Sick Hen

[joyce_huang]

Hi all, my 4 years old hen has been sick for 3 days. At beginning she was showing lethargic and I eyewitnessed her laid a egg mess (without shell) while standing. Then she stopped eating, only drink a little water. Now it is the 4th day, her vent continues dripping greenish watering poo and most concerned part is, the poo is very stinky, smells like almost rotten fish. I am worried her liver problem. She maintains low activity, slowly move around but a lot of time just standing w closed eyes. All my other three hens are okay. I have since isolated her from the flock.

Her poo is greenish, white fluid. I posted a picture here.

Again, the fishly stinkiness of the poo concerns me the most. What should I do to treat her? Thank you so much for any suggestions.

 

[Eggcessive]

How does her crop feel? Is it empty by early morning before eating and drinking? Has she been a regular layer of normal eggs before this? Has she molted recently? It sounds like she may be experiencing a reproductive disorder. Salpingitis, cancer, and other are common at her age. I would let us know if her crop is not emptying, and offer some tempting food to try and get her to eat some. Chicken feed mixed with water, and a small amount of cooked egg or rinsed tuna or salmon, or canned cat food may work. Offer water often, and some vitamins and electrolytes may help her. Probiotics or a spoonful of plain yogurt with cultures a few days a week would help her gut bacteria.

 

[joyce_huang]

How does her crop feel? Is it empty by early morning before eating and drinking? Has she been a regular layer of normal eggs before this? Has she molted recently? It sounds like she may be experiencing a reproductive disorder. Salpingitis, cancer, and other are common at her age. I would let us know if her crop is not emptying, and offer some tempting food to try and get her to eat some. Chicken feed mixed with water, and a small amount of cooked egg or rinsed tuna or salmon, or canned cat food may work. Offer water often, and some vitamins and electrolytes may help her. Probiotics or a spoonful of plain yogurt with cultures a few days a week would help her gut bacteria.

She was a regular layer before this. Her eggs however were long ovals which were a little different from other eggs. I am sure if it is abnormal or not. Her crop is empty. I am now alarming w the color of her poo, it is dark brownish. Is she blooding internally? I am posting a poo picture here, i used a napkin to wipe her bottom because her poo is dripping.
I will follow you suggested above. Thanks so much.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is a bit alarming. Does her vent area look normal? I’m not sure what is going on. Cancer is a possibility, but honestly, it is hard to know exactly what is going on. She could have something going on with her oviduct. Sometimes I have lost hens, and found out more answers by doing a home necropsy after death. Many state vets will do very thorough necropsies, cultures and looking at tissue samples under a microscope. Her empty crop and not eating are concerning. Let us know how she is a little later.

 

[joyce_huang]

She was a regular layer before this. Her eggs however were long ovals which were a little different from other eggs. I am sure if it is abnormal or not. Her crop is empty. I am now alarming w the color of her poo, it is dark brownish. Is she blooding internally? I am posting a poo picture here, i used a napkin to wipe her bottom because her poo is dripping.
I will follow you suggested above. Thanks so much.

That is a bit alarming. Does her vent area look normal? I’m not sure what is going on. Cancer is a possibility, but honestly, it is hard to know exactly what is going on. She could have something going on with her oviduct. Sometimes I have lost hens, and found out more answers by doing a home necropsy after death. Many state vets will do very thorough necropsies, cultures and looking at tissue samples under a microscope. Her empty crop and not eating are concerning. Let us know how she is a little later.

An chilly update - when I examen my sick hen a few hours ago I was shocked. The dark red dripping from her vent area was not from vent but instead was from an injury right above her vent, and the laceration area was infested with maggots! It was hidden so well I didn't see it for 2 days and thought she was bleeding internally.
I used insect killer to kill the maggots and warm soapy water cleaned her. Applied antiseptic to the wound. Gave her some deworm and vitamins mixed with chicken feed, tube feeded her. And now keep her inside to monitor further.
My poor hen, she had a cat attack in April and since then she recovered but one hen in the flock has always peck her. So I suspect this recent injury was from that hen. But I don't know for sure. I just don't know how she got the injury.
I am going to inspect her early tomorrow morning. Hopefully her comdition improves. Feel so bad. She has suffered too much! I'm in tears whenever think about it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for the update and glad that you found the source of the bloody drainage. The maggots can hatch out from eggs for a good day or so, so I would soak her in warm soapy water in the morning and daily. Give us an update tomorrow.

 

[joyce_huang]

Update - gave her an warm soapy bath this morning, washed off less than an handful maggots. She showed clear sign of improvements. Started eating a little by herself. I still tube feed her some painkiller mixed with chicken feed and vitamins. Drainage definitely stopped, area is dry and healing. Her poo is still watering but better than yesterday's. She likes to stay in the warmest quarter of the house. Overall, she is recovering. I will be watching her diet and poo. Will update again. One note tho, I suspect her injury is the stressor that caused her diarrhea if she recovers without further intervention. Will see. Thank you so much!