Sick Olive Egger

[Smiles18_]

Guys I cannot figure out what is wrong with one of my new hens. She is 7 months old and was doing great. Laying regularly for about a month and suddenly she has gone way downhill in the last two days. My wife noticed her being slower and less active than normal two days ago. Last night she was laying in the corner wither her mouth open and VERY lethargic. She barely supports herself and she wouldn't walk or get in the roost alone. We have held her near the food and water to get her some sustenance but she seems to not have any energy. Her foot seemed tender last night and there was a bunch of poop clodded onto it. I cleaned that thoroughly, but she still doesn't want to walk. She laid an egg two days ago.

Her comb is still mostly red but may have faded slightly. It is definitely not as colorless as I would have thought from an anemic chicken, so I don't think it is that. There are no boogers or wheezing or goopy eyes. I don't know what it could be. If anyone may know please help. I have attached a few photos but she doesn't seem obviously unhealthy to me. I have only seen two really liquidy poops lately but I don't know if they are even hers or if they are from another hen. I don't think it is worms but I could be wrong. Any tips are appreciated. I don't want her to suffer and definitely want her to survive.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Poor thing, she doesn't look good, does she? I'm very new to chickens, so I can't really offer insight on what she may have going on.

Have you tried to syringe feed her water and/or electrolytes? Something like Nutridrench. It might hydrate her and get her a little energy back. You can also wet some of her feed to make a moist mash and see if she will eat that. When I had a sick chick, I fed her some lightly scrambled egg and some raw egg yolk. These 2 things might help her perk up while the experts here help you decide what's wrong. I'm wishing you and your wife the best!

 

[Smiles18_]

We are working on the scrambled eggs, tums (for calcium), water and an epsom salt bath right now. Hopefully those help for the time being.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

We are working on the scrambled eggs, tums (for calcium), water and an epsom salt bath right now. Hopefully those help for the time being.

I hope so too. These all sound like good steps. Is her belly/vent area swollen or anything? I wouldn't suspect her to be egg bound since you said she laid an egg 2 days ago, but I guess it's possible. Is it really hot where you are? Maybe heat is factoring in?

 

[alinas2010]

Hello, sorry to hear about your chicken. Have you checked her over well for lice and mites? Check near her vent and in warm areas like under her wings.

How was her crop this morning? It should be flat first thing in the morning.

You mention her foot being tender. Can you post pictures of her feet, top and bottoms, cleaned off.

If you can, get some human calcium citrate plus d3 for egg binding. Tums works in a pinch for egg binding, but calcium citrate plus d3 is more quickly absorbed.

Look her over well in her feathers for injuries hidden in feathers.

 

[DarkWater1929]

Guys I cannot figure out what is wrong with one of my new hens. She is 7 months old and was doing great. Laying regularly for about a month and suddenly she has gone way downhill in the last two days. My wife noticed her being slower and less active than normal two days ago. Last night she was laying in the corner wither her mouth open and VERY lethargic. She barely supports herself and she wouldn't walk or get in the roost alone. We have held her near the food and water to get her some sustenance but she seems to not have any energy. Her foot seemed tender last night and there was a bunch of poop clodded onto it. I cleaned that thoroughly, but she still doesn't want to walk. She laid an egg two days ago.

Her comb is still mostly red but may have faded slightly. It is definitely not as colorless as I would have thought from an anemic chicken, so I don't think it is that. There are no boogers or wheezing or goopy eyes. I don't know what it could be. If anyone may know please help. I have attached a few photos but she doesn't seem obviously unhealthy to me. I have only seen two really liquidy poops lately but I don't know if they are even hers or if they are from another hen. I don't think it is worms but I could be wrong. Any tips are appreciated. I don't want her to suffer and definitely want her to survive.

Any sign of white stuff in her mouth or throat? I'm drawing a blank on the name, but there is a fungal infection that can narrow breathing tubes, and eventually suffocate birds. Copper sulfate is the remedy. Someone will know the name of the condition?

 

[Smiles18_]

I hope so too. These all sound like good steps. Is her belly/vent area swollen or anything? I wouldn't suspect her to be egg bound since you said she laid an egg 2 days ago, but I guess it's possible. Is it really hot where you are? Maybe heat is factoring in?

Belly and vent don't seem swollen. They are not hard or hot either. The temperature has been high but not nearly as bad as the summer months. The waterer apparently leaked out yesterday so there is a chance she didn't get much water at all until we noticed her.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Any sign of white stuff in her mouth or throat? I'm drawing a blank on the name, but there is a fungal infection that can narrow breathing tubes, and eventually suffocate birds. Copper sulfate is the remedy. Someone will know the name of the condition?

Canker and thrush I think both cause white patches on the mouth. Aspergillosis doesn't leave the whitein the mouth, but it's a serious fungal infection that can cause labored breathing like your bird seems to have.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Is she drinking?

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Belly and vent don't seem swollen. They are not hard or hot either. The temperature has been high but not nearly as bad as the summer months. The waterer apparently leaked out yesterday so there is a chance she didn't get much water at all until we noticed her.

Has she shown any interest in water at all, either on her own, by you gently dipping her beak into some water, or even putting a drop on her beak with your finger or a syringe?