TOPChickens14
Songster
I made a post on here not too long ago asking about a hen of mine that is ill. This one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-struggling-to-poop.1517661/#post-25544467
This is a follow-up post because she has gotten worse.
I have confirmed that she isn't egg-bound, and doesn't have crop issues (sour or impacted). For the past 11 or so days, she has been about the same. Last night, she didn't look so good. She was standing in a position that just looked sick. She was very droopy, wings and tail. Her head was also really scrunched up into the rest of her body not twisted but like pulled back like she was cold. I didn't know what to do about her last night so I gave her some treats and came back this morning. This morning, her wattles and comb are pale. They aren't normal. They look light pink with some red. I decided to research other probable issues. I looked into worms. After all of my research, I decided that she most likely had some internal worms. Now, I checked on her again because I wanted to look at her. Well, I just so happened to look in her feathers, and bam, I say a brown speck scurry away. I checked about an inch away, another, checked in another spot, another one. Now, I don't have experience with mites but I am quite certain that those were mites. I did some more research on mites and I think she might have Northern Fowl mites. I think this because 1) she has been inside away from the coop for almost 2 weeks (she wouldn't have red mites staying in the cage nooks and crannies right?) 2) they were on her during the day, unlike red mites. I know that it isn't lice or fleas because she isn't scratching her body anywhere nor does she have any feather loss whatsoever. That is confusing me. She has beautiful feathers. Is it normal for them to be infested but not have any plumage destruction because the NFM suck blood? Is it possible that she has mites as well as something else like worms? I want to add that under where she is standing in the cage, the bedding is wet and not with water because She has knocked that over and I added bedding last night. There are only a little bit of loose droppings. That bedding also smells bad.
What should I do? Should I have a fecal test done in case of worms? Should I go ahead and dust her with DE?
I really appreciate the help. I really want to help her out. It is so heartbreaking to watch her like this.
This is a follow-up post because she has gotten worse.
I have confirmed that she isn't egg-bound, and doesn't have crop issues (sour or impacted). For the past 11 or so days, she has been about the same. Last night, she didn't look so good. She was standing in a position that just looked sick. She was very droopy, wings and tail. Her head was also really scrunched up into the rest of her body not twisted but like pulled back like she was cold. I didn't know what to do about her last night so I gave her some treats and came back this morning. This morning, her wattles and comb are pale. They aren't normal. They look light pink with some red. I decided to research other probable issues. I looked into worms. After all of my research, I decided that she most likely had some internal worms. Now, I checked on her again because I wanted to look at her. Well, I just so happened to look in her feathers, and bam, I say a brown speck scurry away. I checked about an inch away, another, checked in another spot, another one. Now, I don't have experience with mites but I am quite certain that those were mites. I did some more research on mites and I think she might have Northern Fowl mites. I think this because 1) she has been inside away from the coop for almost 2 weeks (she wouldn't have red mites staying in the cage nooks and crannies right?) 2) they were on her during the day, unlike red mites. I know that it isn't lice or fleas because she isn't scratching her body anywhere nor does she have any feather loss whatsoever. That is confusing me. She has beautiful feathers. Is it normal for them to be infested but not have any plumage destruction because the NFM suck blood? Is it possible that she has mites as well as something else like worms? I want to add that under where she is standing in the cage, the bedding is wet and not with water because She has knocked that over and I added bedding last night. There are only a little bit of loose droppings. That bedding also smells bad.
What should I do? Should I have a fecal test done in case of worms? Should I go ahead and dust her with DE?
I really appreciate the help. I really want to help her out. It is so heartbreaking to watch her like this.
