Sick or Hurt Chicken? Not sure where to start...

[Kris10F]

Hi everyone,

Ive lurked on BYC for a long time but never posted. You all have already helped heaps with my flock.

Currently I have 3 chooks about 8 months old. They love a little bit of cheese and we call them the 3 Cheeses (Gouda, Halloumi, & Brie). Im living in NZ, and these girls are brown shavers, a common egg-producing chicken down here. My 3 girls have been happy and healthy since I got them at 12 weeks old. They have been vaccinated, and live a pretty comfy life with lots of grit, greenery, scratch, and fresh water to keep them going.

Yesterday I noticed one chicken, Brie, standing apart from the others who were bouncing around like normal, scratching etc. Brie looked a little puffed up an dazed. I thought she was just going broody. I threw some scratch out and she was un interested. I decided just to watch her.

This morning she was still roosting when I checked on them at 9am. She still seemed dazed. I still thought she might be broody. She slowly walked down the ramp and out of the coop, as if to say she didnt appreciate my peering in on her. I picked her up with no protest (odd for her) and checked her out.

No evidence of runny poop. Eyes look clear. Vent looks clean. Feathers clean. No black spots on her feet. No bleeding or broken bones that I can see. No mites or bites that I can see. Doesnt seem to be panting. Crop empty.

Her posture is odd - tail down, "squatting" a bit, and sometimes full on laying "on her side". When I saw her take a step earlier she looked to be favoring her R leg/foot. I cant find anything wrong with it. Ive separated her and put her in the house. I put scratch, grit and water out for her but she literally hasnt moved from the spot I put her on.

Shes making sweet little "beeep beeep beeep" noises, no squawks.

I just feel so helpless and dont know what to do. Or is she just going broody in a weird way? My others sat on the eggs when they got broody...

Thanks for your help.

 

[Kris10F]

Also she's not puffing up or growling so I dont think shes broody. I cant tell if shes hurt or sick and I just dont know what other key features to look for. Still hasnt moved from the spot I put her in 30 minutes ago.

 

[Kris10F]

Ok so I just checked and she isnt egg bound (at least not in the first 2 inches of her vent) which I what I thought it might be as we got a large egg yesterday.

On closer inspection I found some tiny black mites.

She also just did a massive stinky runny poo.

HELP!

 

[Eggcessive]

I am sorry about your hen. I am glad that you felt inside for an egg to rule out egg binding. She really needs to drink some water, and if you have some electrolytes that would be even better. Vitamins good too. Do you have any vitamin tonics available for chickens in NZ? Hold a small cup up to her beak and dip her beak into if needed. Offer some chopped scrambled egg to see if she will take some. Chicken feed mixed with a lot of water sometimes is accepted well. I would dust her or spray her for mites with permethrin or a similar product. Pyrethrins and Sevin dust (carbaryl) are sometimes used around the world as well. DE will not help if there are already mites. The bedding should be removed, the others treated in time, and the coop will need treating, but tend to her first until she is drinking and more alert. Place her in a basket or cage close to food and water, and continue to offer water and food. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Eggcessive]

Pacificvet has some products in NZ that might be available. If not, you can add a crushed vitamin B complex tablet to food or water.

HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION for chickens

1/2 teaspoon salt substitute* (leave out if not available)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon table salt (5 grams)

1 tablespoon sugar (15 grams)

1 gallon water (4 liters)

 

[Kris10F]

Oh thank you so much for your reply. I got her to have a few sips of water with apple cider vinegar in it, but I will switch to your electrolyte solution. No tsure what a salt substitute is? I will leave it out for now.

She ate a few bites of scrambled egg which felt like a huge victory. No more poos, runny or other. She still looks really alert, but just doesnt move and really isnt keen on drinking.

My plan now, besides hand feeding/watering her every so often, is to get the other girls treated. I had a look at them and even though they look clean and mite free I realize they may not be. I will bathe all three chickens (should be a good laugh for the other two- they will hate it) and when they are dry I will powder them. I have that DE stuff.

I will clean their coop area thoroughly, re-DE the coop, and put down lots of new dry bedding. I'll keep my sick girl separate.

I have added garlic to their water as Ive read that will treat worms if we have any. I cant find any worms in the poo (fun job) but I figure treat for it anyways right?

Any further advice for my sick chook or the others is so appreciated. I feel like a failure bird mum.

Cheers
Kristen

 

[Kris10F]

I just read that you dont think DE will help since she already has mites? If i wash her then apply will it work? Here's what I have:
https://www.chookmanor.co.nz/smite-organic-de-mite-lice-powder

 

[Eggcessive]

Salt substitute is potassium chloride, one of the electrolytes in our bodies. You need an insecticide to get rid of them. DE can be harmful if breathed, and won't treat an outbreak.