Sick or injured hen?

[steiggy]

Hello everyone,

I’m caring for a friend’s 3-4 year old hen while she’s out of town. She isn’t doing well, and I’m wondering if anyone can shed some light on what could be wrong?

A week or so ago, the neighbors dogs got a hold of a couple of hens. My friend found this one in the field behind her house...she came running right up. No signs of injury or illness.

Since, the hen has gotten weaker and either can’t or won’t stand or walk. My friend took her inside and she’s been warm in the basement with blankets. Here are her symptoms:

-Head twitching
-Can’t/won’t stand or walk
-Refuses to eat or drink
-Doesn't move
-Lethargic
-Keeps eyes closed or half closed most of the time

She does not appear to have any respiratory symptoms.

Since I’ve been watching her, I’ve managed to get her to drink some capfuls of electrolytes mixed with feed, sort of like a soupy porridge. She will not eat or drink on her own, but if I give it to her by hand she accepts it. I can say that she seems a little bit more alert since I managed to get her to take something, and went I checked on her today, she had even pooped. It did not look normal though, so I've included a picture. I can feel no obvious injury, and she doesn't have any mites on her.

That is really all I can think of, but I'm happy to answer any additional questions. We really don't want to give up on her yet because she doesn't seem to have given up herself. Thanks in advance.

 

[staceyj]

Hi there. So sorry for what you are going through with your friend’s chicken!

It’s good that you posted the pictures. They are very helpful.

She looks a little fluffed up but bright eyed.
Does her other eye look the same?
Have you parted her feathers and looked her all over for puncture wounds, broken bones, dislocated hips?

Her poop doesn’t look good.please keep at it with frequent offerings of the slurry you’ve made.

I see she has a scratch on her comb but other than that, it’s fairly plump and erect which are good indicators of hydration and her coloring is okay if a little dark at the tips.

Birds can experience shock after an attack but if you are a week out now she should be recovering from that.

Is there any swelling in her abdomen? The area between her legs...

Is there any way you can ask the owner if she’s actively laying or “off” from winter or molting season?

Is she making any funny noises by any chance? Like growling? Clucking? Is she snapping at you when you try to move her?
Sorry for so many questions!

Let me try to flag down some educators for their opinions...

@Eggcessive, @casportpony , @Wyorp Rock

 

[Eggcessive]

Her urates (the white part of her dropping) appear yellow. That could be egg material or the urates may be yellow due to a liver problem. Sometimes those can be signs of internal layers or egg yolk peritonitis, or ascites. Is her lower belly between her legs enlarged or spongy or tight? If you sit or stand her up, does she sit more upright than a normal chicken? Will she move her legs in response to stimulation? Hens with reproductive disorders may tend to lie down, and may only walk short distances. They can sit upright, and have runny poops that may soil their feathers around the vent. This hen also could have been injured or abandoned.

She might benefit from a chicken sling or chair that can be homemade out of a piece of material with holes for each leg and one in the rear for her droppings to pass through. Food can be placed or attached in front of her. She can be in the sling with frequent breaks for sleeping or physical therapy. Here are some pictures of slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[steiggy]

Hi there. So sorry for what you are going through with your friend’s chicken!

It’s good that you posted the pictures. They are very helpful.

She looks a little fluffed up but bright eyed.
Does her other eye look the same?
Have you parted her feathers and looked her all over for puncture wounds, broken bones, dislocated hips?

Her poop doesn’t look good.please keep at it with frequent offerings of the slurry you’ve made.

I see she has a scratch on her comb but other than that, it’s fairly plump and erect which are good indicators of hydration and her coloring is okay if a little dark at the tips.

Birds can experience shock after an attack but if you are a week out now she should be recovering from that.

Is there any swelling in her abdomen? The area between her legs...

Is there any way you can ask the owner if she’s actively laying or “off” from winter or molting season?

Is she making any funny noises by any chance? Like growling? Clucking? Is she snapping at you when you try to move her?
Sorry for so many questions!

Let me try to flag down some educators for their opinions...

@Eggcessive, @casportpony , @Wyorp Rock

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer!

Both eyes look the same, when she has them open. Alert and bright.

I have looked her over pretty throughly. I haven’t noticed anything that is off, no bones that feel out of place or any extension in her abdomen. No punctures, no wounds that I can find. I noticed the scratch on her come and asked her owner, and it is from a young cockerel.

I believe my friend says she lays one egg per week, maybe a touch more in the summer as she is older. She hasn’t mentioned if she has been laying recently or not, but she did mention all the girls were laying less. This chicken doesn’t make a peep at all. No growls, chirps, or anything.

Her wings droop at her sides when she lays there. Other than that, I’ve not noticed anything physically off.

Thank you so much!

 

[steiggy]

Her urates (the white part of her dropping) appear yellow. That could be egg material or the urates may be yellow due to a liver problem. Sometimes those can be signs of internal layers or egg yolk peritonitis, or ascites. Is her lower belly between her legs enlarged or spongy or tight? If you sit or stand her up, does she sit more upright than a normal chicken? Will she move her legs in response to stimulation? Hens with reproductive disorders may tend to lie down, and may only walk short distances. They can sit upright, and have runny poops that may soil their feathers around the vent. This hen also could have been injured or abandoned.

She might benefit from a chicken sling or chair that can be homemade out of a piece of material with holes for each leg and one in the rear for her droppings to pass through. Food can be placed or attached in front of her. She can be in the sling with frequent breaks for sleeping or physical therapy. Here are some pictures of slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

Hi and thank you so much for taking the time to respond!

I wish I had taken a picture of her poos from this afternoon. Dark green with a clear jelly-like substance that smelled horrific. I’m not sure if that points to anything. Definitely abnormal and I felt awful for her.

She feels like a normal chicken on her belly area. She will not stay upright if you try to tip her up. She immediately goes back to laying down. She doesn’t move her legs. She does raise her tail when she goes to the bathroom. She does not stand or walk.

I was unclear on my post. The dogs got two of her flock mates. This hen was my friends. She disappeared after the attack, but when my friend came looking for her, she came running up like nothing had happened.

Thank you for the sling idea! I will look into that. I’m not sure I should put food or water in front of her though...she doesn’t seem coordinated and doesn’t eat on her own. I’m afraid she would drown in water. I guess food wouldn’t hurt though.

Thank you so much!

 

[Eggcessive]

You are right about not placing food and water in front of her if there is any chance of her falling into it and drowning. It could well be that she was somehow injured in the attack last week, but the stress may have triggered an outbreak of Mareks disease. The lameness or drooping wings sound like Mareks or extreme dehydration. Injuries internally may have made her unable to take in or digest food. This is not an easy illness to diagnose. Does her crop feel flat and empty, or does it fill partially full, hard, soft, or puffy? The green gelatinous droppings sound like she is not eating. I would keep trying to get her drinking fluids, give her a few drops of Poultry NutriDrench with a dropper, and try to make her comfortable. If you lose her, the body can be refrigerated and sent into the state vet for a necropsy to get a diagnosis. This link gives contact info on state vets:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[steiggy]

You are right about not placing food and water in front of her if there is any chance of her falling into it and drowning. It could well be that she was somehow injured in the attack last week, but the stress may have triggered an outbreak of Mareks disease. The lameness or drooping wings sound like Mareks or extreme dehydration. Injuries internally may have made her unable to take in or digest food. This is not an easy illness to diagnose. Does her crop feel flat and empty, or does it fill partially full, hard, soft, or puffy? The green gelatinous droppings sound like she is not eating. I would keep trying to get her drinking fluids, give her a few drops of Poultry NutriDrench with a dropper, and try to make her comfortable. If you lose her, the body can be refrigerated and sent into the state vet for a necropsy to get a diagnosis. This link gives contact info on state vets:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Mareks was definitely something that I thought about, especially with the rather sudden way her symptoms presented. Her crop is flat and empty despite my efforts. Her owner will be home today, and will be picking up some supplies. I did not feel comfortable force feeding her with a dropper or syringe as I was fearful I would do it wrong and she would aspirate it. Hopefully her owner will be more successful on the food front. I am not hopeful for her condition, but have made her as comfortable as possible. I'll do a little more research on Marek's as well.

I appreciate the link to the necropsy resource and will forward it on to her owner. In the event that it is Marek's, it is probably good if she finds out.

Thank you again for all of your help!

 

[steiggy]

View My Video

Here is a video if it helps.

She drank some more of her 'porridge' today, but I don't see any other changes in her condition. Her owner is due back in a couple of hours. We plan to try some tums and some vitamins. Also some nutri drench or something similar. If there's anything else we should try, let me know. Thank you!

Edited to add: I have chickens at my house as well. I've washed my hands thoroughly after caring for this poor girl, but if it does turn out to be Marek's, are my birds considered exposed?

 

[Eggcessive]

I cannot see the video. Usually posting them to YouTube or Vimeo with a link posted here is the way we can see one.
Mareks is spread through dust and dander in the environment from an infected chicken, so yes, exposing your own chickens if they are contaminated by shoes, clothing, or equipment is possible. If the chicken dies, I would definitely get a necropsy. There are quite a few lookalike conditions that can mimic Mareks. Sometimes an egg or other material from infection called lash egg, can become stuck in the oviduct and cause a temporary paralysis due to pressure on the sciatic nerves. But it may not be apparent what has cause her sudden lameness and drooping wings without a necropsy. Hopefully, though, she will recover if she can get some fluids and later, food into her. Tube feeding is something that can be done to help get fluids into her, then food once she is well hydrated. Here is some info about tube feeding:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-guide-pictures-under-construction.1064392/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-go-team-tube-feeding.805728/

 

[steiggy]

Let’s try this:

The video says it is still converting...I hope it works eventually. I'm no good at this stuff.

Thank you for your info on tube feeding. That is the next course of action. Hoping she pulls through!