Sick Young Hen- Hunched with Tail Up and Fanned

[eliseny]

I have a young hen (approximately 5-6 months old) who is quite ill. Several days ago she started not wanting to come out of the coop and stopped eating and drinking. A couple months ago we had a couple chicks die from coccidiosis (despite me treating with Corid) so I assumed it was that again. For the last 3 days I've had her inside and have been force-feeding her and giving her water treated with Sulmet. She has made no improvement and is very thin and miserable looking. I am realizing now, however, that she's not presenting the same way that the chicks did. They were also lethargic and not eating or drinking, but their tails were droopy. This hen is hunched up with her tail up and fanned out. None of our hens have started laying eggs yet, but I wondered about egg-binding and felt around her vent but don't feel any hard masses. I've tried Google to find out what else this could be. Any thoughts? I'm afraid she isn't going to last much longer. Thanks in advance for any help.

Here is a picture:

 

[eliseny]

When she lays down she looks very uncomfortable, kind of leaned to the side with her wings splayed out.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would poke a finger into the vent 1-2 inches to feel for an egg (wear a rubber glove.) Did she have a Mareks vaccine as a new chick? Mareks disease can cause lameness in one or both legs, and the chicken may try to balance with wings. Can she stand at all now? Does she lie with one leg forward, and one leg under her? Coccidiosis in chickens has at least 9 strains, and Corid treats them all while Sulmet treats the 2 worst strains. I would try giving her vitamin/electrolyte water by dipping her beak into it repeatedly or holding a small cup up to her and offering it. Offer some scrambled egg, or ground tuna or meat. Worms could also be a problem, but she is pretty sick, I can see.

 

[eliseny]

Thanks for the reply. I will check for an egg when I get the kids down for a nap in a couple hours. If it was egg binding, she probably wouldn't have made it this long though, right? It has been about 5 days since I noticed her showing symptoms.

She doesn't stay laying down like that all the time. Right now she is back in the first position, not standing very upright, but still on her feet but hunched with her tail up. When she does lay down, she doesn't have one leg in front and one back. I'm not sure if she was vaccinated for Marek's as a chick, we bought her from a small local hatchery and I'm not sure if they routinely did that or not.

I wanted to try Sulmet this time because I had no luck whatsoever treating with Corid, I can switch to Corid if you think that I should, but as this progresses she's just not looking the same as the chicks with coccidiosis did.

I will try offering her some of those foods. Should I worm her in case it is worms? None of the rest of the flock are acting "off" at all. Should I worm them all just in case?

 

[Chicken.Chick]

I know this thread is old, but this is what my 4 week old chick is doing....what did you find out???

 

[Eggcessive]

I know this thread is old, but this is what my 4 week old chick is doing....what did you find out???

You may want to post a brand new thread of your own here, and give all the symptoms you are seeing, and you will probably get more replies:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/create-thread

 

[Chicken.Chick]

Thank you for your reply! I may just start a new thread.....