Will honey cure digestive system infection?

[Squawkers]

I have a 3 year old Easter Egger, who had a digestive system infection in June of 2023. I gave her bovine penicillin and it was cleared up within a few days. I’m afraid she has the same thing again. I can’t really put my finger on what’s wrong with her, other than she’s just not acting like herself. She still eats and for the most part seems perfectly fine and she jumped on my shoulder this morning like normal, but the goofy and mischievous part of her is gone. And yesterday morning I noticed her crop was completely full and the other chicken’s were empty. The fact that it was full didn’t necessarily concern me, because she had access to food. But I wondered why it was huge and the others were not. I’m not positive that she does have an infection, but if she did, would feeding her honey help at all? I no longer have access to the penicillin. Her bottom feathers are also covered with diarrhea.

 

[Squawkers]

 

[Squawkers]

The last time she laid an egg was 4 days ago, but I’ve seen her in the nest at least twice since then

 

[Kiki]

No honey will likely not cure an infection.
Have you ever dewormed your flock?
Can you collect fresh poop and take it to a vet to have it tested?

 

[Squawkers]

No, can’t take a sample to the vet. But I do have a fenbendazole dewormer. Should I give her that?

 

[Squawkers]

I just have her the rooster booster poultry cell and electrolytes and probiotics. I also gave her scrambled eggs but she didn’t eat them, which is not like her

 

[Kiki]

No, can’t take a sample to the vet. But I do have a fenbendazole dewormer. Should I give her that?

I would deworm her. I would also not feed any treats and only feed the complete balanced feed.

When was the last time you dewormed your flock?

 

[BDutch]

Deworming medicines can only improve health if you have a worm problem. Otherwise you decrease their health.

I wouldn’t deworm chickens that do not have a worm problem. Same with antibiotics if there is no bacterial infection.

Do you give your chickens grit (small stones) to digest food?

If I’m not sure whats wrong I just make the sick chickens life comfortable, supply healthy food, fresh greens, monitor, wait and see.

 

[Squawkers]

The last time I dewormed was when one of my chickens got gapeworms, that was beginning of September 2023. I don’t usually deworm them unless they have worms. One question though. Fenbendazole dewormers have a 17 day egg withdrawal, so I don’t really want to deworm the whole flock. Granted, because half of them are molting and it is super hot, I’m only getting about one egg a day. If I were to deworm the whole flock (should I?) do you think I could give the eggs to my dog? I absolutely hate wasting eggs, and I know that some dog dewormers are fenbendazole based. So it won’t hurt him, right?

I do agree with not medicating them unless I have to, but I can’t loose Bunny. If there is any chance I can save her, without doing something unreasonable, I think I will. They do have grit and I waited until I was positive that she had an infection to give her the penicillin last time. I appreciate your concern, and I do agree with you. I just can’t risk loosing her

 

[BDutch]

I do agree with not medicating them unless I have to, but I can’t loose Bunny. If there is any chance I can save her, without doing something unreasonable, I think I will. They do have grit and I waited until I was positive that she had an infection to give her the penicillin last time. I appreciate your concern, and I do agree with you. I just can’t risk loosing her

Is Bunny an Easter Egger? How old is she? In your description I can’t find anything wrong apart. Sounds more like other behaviour than previous. Why exactly do you think she is sick?

If you want a reliable diagnose you need to contact a vet who is specialised in birds.
Second best ; try to give as much info as possible , film Bunny, upload on Youtube or another platform. And post it here.
A few cracks like @Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock here on BYC often give good advice when they have enough input.
But you also need to know chickens don’t live forever. And their behaviour changes when they moult and when they grow older.