BluSkitzLoloJuaniTivaIndi
In the Brooder
- Jan 12, 2024
- 12
- 46
- 39
Hello! First time posting, first time chicken Momma. I have a 6-month-old Barred Plymouth Rock hen who is in a bad way, and I cannot figure it out! Here's what's been happening:
Skitlz began to lay eggs on Christmas Eve - so exciting! - but then stopped around January 4th. I have done an internal check a couple of times - she is not egg bound. I noticed she sounded different with strained, nearly inaudible, vocalizations. This from a hen that is my most chatty and near ear shattering squawker. Checked her mouth and throat - no canker, no white spots, no smell, no noticeable obstruction. Checked her crop and it was like a small water balloon with what felt like minimal grit/layer crumble inside. Gave her some olive oil in the hopes that might resolve things but alas it did not.
She has been puffed up pretty much all the time and seems hunched when perched/roosting. Eyes are bright and clear with no discharge, no discharge from the nostrils, no sneezing, but a lot of head shaking to the point now it's near constant. I listened to her lungs with a stethoscope, and they are clear - no cracking or wheezing. No open beak or gasping for air. Comb and wattles have had great color until today when I noticed they are beginning to pale slightly. She now stands, more often than not, on one foot or the other - not normal. No bumblefoot or signs of any foot, toe, leg issues. I noticed she's scratching at one ear quite often - no visible signs of an infection.
She has been pecking at food but not nearly enough and today seems to have stopped eating entirely. Won't even consider her favorite treats! Water though? Drinks it like there will never be another drop again - I mean she is sucking it down like nobody's business! Checked her crop again and it's a small water balloon but now with nothing inside except, I assume, water. Her droppings became liquid with the white nitrates and for just a day some lime green - this could be from the barley fodder she nibbled at. Today no more white just clear liquid coming out. She usually eats layer crumble, layer mash, grubs (live or dried), and scratch as a treat.
She used to be the hen that came running fast as she could to be near me and to jump on my back for a ride as we cleaned the run "together". Now she wants nothing to do with me and runs from me (of course, I did probe her in places one should not be probed so I kinda get it) - segregates herself from the rest of the flock until bedtime and keeps her eyes closed more often than open. I know she is in a bad way - I can feel it with every ounce of my being despite many saying she's fine given her coloration and healthy appearance?
We do not have an avian vet that's seeing new patients, nor do we have any ER clinics that will see a chicken. I consulted a vet on Just Ask but without a physical exam she said it's hard to diagnose given the symptoms. She felt it could be congenital heart disease but again not for certain without bloodwork and imaging. I have researched high and low and am coming up empty handed making me feel utterly helpless and completely discouraged. I know the loss of chickens is part of owning chickens but I'm not ready to lose one so soon - especially when I've cared for her from day 2 of her for too young life!
If any of this seems familiar to you or you have thoughts on what else I might try, I beg you for your help! And I thank you in advance from the bottom of my chicken loving heart for your time in reading (and hopefully responding to) this post! Note: Last pic is of Skitlz on the left and her sister, Lolo, who sat beside her and preened her - such a beautiful sight...
PS I think the guidelines asked for info on bedding and such - the girls have hemp bedding in the coop on the floor, sand on the sh** shelf, gravel in a large portion of the run and the remainder is dirt. I clean everything once a day at a minimum. The coop is fully insulated - the run is covered by a tarp, currently winterized with wind/privacy screens on 3 sides and a clear plastic tarp on the other for direct sunlight. Ample ventilation in coop and run.
Skitlz began to lay eggs on Christmas Eve - so exciting! - but then stopped around January 4th. I have done an internal check a couple of times - she is not egg bound. I noticed she sounded different with strained, nearly inaudible, vocalizations. This from a hen that is my most chatty and near ear shattering squawker. Checked her mouth and throat - no canker, no white spots, no smell, no noticeable obstruction. Checked her crop and it was like a small water balloon with what felt like minimal grit/layer crumble inside. Gave her some olive oil in the hopes that might resolve things but alas it did not.
She has been puffed up pretty much all the time and seems hunched when perched/roosting. Eyes are bright and clear with no discharge, no discharge from the nostrils, no sneezing, but a lot of head shaking to the point now it's near constant. I listened to her lungs with a stethoscope, and they are clear - no cracking or wheezing. No open beak or gasping for air. Comb and wattles have had great color until today when I noticed they are beginning to pale slightly. She now stands, more often than not, on one foot or the other - not normal. No bumblefoot or signs of any foot, toe, leg issues. I noticed she's scratching at one ear quite often - no visible signs of an infection.
She has been pecking at food but not nearly enough and today seems to have stopped eating entirely. Won't even consider her favorite treats! Water though? Drinks it like there will never be another drop again - I mean she is sucking it down like nobody's business! Checked her crop again and it's a small water balloon but now with nothing inside except, I assume, water. Her droppings became liquid with the white nitrates and for just a day some lime green - this could be from the barley fodder she nibbled at. Today no more white just clear liquid coming out. She usually eats layer crumble, layer mash, grubs (live or dried), and scratch as a treat.
She used to be the hen that came running fast as she could to be near me and to jump on my back for a ride as we cleaned the run "together". Now she wants nothing to do with me and runs from me (of course, I did probe her in places one should not be probed so I kinda get it) - segregates herself from the rest of the flock until bedtime and keeps her eyes closed more often than open. I know she is in a bad way - I can feel it with every ounce of my being despite many saying she's fine given her coloration and healthy appearance?
We do not have an avian vet that's seeing new patients, nor do we have any ER clinics that will see a chicken. I consulted a vet on Just Ask but without a physical exam she said it's hard to diagnose given the symptoms. She felt it could be congenital heart disease but again not for certain without bloodwork and imaging. I have researched high and low and am coming up empty handed making me feel utterly helpless and completely discouraged. I know the loss of chickens is part of owning chickens but I'm not ready to lose one so soon - especially when I've cared for her from day 2 of her for too young life!
If any of this seems familiar to you or you have thoughts on what else I might try, I beg you for your help! And I thank you in advance from the bottom of my chicken loving heart for your time in reading (and hopefully responding to) this post! Note: Last pic is of Skitlz on the left and her sister, Lolo, who sat beside her and preened her - such a beautiful sight...
PS I think the guidelines asked for info on bedding and such - the girls have hemp bedding in the coop on the floor, sand on the sh** shelf, gravel in a large portion of the run and the remainder is dirt. I clean everything once a day at a minimum. The coop is fully insulated - the run is covered by a tarp, currently winterized with wind/privacy screens on 3 sides and a clear plastic tarp on the other for direct sunlight. Ample ventilation in coop and run.
