Sick chook

[President Bartlet]

One of our hens is looking decidedly unwell. This morning she laid a shell less egg (something which she does every few weeks). Her tail and wings are down, she's off her food and isolating herself from the other hens (who all seem fine). What can I do? I'm at a bit of a loss, plus don't know if I should isolate her. This would be hard as I don't have two coops. All advice appreciated.

[bonniethomas06]

Hi PB,

A few questions:
1. Does she have foul smelling breath or a swolen crop? (no pun intended)

2. Can you feel her vent area gently (don't press too hard!) - is there a lump? Could be that she is egg bound - in which case you will need to act quickly as it can be fatal if left too long. I've never done it but I gather you may be able to gently manipulate the egg out of her without breaking it (KY jelly and clean gloves!). Some people syringe clinical grade paraffin into the hens mouth and this loosens them up so that they can pass the egg - never done it.

3.The only other thing I have encountered going wrong with my hens is a bacterial infection - does she have lots of poop stuck around her vent?

The shell-less egg can sometimes be a red herring - they can lay these when their body is under stress for some other reason. There are many more experienced than me on this forum, I am sure they will be along soon with some advice.

Let us know how she gets on and a bit more info.

Fingers crossed for you,

Bonnie

[President Bartlet]

Thanks very much Bonnie.

Have checked (bit grim) and I think it's proably no.3 -some type of infection- have isolated her with water and food and going to see how she is tomorrow, also going to do a course of flubenvet with all of them just in case.

If it is a bacterial infection will I have to take her to the vets for antibiotics, I must admit I've heard horror stories about spending loads and still loosing the chook so I'm a bit reluctant. I've read about garlic, can that provide any benefit?

Cheers

[bonniethomas06]

Hi PB,

Could well be an infection, or worms - both cause runny poop. If you do take her to the vets, it costs about £11 for a shot. But then again sometimes they do perk up on their own.

Hope she is OK.

Bonnie

[Jacqui S]

Garlic is antibacterial, works for people too, so no harm in trying it.

[lunalucy]

I would get her to the vet ASAP if she doesn't pick up... sometimes they can go droopy when they lay a funny egg and then pick up, but it may be something a bit more deep seated. Does she have access to grit in her food?

Another thing to consider (and a good avian vet will be able to give you more of a clue) is EYP (egg yolk peritonitis) - we had a hen that had sterile EYP for about three years and she managed pretty well. These days the treatment is better for it. It's basically where the yolks are deposited in the abdomen as a kind of thick ascites fluid. It can go septic (usually quicker to show as a poorly hen and quite serious) or sterile (a gradual swelling in the abdomen or back end and manageable).

Of course it may just be something completely diff! Might be something a broad spectrum antibiotic like Baytril can deal with. Good luck, I hope she gets better.