*Update* Death after a couple days of lethargy. Another hen showing same symptoms

[casportpony]

I haven't, what would you suggest? I have a feed store close by I can run to and pick something up. What is the dosage, and do you administer to each bird individually or...? I guess I worm my horses and dogs routinely I just didn't think to do the chickens too.

You can use use Safeguard or Panacur (fenbendazole 10%) on them. I use the liquid at 50mg/kg (0.5cc/ml per 2.2 pounds) by mouth and repeat in ten days, but you can use the paste, too, exact same amount. Do not let the fees store sell you Wazine, it only gets roundworms! While you're at it, dust them for mites and lice even if you cannot see any.

-Kathy

 

[chickenmomma16]

Ok, I will try that. What do you think of an Epsom salt flush for the flock while I'm at it? Flush their system and start fresh? Whatever this is I need it gone asap, I just went out there to give them some fresh water (has acv) and the current hen showing symptoms did not want to eat. She follows me around and is still mildly interested in her surroundings.

 

[casportpony]

Weigh each bird, record weight, dose with wormer and dust for bugs.

I would not give them anything but fresh water and food. If you must use ACV, make sure it's in plastic containers, not metal, as heavy metal poisoning can occur when used in anything but plastic.

-Kathy
.

 

[chickenmomma16]

Do I have to worry about throwing eggs out with Fen.?

 

[chickenmomma16]

Do I have to worry about throwing eggs out with Fenbendazole?

 

[casportpony]

Do I have to worry about throwing eggs out with Fenbendazole?

I don't, I just keep eating them. Send a PM to dawg53, he'll know.

-Kathy

 

[chickenmomma16]

I wormed them on Tuesday, did not see any obvious signs of worms. I know that doesn't mean there was not any, but there has been no change in my sick hen #2. Eveyone else seems to be fine including all 13 of the chicks.

Everyday I have been giving her a once over and normally her crop is pretty empty and only a small amount of feed and her little rocks. Today, it was full of fluid and she was crouched by the waterer. (This was actually the same spot the first hen that died preferred to sit...) Also her condition seems to have worsened this morning, she looked like she was feeling slightly better yesterday. Her comb looks like it wants to droop/shrivel up too.

There is so much information about what could be wrong it is overwhelming. Another thing I noticed is the chickens don't touch the buttercups that are in the run. Now, I know the are not good for horses, could they be poisonous to chickens as well? Could this be a poisoning?

I'm trying to rack my brain about what could be wrong. They had a feed change not too long ago to chick starter (same brand as their layer and they have access to oyster shell) I have done this before and that is the only change in their daily life. Also they have been penned for 1 month, they were previously free range. Any more suggetions as to what could be going on?

 

[chickenmomma16]

So the second hen died a couple days ago, This time a couple weeks after showing symptoms. I decided to open her up myself and see if I could see anything obvious.
I have processed a few roosters so I knew what normal looked like. I found her gizzard to be huge and upon opening it I found the remains of treats that I gave everyone 2 weeks ago! Further down (4-6 inches maybe?) it looked like there was a blockage and the intestines looked like they had been dieing (turning grey/black including he inside of the gizzard). There was nothing (not even poop) in the remaining intestines. I could not identify what was blocking her, it was hard, flat, black, and irregular shaped. The hen that first died must have eaten the same thing only I'm assuming she had a rupture causing her to die in days not weeks. My poor little girls! At least I know what happened.

I wish I knew what they ate!


Something else I noticed with the (6ysr old with spurrs) hen I opened up... I think I will start a new thread for that.