Sick hybrid and what to do?

[RedHillChicken]

She took the pill in one gulp. Her eyes look clear. Checked her crop and it felt empty. Her stomach wasn't hard, no sign of a stuck egg. Vent looked clean. We'll know tomorrow if there's any improvement. We may isolate her in the garage so she doesn't get pecked. Anything else to look for?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, I'd give the extra Calcium.

If possible, take a sample of her poop to your vet to see if she'd benefit from deworming as well.

 

[RedHillChicken]

I agree, I'd give the extra Calcium.

If possible, take a sample of her poop to your vet to see if she'd benefit from deworming as well.

I wanted to give you an update. We just gave our sick hybrid her 2nd calcium tablet. We observe that she has no yellow discharge from her vent, and that observable poop looks normal. She's eating bread we offer her, but the most promising thing is that her comb has no sign of the bluish or purplish tint that was there yesterday. Also, the comb is much more full looking and red, and not as droopy as yesterday. Good sign, huh? I'm looking at the product Flubenvet to get, just in case a worming is necessary. Is it OK? Thanks for your help, as always.

 

[RedHillChicken]

No, pull down on her wattles, just put it in her beak and push it back, let go the wattles, she'll swallow it. If she spits it out, push it a little farther back. They can swallow a whole frog, lizard, mouse, a pill is not a problem no matter the size. The issue with putting it in food is getting them to eat all of it. A bird feeling unwell often will refuse to eat.

I just sent this to @Wyrop Rock

I wanted to give you an update. We just gave our sick hybrid her 2nd calcium tablet. We observe that she has no yellow discharge from her vent, and that observable poop looks normal. She's eating bread we offer her, but the most promising thing is that her comb has no sign of the bluish or purplish tint that was there yesterday. Also, the comb is much more full looking and red, and not as droopy as yesterday. Good sign, huh? I'm looking at the product Flubenvet to get, just in case a worming is necessary. Is it OK? Thanks for your help, as always.

 

[coach723]

If you are going to worm, you are better off using something you can direct dose the bird with rather than something that mixes in the feed. That way you know they get the entire dose. Sometimes they don't eat well if they are feeling bad, or may pick out only what they want, leaving other bits behind. You can get Safeguard liquid goat wormer and Safeguard horse paste at most feed stores, or you can order Valbazen (labeled for cattle) online. Those are what many of us use most commonly. Dosing for Valbazen is a little easier, but either will work. If you can get a fecal done, that is best, that way you know for sure if parasites are an issue, and what kind you are dealing with, it helps with choosing the best medication and dosing.
Glad she's looking better and hope it continues. I'd be inclined to continue the calcium once a day for a couple of weeks, or until she lays normally.

 

[RedHillChicken]

If you are going to worm, you are better off using something you can direct dose the bird with rather than something that mixes in the feed. That way you know they get the entire dose. Sometimes they don't eat well if they are feeling bad, or may pick out only what they want, leaving other bits behind. You can get Safeguard liquid goat wormer and Safeguard horse paste at most feed stores, or you can order Valbazen (labeled for cattle) online. Those are what many of us use most commonly. Dosing for Valbazen is a little easier, but either will work. If you can get a fecal done, that is best, that way you know for sure if parasites are an issue, and what kind you are dealing with, it helps with choosing the best medication and dosing.
Glad she's looking better and hope it continues. I'd be inclined to continue the calcium once a day for a couple of weeks, or until she lays normally.

Just looking at the Valbazen label, and it only has dosage rates for cattle, sheep, and goats. How many mL would a normal chicken require? Also, would the eggs need to be disposed of while she's taking the dewormer?

 

[Eggcessive]

Valbazen is the easiest wormer to use with only 2 doses of 1/2 ml (or 0.08 ml per pound) given orally undiluted on day 1 and day 10. SafeGuard is a little easier to find in feed stores but it requires 5 daily doses of 0.23 ml per pound (or roughly 1.25 ml for a 5 pound hen) given orally. Here is where to find Valbazen around $55:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07949-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5
Yellow urates are usually due to liver problems resulting from reproductive disease, fatty liver disease, cancer, and sometimes heart failure especially in meat birds. Urates smell like urine because they are.

 

[RedHillChicken]

Here is today's poop. It still has the yellow looking discharge mixed in with the dark.

Right after we gave her the calcium pill, she hopped out of the nest box, and stood by the feeder for 30 minutes or so. Not moving. We just moved her into the garage so that we can see her. At this point, I'm not sure she will survive. The weird thing is, as @Wyrop Rock can attest to is, this is not the first hen we've lost with the same symptoms - yellow discharge, bluish comb, listless, not eating normally. I'm sorta at a loss as to what to do. I guess I could, if she dies, take her and have a vet determine what she has.

 

[coach723]

It might be more economical to have your state poultry lab do it for you, I see three listed in Alabama, list below. You can contact the nearest and ask for particulars.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html
Sadly, laying hens do suffer from various reproductive issues, cancers, infections, it's not uncommon. Losing several with the same or similar symptoms, it's a good idea to find out, but it's also possible that they are not really related and it's coincidence.

 

[RedHillChicken]

It might be more economical to have your state poultry lab do it for you, I see three listed in Alabama, list below. You can contact the nearest and ask for particulars.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html
Sadly, laying hens do suffer from various reproductive issues, cancers, infections, it's not uncommon. Losing several with the same or similar symptoms, it's a good idea to find out, but it's also possible that they are not really related and it's coincidence.

We will definitely take her to the lab in Auburn. Having two die with the same symptoms points to a common issue. Thanks for your help and input.