EMERGENCY: dying hen

[Littleducklady]

Hi there. My fiancé and I have 3 little pekin ducks and 4 (9 month old) red star hens. Unfortunately, we are experiencing our first ill chicken. I noticed that she started looking sleepy a few days ago and was a little slower at times but didn't think much of it. Then, the next few days, she isolated herself and would go to the corner of the coop to sleep. I immediately separated her and she is currently in "chicken hospital" aka a dog cage with electrolyte water, probiotics + food. Her poop is normal and she will eat a little bit but she is not acting herself. Still really tired, not laying and she hasn't been talking much. She just wants to go in a corner and sleep. I gave her Vet RX, Nutridrench + apple cider vinegar. I have no idea what's going on with her.

Some things to note:

1.) She was laying when she was getting sick so I know she's not egg bound

2.) Her feathers are ruffled and she looks swollen

3.) Her nose was runny for the first few days but now it's not

4.) Her stomach has been making really loud gurgling noises

5.) She has recently been making gagging or dry-heaving looking faces with some head shaking

6.) Her poop is normal

7.) She is still eating (but not a lot)

8.) It rained pretty hard last weekend and all of the chickens were soaking wet.

Does anyone know what else I can do or what she may have? She has been sick all week and I feel horrible View attachment 1849166

 

[AmyJane725]

If you listen to her back can you hear any rattling or gurgling from her lungs?

 

[DobieLover]

Hi there. My fiancé and I have 3 little pekin ducks and 4 (9 month old) red star hens. Unfortunately, we are experiencing our first ill chicken. I noticed that she started looking sleepy a few days ago and was a little slower at times but didn't think much of it. Then, the next few days, she isolated herself and would go to the corner of the coop to sleep. I immediately separated her and she is currently in "chicken hospital" aka a dog cage with electrolyte water, probiotics + food. Her poop is normal and she will eat a little bit but she is not acting herself. Still really tired, not laying and she hasn't been talking much. She just wants to go in a corner and sleep. I gave her Vet RX, Nutridrench + apple cider vinegar. I have no idea what's going on with her.

Some things to note:

1.) She was laying when she was getting sick so I know she's not egg bound

2.) Her feathers are ruffled and she looks swollen

3.) Her nose was runny for the first few days but now it's not

4.) Her stomach has been making really loud gurgling noises

5.) She has recently been making gagging or dry-heaving looking faces with some head shaking

6.) Her poop is normal

7.) She is still eating (but not a lot)

Does anyone know what else I can do or what she may have? She has been sick all week and I feel horrible

Sorry your pullet is not feeling feel.
Can you post a picture of her? When you say swollen, do you mean her face and eyes?
It sounds like she may have a respiratory issue. I have not dealt with respiratory issues but other more experienced members here have.
@casportpony, @Texas Kiki , @Eggcessive, @Wyorp Rock , @azygous: can any of you assist?

 

[AmyJane725]

I think Tylan 50 is to go to for respiratory issues, but yes, let's hear what the experts think.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

She probably has a respiratory infection of some type. Very common when it gets really rainy and the chickens get wet.

Also does she have mucus coming from her nose? Does that mucus smell bad? Is she open mouth breathing?

She could also have an impacted crop or issue with her gut, due to the gurgling noises. Can you smell her throat? Does it smell bad? Could be rot crop. Does it feel full and swollen? Has it gone down during the night when she isn’t eating or is it always large?

 

[Kiki]

Can you go take a picture of fresh poop real quick?

 

[Littleducklady]

Sorry your pullet is not feeling feel.
Can you post a picture of her? When you say swollen, do you mean her face and eyes?
It sounds like she may have a respiratory issue. I have not dealt with respiratory issues but other more experienced members here have.
@casportpony, @Texas Kiki , @Eggcessive, @Wyorp Rock , @azygous: can any of you assist?

 

[Kiki]

Feel her crop...is it full?
Any smell coming from her mouth?

When was the last time she laid an egg?

 

[Eggcessive]

How does her crop feel—empty, full, soft, firm, or puffy and squishy? Is her breath normal or foul-smelling/sour? Have any of her eggs been overly large or thin-shelled? It is difficult sometimes to guess what may be wrong. The runny nostrils and gurgling or head shaking could be signs of a respiratory disease, such as MG or something else. The gagging and sometimes the gurgling could be signs of a crop disorder—impacted or sour crop. The crop should be empty first thing in the morning, and if you find it is not, there may something wrong. Let us know what you find.

I would feel her lower belly for any enlargement or tightness that might be ascites or water belly. Ascites is fluid in the lower belly that may happen from heart failure or liver failure from reproductive disorders. With some of her symptoms, I would consider coccidiosis if her droppings look more runny with mucus or blood.

 

[Eggcessive]

In the picture you posted while I was posting shows a very large crop, so I would describe how it feels and consider treating for either sour (boggy or puffy) or impacted crop (which would be hard.) Here are some articles on how to treat:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/