Nowhere else to turn to...

[vicky whitworth]

Help! The only thing 'period' about Big Bird is that she's pretty ancient. She's poorly and we don't know what's wrong with her, and although I know this isn't a period property question I have had such good chickeny advice from you guys before I thought I'd ask again.

Last Monday I noticed that her comb had collapsed and she's hardly eating, is very quiet, and stands around looking confused. She looks a bit fluffy - maybe it's something to do with her crop? - and she's making a very funny noise - not her usual clucking. She's not broody, she is coming out of the house each day and, to be honest, we thought she'd have popped her clogs earlier in the week but she keeps on going.

Any thoughts?

Thank you. Vicky

 

[DJH]

When ours have acted like that in the past Vicky they have generally died and for no rhyme or reason. How old is she? Our last hen to die actually did fall off her perch during the night and we found her the next morning. The others have mostly got into a clump of grass and nettles and died there. No help to you I'm afraid.

Doug

 

[LadyArowana]

I have left a message for the Queen of Ornamental fowl in "the other place".

 

[vicky whitworth]

Thank you both. I'm hoping the Queen will pop in as I feel she is the woman Big Bird needs. She saved her last time when Big Bird went broody and wouldn't eat.

The strange thing, Doug, is that she was looking so poorly at the beginning of the week that we didn't think she would last, and so we said our goodbyes. But she's hanging on in there, and today looks a little bit perkier. But if you throw corn down her sister runs over for it but she just stands looking confused. Apart from the change in her behaviour and her comb she looks well. Lots of feathers, glistening in the sun. But she's making a strange noise which is hard to describe. She's not actually that old - maybe three at the most. Ex batt.

We have had a badger hanging around the run, and he got into the corn store last night, knocked the bin over and has eaten all the corn!

All very strange. Vicky

 

[LadyArowana]

I don't know anything about chickens, but I remember Joce having one that made a funny noise. I *think* it was some sort of worm in the throat. Stopped her eating ( the chicken, not Joce ) and she could see them if she looked inside, gross I know, but then she knew what it was and could treat.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Sometimes I'm so glad I have a broken leg and cannot possibly be expected to pick up a chicken and look down its throat for worms. Now where's my husband gone?

 

[JoceAndChris]

So sorry I haven't seen this until now, I've had guests for the weekend.

Bring her in, isolation, warmth, cat food, sunflower seeds, live yoghurt. How is her crop - is it stuck and full of stuff ( impacted crop, which feels very hard in the morning)? Does her breath smell? ( Sour crop) How's her poo? Is she egg bound? Pick her up, examine her. I need more symptoms!
She needs treating for external and internal parasites, I suggest either Frontline Spray ( for dogs and cats) or Ivermectin spray ( for racing pigeons). If she has sour crop or impacted crop it can be treated. Impacted crop is massaged out gently and improved by syringing drops of olive oil. I seem to recall sour crop, which is very smelly, is treated as an infection with antibiotic.

I'm afraid ex bats don't have a long life expectancy Vicky

I've saved a lot of birds and operated successfully, on things like bumblefoot and dog wounds, but also had to cull for certain diseases like Mareks. Not a Queen at all, just try to get to grips with all of them - of course having 30 throws you in at the deep end.

Let me know how she is in the morning.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Thank you Joce. Big Bird is still with us and seems a little better. We can't find any other symptoms other than not eating much - but clearly eating something - and being lethargic. Comb is definitely collapsed and she's making a funny noise like a comforting sound. Perhaps we'll just have to wait and see and keep our finger's crossed. Thank you for all the advice.

 

[JoceAndChris]

It's hard to say what's the matter with the comb without seeing it, frost can damage it, anaemia, from blood loss from parasites, can make it pale and floppy. At this time of year it should be bright red and erect. The crooning noise is not something I've experienced at all, but she sounds stressed and unwell to me. I wonder if she has a cancer, I'm sorry to say.

Here's an overview of egg bound hens that's useful, but the duration of your hen's illness doesn't sound like she is egg bound

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html?m=1

It is very sad when hens go into a decline and mine have very often spent 6-8 wks dying, with me in the end taking them to be euthanised. Let's hope I'm wrong and it's just parasites, which is easily treatable - your local pet store should have the Ivermectin, and Flubenvet, for worms, is for sale on the Internet. Hope she pulls through.