Weird bump on my hen's comb, she's getting worse by day! EMERGENCY HELP NEEDED! PLEASE!

[HensSweetHens]

Hello Eggcessive!
I really hope so too.. She does seem tired all the time :-((( the area around her eyes is also swelling up a bit...it might be the swelling from her comb coming down to her face...not sure...I keep giving her aspirin, in hopes that it would act also as anti-inflammatory. Does anyone know of anti-inflammatory non-prescription drugs/natural remedies?

As far as getting food - yes, I feed Amber by a dropper until she has half full stomach. I don't fill her up to the full because her digestion is extremely slow and I don't want her to get sour crop. But since I work from home, she never has empty stomach. (I do know how to feed through a tube, but it's very stressful on a bird, even though I've learned to do it under about 15 seconds with someone helping to hold her of course. I just think Amber might be too weak for that. Feeding by dropper only take me 10 minutes and they don't struggle, because the process is more natural and gentle)

I honestly have no idea if it's Mareks or not. Daisy's left leg lameness is partial. Well, I mean she still has feeling in it, but doesn't have strength in it to stand on. She started lifting it off the ground when she stood - kind of saving it from having to putting weight on it. It's been about 3 weeks since she stopped walking and her muscle atrophied. I Massaged it and tried to encourage her to stand on it, but she would only stand a short time and then lie down again. No loss of coordination/balance or other symptoms.

(I might do a necropsy...been thinking about it...probably would be advisable..Thank you for the link.)

I appreciate you guys for checking in...I'll try to post something about Amber every day... (It's actually her in the picture - in my avatar :~)

 

[HensSweetHens]

Is there any improvement since yesterday ? It almost looks as if it could be a reaction to a scorpion or spider bite rather than a bacterial infection. Continue with supportive treatment, try to keep her eating and drinking.

I wonder, do you guys know/think a chicken can survive a brown recluse spider bite?

 

[Evelyn's Mom]

I hope she pulls through! I wish I could help more, but your posts have taught me a TON and I also hope I never have to do these things... thankfully I have a friend who probably can instruct me should the time come.
About the spider bite, usually antibiotics clear it up in humans and it's rarely fatal. My neighbors cat got a recluse bite and she didn't make it but she was in bad health and 20 YEARS OLD! Another thought is to talk to a local (if you can find one) raptor rehabber. They may have some more bird ideas for you.
Good luck, chicken momma!

 

[PouleChick]

Bless her she really is swelling up now

Does anyone know of anti-inflammatory non-prescription drugs/natural remedies?

Yes tumeric is amazing - my dh ended up with a nearly perforated stomach from NSAIDs (Ibruprofen) and we had to find an alternative - it works quicker for him when he has bad joint pain / swelling than the drugs did and no side effects! I have read of natural farmers using it for cattle as well. If you do go that route I'd suggest ordering online medicinal quality as the stuff in the supermarket can be really old and not as effective.

 

[coach723]

If you want to add an herbal to what you are trying, get some echinacea angustifolium/angustifolia (read the label, angustifolium/angustifolia is less common than purpurea, but purpurea is much less effective). I buy in bulk, but you can find capsules in the supplements, you may have to search depending on where you live and selection available. Empty the capsule and add just enough water to make a paste and apply the paste to the area of the comb. If you can, cover it with a bit of damp gauze and then plastic wrap to try to keep it moist and leave it on as long as you can. You can also just change it often if it's drying out. If she were to eat some it wouldn't do any harm, just not the plastic wrap or gauze! I use this on my husbands insect bites, he has terrible reactions and after several hours of the poultice they are much reduced, usually at least by half. It helps with infection also. It may or may not work in this case, but it definitely won't hurt things. I use it quite often for topical treatments.
http://doctorschar.com/echinacea-wound-healing-agent/

 

[Evelyn's Mom]

ooh! what about honey??

 

[HensSweetHens]

I will try your advice! Thank you all so much! I also have prednisone (tablet kind), would it be something I should give her, after I try the natural remedy first?

 

[coach723]

I think I would be reluctant to use that without veterinary advice.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/drugs/prednisolone

 

[HensSweetHens]

What about Kenalog? it's topical (cream)...

 

[Eggcessive]

Steroid creams are not so dangerous, but taking corticosteroids orally or by injection to reduce inflammation and pain can put the chicken at risk for serious infections, and in humans, they can cause ulcers.