...hmmmmm... No sneezing, coughing, or breathing problems I have noticed.

Her eyes are clear and there is no mucus. We've had a LOT of rain here and the backyard is starting to resemble a mud bog... don't know if that matters. Any other advice? I've heard ACV but I didn't think I could put it with their probiotic. Is it worth mentioning, The last time Blow laid it was NOT in their nesting box. It was below the roost on the floor. Her eggs have been rough lately also. The thickness of the shell has not changed. They're pretty good about going to the nesting box, so I thought I'd add that on.

 

[realsis]

Do they stay puffed up and feathers ruffled during the day time as well? Are they eating? Do they drink out of any of the mud puddles that you were talking about? What color is their poo? Are they acting extra sleepy? Do they stand with their eyes closed? The symptoms sound similar to coccidosis but it's rare for older birds to get it as they are usually immune to the Cocci in their home soil by that age but it is possible if a new strain was brought in some how. It's also possible that they drank from a muddy puddle that was Un clean. Also a damp area can be a breeding ground for bacteria so you would want to keep their run as dry as possible. I'm not positive but it could possibly be cocci. Let's get some other opinions and see what they think. If it is cocci you can treat with corid or amprol both being amprollium and will kill all the strains of cocci.bloody stool does NOT have to be present for cocci to be active. Let's see what others think. Because you said you have checked for egg binding, also no signs of respiratory illness, I would lean toward cocci, however being wet as it's been it's also possible that she's got a bacterial infection of sorts. Does she have diereahea as well?

 

[ceidrelynn]

I think Blows feathers are puffed during the day. I know Jelly is eating, but there is a lot of food gone for just her. They have drank out of puddles before, but I haven't noticed puddles lately. They drink rainwater though sometimes, as they have a dish outside their coop and in, and the rain has been filling their dish lately. Blow is acting extra sleepy and lethargic. I've never seen them stand with their eyes closed though. Their coop was wet with all the rain lately and wind, I cleaned it yesterday and put dry straw in the bottom of their coop. Their coop was WET though. I've seen some puddly poo but it seems it happens sometimes...my other half said there was a little diarrhea in the coop, which I suspected because of the white stuck in Blows feathers near her rear. Nothing has changed with their situation, which is why I wasn't thinking cocci but I'm just not sure.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would probably worm them with SafeGuard Horse Paste--1 pea sized or 1 ml dose per hen, and repeat in 10 days. Valbazen is also good. Then I would probably treat them with Corid (amprollium) for 5 days for coccidiosis. The dose is 1 tsp powder or 2 tsp liquid per gallon of water. She may or may not have coccidiosis, but the treatment won't harm them. Also be sure and look at their skin at the base of the feathers for lice or mites.

 

[Chickie Momma]

What do we do for mites?

 

[ceidrelynn]

Eggcessive, can those both be done consecutively? Won't hurt anyone who isn't sick, correct?