Was told my hen prob has paratyphoid, diff walkin & lethargic HELP

[sookiesmom]

Almost two wks ago went 2 let my 2 hens out into their pen. Right away I noticed my 8 month old hen wasn't walking right, as if she was drunk & stumbling. Called the store we use 2 talk 2 someone who has a lot of knowledge of chickens. (This is my first chicken, she's a mix breed with some silkie in her I believe). Explained the walking & said sounded like paratyphoid & birds usually go quickly. I cont. to tell him that she's eating & scratching around (the best she could) & he said those were all good signs & to also feed her some yogurt. There was a poss. that she would come thru this. Well I hav both chicks in house in large dog cage cuz of weather since fri. There really hasn't been any change in her cond., good or bad. (Oh just to add, she was laying 5 - 6 eggs a week. Only got one from her last week). Well I noticed this sat nite she really wasn't eating. She would go crazy for oat grass & had no interest. She's just been sitting in back of cage & don't think she's even eating. Fed her grass today & she barely ate any. Even turned a rock over cuz she loves 2 eat the bugs & worms & didn't even bother with it. I am SOOOOO worried & concerned. I will b heartbroken if anything happens 2 her. Sorry so long. Basically the only thing 2 go on here is her trouble walking & keeping her balance. Any help would b soooo appreciated. From one animal lover to all the others.....thanks for input!!!!

 

[babsbag]

I am sorry to hear about your hen. It is so hard when they get sick. Have you looked online for the symptoms of parathyphoid and how it is transmitted? Does that sound like something your hen could've contracted? What I have read says that the mortality rate is very low. That being said, she is sick, the question is, with what?

Try bringing her in the house or garage where it is warm. Give her a safe and cozy place of her own. Then try and give her anything that a chicken might like. Pieces of fruit, scrambled eggs, cooked oatmeal, yogurt, etc. Get her some vitamins, poly-vi-sol with no iron. There are a lot of post on BYC that talk about how to feed and care for the sick ones. Check and see if she is drinking. No water will kill her faster than no food. Try dribbling some on the sides of her beak and see if she will drink it. Don't squirt it down her throat, you could drown her easily.

Also, could she be egg bound? I have never had one do that, but again check on the forum for that. There is a bunch of information on how to check for it, and how to treat it. Also, feel her crop and see if it is empty. If she is not eating, it should be. If it is hard, then it may be impacted and again, search the boards for info.

The best you can give her is supportive care. If she is breathing ok and her eyes are clear then it probably isn't an infection.

I hope things work out for you.

 

[sookiesmom]

Thanks for all the info. She is inside nice & warm for the last few days. The guy I spoke 2 who is very knowledgeable on chicks said if she was eggbound she wouldn't b walking. & she did lay one egg when she had her symptoms. I just checked on her & she's standing instead of sitting like she has been since sat. & I had no idea that u can feed a chicken scrambled eggs! I'm so scared that's its not treatable. I've been reading boards & haven't come across anything like this.