We have a 4 year old Orpington, runt of the litter, hen who has me stumped. We're in the southern hemisphere, so it's spring here. She eats a high protein meal (17%) and has sometimes random wheat, greens, corn peas, sunflower seeds, scrambled egg or yogurt as treats. She's picky and doesn't like half the treats. They also have free range so access to lots of greens. They were all wormed at the end of winter.
She's been on/off acting for a few days. A few weeks ago I noticed her starting to smell like poo (not yeast). She's one of our girls that manages to get her butt very covered in poo. Two days ago didn't eat much dinner and went to bed early. In the morning we found a shell less and membraneless egg where one of our other girls typically sits, and are still not sure if it's her's or another hen's.
Yesterday she constantly sought out the nesting boxes. She was in a trance all day except when we gave her specific foods. At midday we realized she was utterly wet and covered with clear diarrhea and started drinking so much. We hosed her off because she was soaking with poo and also thought she was going broody. Her cloaca looks like a flat sandwich and keeps just releasing clear diarrhea. I've checked the vent for any membrane or egg bound. She's not hunched.
This morning, we've brought her into the house hospital. Her crop is not empty from the corn and some greens from yesterday. So we've started her on coconut oil, doing crop massages, and may try some metaclorpromide pill crushed in a bit. She has water access. She hasn't pooped properly, other than a cecal and the clear diarrhea. Our other girls have had slow crop and impacted crop before, but I haven't' seen it like this, especially not with diarrhea and seeking out coop boxes.
I'm also considering it could be vent gleet, as she has smelled bad for the past few weeks, as I mentioned. And her cloaca looks odd. Photos attached. The vent isn't open - I'm just holding up her feathers so I could take a photo and it pulled it up.
I'm going to call the two vets we may be able to see in a few days, but it's also a holiday here, so probably won't have luck for a few more days. Any ideas are appreciated.
She's been on/off acting for a few days. A few weeks ago I noticed her starting to smell like poo (not yeast). She's one of our girls that manages to get her butt very covered in poo. Two days ago didn't eat much dinner and went to bed early. In the morning we found a shell less and membraneless egg where one of our other girls typically sits, and are still not sure if it's her's or another hen's.
Yesterday she constantly sought out the nesting boxes. She was in a trance all day except when we gave her specific foods. At midday we realized she was utterly wet and covered with clear diarrhea and started drinking so much. We hosed her off because she was soaking with poo and also thought she was going broody. Her cloaca looks like a flat sandwich and keeps just releasing clear diarrhea. I've checked the vent for any membrane or egg bound. She's not hunched.
This morning, we've brought her into the house hospital. Her crop is not empty from the corn and some greens from yesterday. So we've started her on coconut oil, doing crop massages, and may try some metaclorpromide pill crushed in a bit. She has water access. She hasn't pooped properly, other than a cecal and the clear diarrhea. Our other girls have had slow crop and impacted crop before, but I haven't' seen it like this, especially not with diarrhea and seeking out coop boxes.
I'm also considering it could be vent gleet, as she has smelled bad for the past few weeks, as I mentioned. And her cloaca looks odd. Photos attached. The vent isn't open - I'm just holding up her feathers so I could take a photo and it pulled it up.
I'm going to call the two vets we may be able to see in a few days, but it's also a holiday here, so probably won't have luck for a few more days. Any ideas are appreciated.
