Does she appear to be molting with any feather loss from the tail, neck, chest, or elsewhere? Some chickens molt so gradually that you don’t notice except for the tail feathers, while many lose lots of feathers at once. Molting is a common time for one to become ill.
Since you want to throw everything at her because she is special to you, I would go ahead and worm her with 1.25 ml of the fenbendazole if she is close to 5 pounds. Repeat it daily for 5 days which will get all types of worms except tapeworms. The vitamins and probiotic would be good to use.
What is your location? You can get some antibiotics online but it takes time for shipping. Wash off her bottom with warm water, and make sure there are no maggots present. Offer her some chilled coconut oil cut into small pieces to peck. Is the crop firm, doughy, or puffy? If firm or doughy, massage it several times a day. Try to get her drinking water.
Since you want to throw everything at her because she is special to you, I would go ahead and worm her with 1.25 ml of the fenbendazole if she is close to 5 pounds. Repeat it daily for 5 days which will get all types of worms except tapeworms. The vitamins and probiotic would be good to use.
What is your location? You can get some antibiotics online but it takes time for shipping. Wash off her bottom with warm water, and make sure there are no maggots present. Offer her some chilled coconut oil cut into small pieces to peck. Is the crop firm, doughy, or puffy? If firm or doughy, massage it several times a day. Try to get her drinking water.
) then I just kept an eye on her all day. First thing I noticed this morning was that every chicken was on the porch except her, then I of course freaked out (because that is also not like her) but I found her in the nest. Which I also thought was weird, because she hasn’t laid in four days, and I’ve seen her in the nest a couple times with her not laying. Is that something to note?? And yes, I’ve had my fair share of chicken deaths, it’s heartbreaking. That’s interesting though, about what both of y’all said about molting. I know that they can get sick while they are molting, and I knew that chickens that aren’t quite as good layers typically take longer to molt (right?) I was pretty sure she wasn’t molting, but I can look closer soon. The fenbendazole dewormer I have is pelleted form, at one ounce to 15-20lbs. I live in Texas, it has been 80-95ish all week (a cold front!
) right now it is 90. Thanks for the tip about checking for maggots!! I forgot about that. As soon as I can I will check to see if she is molting, how exactly her crop feels, and if there are any maggots.
I’m pretty sure she is not molting. Her crop was empty, which relieved me, I know stuff is at least going through. I stalked her for about 15 minutes waiting for her to poop so I could get a picture, nothing yet. I really don’t think she is broody. After I washed her bottom, I noticed foamy white stuff leaked out occasionally. I tried to get a picture, but couldn’t really.
