Thought she had cocci now she can't walk! Help!

[MessicaShain]

Buff orpington born around last easter started acting lethargic and top heavy. I've had her inside for weeks now. She eats mealworms and water but no feed. My chicken guy had me feed her eggs and cheese for the fat and protien at first but now she will only eat the worms.
She is super underweight... and now as of today she can no longer stand on her own. After seeing this I assumed she isn't getting enough food so I fed her about 800 worms (50+ grams) and some yogurt. She is drinking water.
I'm taking her to my chicken guy tomorrow but im so worried about her. This is my first ever flock and she's one of my favs. Comb is a bit pale. But I've known she's been sick... she doesn't have mites. I've checked her over a few times in her own little bubble baths but im not sure what I'm looking for. She isn't egg bound as she isn't laying currently...
I see no mites...
What else can I do?
What other high fat high protien foods could I give her?
I thought she was gonna get better. BUT she's worse. She's been hanging tough for so long!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Get her on some balanced poultry feed. As suggested earlier you can give her chick starter, all flock/flock raiser or give her her normal feed. Try it wet with a little yogurt and chopped egg mixed in. Check to make sure the feed you have isn't stale, out of date or rancid.

If her problem is due to worm overload, then worming her would most likely help. What type of worming medication do you have?
Most vets will perform a fecal float test even if they don't treat chickens - testing for worms, cocci and bacterial infection would be a good idea to see if any of these is her problem.

 

[gragefarm]

Hi Jessica

I'm sorry your hen is sick.
Can you post some photos of her poop?
How does her abdomen feel - any swelling, bloat, feeling like fluid filled?
When was the last time she laid an egg - was it normal?
Is her crop emptying overnight?

I encourage you to seek vet care or at least take a fecal sample for testing of worms, cocci and bacterial infection.

If all she has been eating for weeks is worms, cheese and eggs then she is most likely deficient in the nutrition department.  Offer some all flock/flock raiser type feed - these can usually be found at your local feed store (something like Purina Flock Raiser 20% protein).   Add some poultry vitamins to her water - Poultry Nutri-Drench is good  (put in the water or direct dose her at 1ml per 3lbs).   Worms, eggs and a very small amount of cheese are fine as treats or add in to her normal feed.   Some chickens like their feed wet, so you can wet the crumbles, add a small amount of yogurt and egg to her feed to see if she will eat.  Give her a small amount of fresh chopped greens (Kale, Mustard greens) or chopped fruit (apple/grapes) as a treat.  Be sure to make poultry grit available (crushed granite) this will help her grind/digest food.  Also since she is of laying age offer some oyster shell free choice.

I understand you were initially concerned that she may have Cocci.  Fecal testing can rule that out.

I see that you have her under a heat lamp.  If she is inside, she may not need the extra heat.  A sick chicken does fairly well at 75-80F.  She's fully feathered, so check your temperature to make sure she is not too hot.

Keeping her hydrated is important.  That's good that she is drinking.  I know you are doing everything you can to help her, you're doing good, so don't get frustrated

Let us know how she's doing.

 

[MessicaShain]

Went ahead and through in some kitten food I have for my old cat. It's 40% protien so that could tide her over till I can get her checked out later.

 

[MessicaShain]

This is her in her first bath when I first brought her in. Her comb had been freshly bit by one of her sisters so I decided it was time for her to move inside with me. But here's a good pic of her face.
Her tail stays down... she seems so sad.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Buff orpington born around last easter started acting lethargic and top heavy. I've had her inside for weeks now. She eats mealworms and water but no feed. My chicken guy had me feed her eggs and cheese for the fat and protien at first but now she will only eat the worms.
She is super underweight... and now as of today she can no longer stand on her own. After seeing this I assumed she isn't getting enough food so I fed her about 800 worms (50+ grams) and some yogurt. She is drinking water.
I'm taking her to my chicken guy tomorrow but im so worried about her. This is my first ever flock and she's one of my favs. Comb is a bit pale. But I've known she's been sick... she doesn't have mites. I've checked her over a few times in her own little bubble baths but im not sure what I'm looking for. She isn't egg bound as she isn't laying currently...
I see no mites...
What else can I do?
What other high fat high protien foods could I give her?
I thought she was gonna get better. BUT she's worse. She's been hanging tough for so long!

Is it safe to dewormed her if she's so sick? I have dewormer but im scared it could messential with her system more. I never treated her for cocci but that's what we thought initially she had. I was wold just to get her weight up and that she would be okay. But I don't think she's eating enough. She's not touching her feed or any scraps. Only likes the worms but I don't have enough to feed her only worms...
She's alert. I haven't noticed any mites. Wouldn't her poo look funky if she had worms? I dunno... should I worm her when she's so frail?

Hi Jessica

I'm sorry your hen is sick.
Can you post some photos of her poop?
How does her abdomen feel - any swelling, bloat, feeling like fluid filled?
When was the last time she laid an egg - was it normal?
Is her crop emptying overnight?

I encourage you to seek vet care or at least take a fecal sample for testing of worms, cocci and bacterial infection.

If all she has been eating for weeks is worms, cheese and eggs then she is most likely deficient in the nutrition department. Offer some all flock/flock raiser type feed - these can usually be found at your local feed store (something like Purina Flock Raiser 20% protein). Add some poultry vitamins to her water - Poultry Nutri-Drench is good (put in the water or direct dose her at 1ml per 3lbs). Worms, eggs and a very small amount of cheese are fine as treats or add in to her normal feed. Some chickens like their feed wet, so you can wet the crumbles, add a small amount of yogurt and egg to her feed to see if she will eat. Give her a small amount of fresh chopped greens (Kale, Mustard greens) or chopped fruit (apple/grapes) as a treat. Be sure to make poultry grit available (crushed granite) this will help her grind/digest food. Also since she is of laying age offer some oyster shell free choice.

I understand you were initially concerned that she may have Cocci. Fecal testing can rule that out.

I see that you have her under a heat lamp. If she is inside, she may not need the extra heat. A sick chicken does fairly well at 75-80F. She's fully feathered, so check your temperature to make sure she is not too hot.

Keeping her hydrated is important. That's good that she is drinking. I know you are doing everything you can to help her, you're doing good, so don't get frustrated

Let us know how she's doing.

 

[MessicaShain]

I just can't seem to get her to eat anything besides the worms which I put in yogurt today.
I'm gonna do a bone broth and rice and food mixture for in the morning... till I can get her to my chicken guy.
I'm scared she's just starving to death.
She's eaten good today but I know she can't live on these meal worms alone. I don't have enough! And I since that's all she'll eat I think she's starving.. crop feels fine. I don't recognize anything else... her poop did look ok but I just noticed she has a build up around her rear right now that has some green in it. Before it was all only tan. I took pics!

 

[MessicaShain]

This is what it has been looking like. The previous pic is just something I noticed right now... not sure if the green means anything.. ?
She ate a LOT today. I'm gonna get a nice batch of "gruel" going for her for in the morning..
I wish she'd eat some feed so I know she isn't just starving to death..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Green poop can be an indication of a number of things. Not eating enough (starvation), bacterial infection or diseases like Marek's are a few.

Can you take a sample to the vet to rule out worms?
Was she vaccinated for Marek's?

Buff Orpingtons are very sweet, I hope you are able to find some answers and she gets better soon.

 

[MessicaShain]

On so I think she's literally just starving herself. I found some high protien cat treats and she's eating them up! I'm making a pot of bone broth, rice, spinach, and some of her feed mixed in.
She isn't vaccinated. I'm scared to dewormed her because she's already so frail but I do have wormer...
She's finally standing after me feeding her so much. I honestly just think she hasn't been eating enough...
I'm still gonna take her to my guy tomorrow and see what he says but any ideas of foods other than worms she may like since she won't eat her regular feed? And she's not touching her egg and cheese cooked in bacon fat. I'll be sure to get her a bunch of vitamins tomorrow too. And probably some Pedia light. I'm so happy she likes the cat treats. I really hope she's into the special dish im making too. She's standing up right now and she isn't sturdy but the fact she's moving gives me some hope!
Sorry for all the pictures of poop but im just grasping for any suggestions and ideas and I want everyone to see what im seeing. This is what I just cleaNed out of her crate. She JUST pooped right in front of me. Liquid at first then solid.