HeidiGretchen
In the Brooder
Probably giving too much information, but this is my first "sick" chicken and I am trying to learn. Willing to try anything. Thanks for your help!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a Golden Laced Polish Crested, just over 1 year old, same size/weight as her hatch-ling sister
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
A few weeks ago, the sister cut and broke her leg, so I crated her while she healed. This hen seemed lost without her sister, and stayed right next to the crate. The sister had been acting broody right before she got hurt, so I didn't think too much of it when I stopped getting polish hen eggs. Also, we had a snake kill a young hen, so I attributed the lack of eggs to a possible snake eating them as I wasn't getting as many eggs in general from my girls. Although sister is now healed and back with the flock, this hen continues to seem different and I haven't had a polish egg in weeks. 2 days ago, I noticed she seemed less energetic and yesterday her tail was down. When I closed the coop for the night, she was hiding behind a feeder, head tucked down and tail down, but standing. (She always roosts high at night with her sister.) I removed her from the coop and gave her a warm epsom salt bath thinking maybe she is egg bound. The bath did seem to help, so I put her in the crate for the night. This morning, she had not pooped, but after eating and drinking a bit, she pooped a very green and white watery mess. I did not know to check her crop before I gave her food, although I would say today it feels firm but not overly large, hard or mushy. I put her back with her sister to see how she acts, and she will walk around following sister, but doesn't run or flap her wings. Tail has been up some today, but also back down. Her face is pale, not red like sisters.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Symptoms I consider very abnormal - 24 - 36 hours. Acting unlike her normal temperament, since sister was hurt 3ish weeks ago.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No. The rest of the flock is fine. We have had a terrible time with mites, which is finally getting better, but this hen had very little feather loss or damage, particularly in comparison to some of the other hens.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
See above. Also, the weather has been very hot, temps in the upper 90's and low 100's with heat indices above 110.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
We switched all the flock back to chick feed when our babies joined them in May. I offer oyster shell, and they get scratch once a day. They also get our fruit and vegetable scraps, and leftover eggs if my kids don't finish their breakfast. I scrambled an egg with the shell crushed in for her this morning, and she ate a fair amount of it. She has access to water and electrolyte water.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Pictures attached. Very green, white part very runny and wet.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Warm baths, don't seem to feel presence of an egg, rubbed her crop. Fed egg with shell for calcium.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I would prefer to treat her myself if possible.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Pictures included to show her tail down stance, tried to get some of her face to show paleness and included a pic of her sister to show how much redder sis's face is, and poop pics, too.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Our coop is nothing fancy, old but spacious. Dirt floor which I put fresh straw on but the chickens dig it up every day. Especially in this heat, they're dustbathing and making a mess. They have a large fenced yard - it used to be a goat/horse pen - so lots of space to run around.
*Side note - the sister with the cut and broken leg healed really well with some antibiotic ointment, wrapping her leg and crating her for rest. I'm hopeful I can nurse this sweet girl back to heath. Thanks again for any help!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a Golden Laced Polish Crested, just over 1 year old, same size/weight as her hatch-ling sister
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
A few weeks ago, the sister cut and broke her leg, so I crated her while she healed. This hen seemed lost without her sister, and stayed right next to the crate. The sister had been acting broody right before she got hurt, so I didn't think too much of it when I stopped getting polish hen eggs. Also, we had a snake kill a young hen, so I attributed the lack of eggs to a possible snake eating them as I wasn't getting as many eggs in general from my girls. Although sister is now healed and back with the flock, this hen continues to seem different and I haven't had a polish egg in weeks. 2 days ago, I noticed she seemed less energetic and yesterday her tail was down. When I closed the coop for the night, she was hiding behind a feeder, head tucked down and tail down, but standing. (She always roosts high at night with her sister.) I removed her from the coop and gave her a warm epsom salt bath thinking maybe she is egg bound. The bath did seem to help, so I put her in the crate for the night. This morning, she had not pooped, but after eating and drinking a bit, she pooped a very green and white watery mess. I did not know to check her crop before I gave her food, although I would say today it feels firm but not overly large, hard or mushy. I put her back with her sister to see how she acts, and she will walk around following sister, but doesn't run or flap her wings. Tail has been up some today, but also back down. Her face is pale, not red like sisters.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Symptoms I consider very abnormal - 24 - 36 hours. Acting unlike her normal temperament, since sister was hurt 3ish weeks ago.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No. The rest of the flock is fine. We have had a terrible time with mites, which is finally getting better, but this hen had very little feather loss or damage, particularly in comparison to some of the other hens.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
See above. Also, the weather has been very hot, temps in the upper 90's and low 100's with heat indices above 110.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
We switched all the flock back to chick feed when our babies joined them in May. I offer oyster shell, and they get scratch once a day. They also get our fruit and vegetable scraps, and leftover eggs if my kids don't finish their breakfast. I scrambled an egg with the shell crushed in for her this morning, and she ate a fair amount of it. She has access to water and electrolyte water.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Pictures attached. Very green, white part very runny and wet.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Warm baths, don't seem to feel presence of an egg, rubbed her crop. Fed egg with shell for calcium.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I would prefer to treat her myself if possible.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Pictures included to show her tail down stance, tried to get some of her face to show paleness and included a pic of her sister to show how much redder sis's face is, and poop pics, too.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Our coop is nothing fancy, old but spacious. Dirt floor which I put fresh straw on but the chickens dig it up every day. Especially in this heat, they're dustbathing and making a mess. They have a large fenced yard - it used to be a goat/horse pen - so lots of space to run around.
*Side note - the sister with the cut and broken leg healed really well with some antibiotic ointment, wrapping her leg and crating her for rest. I'm hopeful I can nurse this sweet girl back to heath. Thanks again for any help!
