Sick hens

[cbascom]

So a few weeks ago, I posted about my EE being possibly eggbound. Just a quick recap: she began walking like a penguin and stopped laying and was lethargic. Separated her, did antibiotics. She got better and began walking normally and laying. We put her back with the others after a separation of about 1 month. They accepted her and everything returned to normal. Then, she returned to walking like a penguin, although she behaves normally otherwise and is apparently still laying,
Today, I found that her "sister" an EE of the same age (approx 3 yrs) is lame on one leg, open mouth breathing, wings held out. She was excited that it was feeding time, and went to the food. She then appeared to vomit, although regurgitate is probably a more accurate description. Just liquid, didn't really seem to bother her. She ate a few bites, then came to water bowl, laid down and drank water. (it is 108 here today), but they had fresh water all along.
so...are the two issues related? There are no vets in my area with ANY chicken knowledge or interest.
What is my best recourse? I do not want to cull these hens, but if there is something contagious going on.....
Any help/advice you can offer is appreciated!

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not an expert but I think your first EE is an internal layer--the penguin walk is a symptom of internal laying rather than egg bound (looked it up in Diseases of Poultry.) I'm not sure why the second one is lame--did she get a sprain or injury? The regurgitation could possibly be impacted crop, but I'll bet it was from drinking so much with the high heat. I would just watch them. Hopefully you have plenty of shade and can cool down their water. If you have a kiddie pool, they could cool their legs off in it.

 

[mg15]

I would say the regurgitating is from the heat.
Heat stroke, people get like that, they drink water and vomit it up.
I put frozen gallon jugs of water in the coop at nite. and I have a dual fan in there.
the humidity is 55 percent and it is 89 degrees. I took 3 in tonite, they looked colorless and panting. It is going to be hot until next week so I need to keep a very close watch on them.

 

[ten chicks]

So a few weeks ago, I posted about my EE being possibly eggbound. Just a quick recap: she began walking like a penguin and stopped laying and was lethargic. Separated her, did antibiotics. She got better and began walking normally and laying. We put her back with the others after a separation of about 1 month. They accepted her and everything returned to normal. Then, she returned to walking like a penguin, although she behaves normally otherwise and is apparently still laying,
Today, I found that her "sister" an EE of the same age (approx 3 yrs) is lame on one leg, open mouth breathing, wings held out. She was excited that it was feeding time, and went to the food. She then appeared to vomit, although regurgitate is probably a more accurate description. Just liquid, didn't really seem to bother her. She ate a few bites, then came to water bowl, laid down and drank water. (it is 108 here today), but they had fresh water all along.
so...are the two issues related? There are no vets in my area with ANY chicken knowledge or interest.
What is my best recourse? I do not want to cull these hens, but if there is something contagious going on.....
Any help/advice you can offer is appreciated!

Heat is dangerous to chickens. Chickens do not have any sweat glands,they rely on their respiratory system to cool themselves down,that is why they pant,spread wings etc. Normal body temp for chickens is 104-107 degrees Fahrenheit,if their body temp reaches 113 degrees and up they are in danger. Keep a pail of COOL(NOT COLD)water in yard,in the event of heat stress/stroke submerge chicken up to their neck in water,this will immediately drop body temp,and possibly save their life.Check her foot for bumblefoot(sores,lumps).

Some ideas to help chickens cope with the heat are: frozen water bottles/milk jugs(place in coops/nest boxes,chickens will lay against them if hot)fans,frozen watermelon/other fruit,hose coop down during day to cool everything down,small child's pool,just enough water to get feet wet.

For the other hen,penguin walk usually indicates egg bound,or egg peritonitis,but if she is laying,then this cannot be the problem. Check her vent for any obstruction,she doesn't have vent gleet? Another thought, could be ovarian cancer,unfortunately this is a problem in hens.