Older hen diarrhea, laying down, smells like ammonia, etc. Please Help

[mschickiemama]

One of my Blue Andalusians (approx. 7 years old) has not been feeling well. She stopped roosting & is now hanging out in my room. Lays down with eyes closed. Breast area looks big but keel area is extremely thin. Some lack of feathers on her underside. Runny diarrhea green and white. Before this it was more whitish and sticky and stringy. And then for a while bright greenish teal. Hardly eating or drinking. Looks dehydrated. Any ideas? Thinking about taking her to a vet -- wondering what they would do.

More details:
---a few months ago she got flystrike which I saved her from by a long bath and quarantine. also noticed lots of things in her feathers like eggs. she has had lice in the past. washed her up and had her in my room a few days.
---later on she started roosting outside of the coop for a couple weeks then started roosting in the coop again
---hasn't laid any eggs in a few months. I think the last egg she laid was a tiny shelless egg thing without the yolk
---Not molting like the other hens
---Stopped roosting a couple days ago

 

[junebuggena]

The discolored comb and wattles is most telling. That bluish tint is usually caused by inadequate blood flow, possibly from a heart condition. The ammonia smell might indicate kidney failure. The enlarged crop, on a bird with no appetite indicates impacted or sour crop. Given her age, it's entirely possible that she is experiencing multi-organ failure.

 

[LittlePip21]

So sorry to hear your having trouble! I don't know exactly what this is, but can you tell us what her crop feels like? Her not laying makes me think something along the lines of internal laying, in which egg yolks are dropped into the body cavity instead of being shelled and leaving the hen. The yolks are usually reabsorbed but they can become a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. I'm not sure this is what she has, as their abdomen swells because of it, but in my experience the hen looses so much weight it can be hard to tell. You said something about stringy droppings a while ago? Could it possibly have been worms? Sorry I couldn't have been more help! I know that if you are still having problems with lice you can rub permethrin down in her feathers, repeat the treatment in four days. I know their is a poultry symptom calculator online, i haven't had a huge amount of success with it myself, but it may be useful for narrowing down some things. Hope this helps! Keep us posted!

 

[LittlePip21]

Ps I know Rebrascora here on the site has experience with sour crop and flushing it out, you may want to send her a message, probiotics may help a bit with her digestive tract. I'm sure your doing everything you can, I see your giving her fresh vegetables, which is great! I personally would take her to the vet to see if they have any advice.

The discolored comb and wattles is most telling. That bluish tint is usually caused by inadequate blood flow, possibly from a heart condition. The ammonia smell might indicate kidney failure. The enlarged crop, on a bird with no appetite indicates impacted or sour crop. Given her age, it's entirely possible that she is experiencing multi-organ failure.

 

[mschickiemama]

The discolored comb and wattles is most telling. That bluish tint is usually caused by inadequate blood flow, possibly from a heart condition. The ammonia smell might indicate kidney failure. The enlarged crop, on a bird with no appetite indicates impacted or sour crop. Given her age, it's entirely possible that she is experiencing multi-organ failure.

aww
She just ate some of the rice I gave her. Seems like she perks up and starts eating a little when I come near her. Very small amount though. But then she goes back to sleep. She's still laying down and mostly just sleeping.

Is this her crop right in front of the skinny keel bone? I thought it was the breast.

 

[mschickiemama]

So sorry to hear your having trouble! I don't know exactly what this is, but can you tell us what her crop feels like? Her not laying makes me think something along the lines of internal laying, in which egg yolks are dropped into the body cavity instead of being shelled and leaving the hen. The yolks are usually reabsorbed but they can become a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. I'm not sure this is what she has, as their abdomen swells because of it, but in my experience the hen looses so much weight it can be hard to tell. You said something about stringy droppings a while ago? Could it possibly have been worms? Sorry I couldn't have been more help! I know that if you are still having problems with lice you can rub permethrin down in her feathers, repeat the treatment in four days. I know their is a poultry symptom calculator online, i haven't had a huge amount of success with it myself, but it may be useful for narrowing down some things. Hope this helps! Keep us posted!

I guess the sky's the limit with this. Whatever's been going on, it's been for a while. She got flystrike months ago. I cleaned her up and trimmed her feathers down there & she seemed fine for a while and acting pretty normal. But then after a while she started sleeping outside the coop in the ivy. And now this stuff happens. Her crop feels squishy I guess. The stringy poop was definitely not worms. It kind of looked like what this lady posted: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/watery-yellowish-sticky-poop.1206754/ She smells like old pee.

 

[LittlePip21]

I'm so sorry, I wish I knew how to help. I know how frustrating it is when things pile up! I'll be praying for you and your hen!

 

[LittlePip21]

Also, I know ascites or internal laying can cause an ammonia like smell and can cause organ failure. Here is the person I was talking about earlier she has lots of experience and she may be able to help. https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/rebrascora.259584/ here is an account of my hen with internal ascites, hope it's helpful! https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/18893242/ ps: the crop is usually located higher on the bird, since she's not eating much it's probably empty. Let us know how she is in the morning.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

7 years old...stopped roosting & is now hanging out in my room. Lays down with eyes closed. Breast area looks big but keel area is extremely thin...Runny diarrhea green and white. Before this it was more whitish and sticky and stringy. And then for a while bright greenish teal. Hardly eating or drinking. Looks dehydrated...also noticed lots of things in her feathers like eggs. she has had lice in the past...hasn't laid any eggs in a few months

Hi @MsChickenMomma How is your hen today?
Does she still have active lice?

With her age and the symptoms you describe, I would lean toward her having an internal laying/reproductive disorder. @LittlePip21 has given you some good information.

The green poop would most likely be an indication that she is not eating and/or infection. The white in the poop is urates. Her kidneys may be failing her.

If her crop is squishy, it may be slow. If her internal organs are starting the fail or she has infection this can slow or stop the digestive process. Do the best you can to keep her drinking, water is important. For food, encourage her to eat her normal feed or you may be able to entice her with some chopped egg. Vitamins in the water won't hurt either.

It's very hard to know what to do when a hen gets this way. Factoring her age and symptoms, her chance of recovery may be slim. You can try antibiotics - some people do administer them as a last ditch effort to see if there is improvement. If you feel that she is suffering and declining further, then it would be kinder to let her go.
I'm very sorry.

fwiw- here's some good photos of what a crop should look like and where it's located. http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html

 

[mschickiemama]

Also, I know ascites or internal laying can cause an ammonia like smell and can cause organ failure. Here is the person I was talking about earlier she has lots of experience and she may be able to help. https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/rebrascora.259584/ here is an account of my hen with internal ascites, hope it's helpful! https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/18893242/ ps: the crop is usually located higher on the bird, since she's not eating much it's probably empty. Let us know how she is in the morning.

Hi @MsChickenMomma How is your hen today?
Does she still have active lice?

With her age and the symptoms you describe, I would lean toward her having an internal laying/reproductive disorder. @LittlePip21 has given you some good information.

The green poop would most likely be an indication that she is not eating and/or infection. The white in the poop is urates. Her kidneys may be failing her.

If her crop is squishy, it may be slow. If her internal organs are starting the fail or she has infection this can slow or stop the digestive process. Do the best you can to keep her drinking, water is important. For food, encourage her to eat her normal feed or you may be able to entice her with some chopped egg. Vitamins in the water won't hurt either.

It's very hard to know what to do when a hen gets this way. Factoring her age and symptoms, her chance of recovery may be slim. You can try antibiotics - some people do administer them as a last ditch effort to see if there is improvement. If you feel that she is suffering and declining further, then it would be kinder to let her go.
I'm very sorry.

fwiw- here's some good photos of what a crop should look like and where it's located. http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html

Thanks for the info. She is still laying down and sleeping. She tucks her head in her feathers behind her wing. She drank a little bit but still looks dehydrated (skin test). Her crop is definitely full. And it feels kind of squishy with some liquidy sounds. Gave her some olive oil because I read it can help. I tried to massage her but after a certain point she would freak out and try to get away. A lot of skin flakes came off when I massaged her. I don't see any lice. Yeah maybe I will get some electrolytes and vitamins for the water next. Worried she's in pain.

Her poop looks different today. More solid. Would a chicken with impacted crop be pooping? Her breath also doesn't smell strong. It's the back end that smells bad. It seems like something else is going on.

She hopped out of her basket when I moved it. So she definitely has some energy if needed!