Sick Hen

[Verinda]

One of my hens, Tilly is very unwell today. She is just standing there, sometimes twisting her head about as though she has something stuck in her throat. She is also dribbling and has an upset tummy and closing her eyes a lot.

I am at a loss to know what to do with her, she is currently standing in the nest box. I took her out earlier and put her outside for a bit but she just stood still so eventually I put her back in the nest box. Could she be egg bound? Or a stomach upset. Poor thing is very unhappy.

Any help would be much appreciated. Should I try and administer some water as she will not drink or eat. She was absolutely fine yesterday.

There are no mites at the moment thankfully, I'm checking all the time and dusting regularly.

[elizajay]

I am sorry to hear about her. No idea what it could be so can't be any help. I think I would consider the vet.

[bearded bloke]

How does her crop feel ... firm or soft ? Does her breath smell ?

[Verinda]

Ah, I have just googled the crop and read about sour crop and I think that might be it. She's snuggled in the nest box at the moment. But in the morning I'll try massaging her crop, briefly and also try giving her a little water.

I hope she'll be ok. I haven't smelt her breath but I will tomorrow. I hope she'll be ok.

Thank you for your help.

[bearded bloke]

The other possibility that comes to mind would be .. impacted crop .. if she has had access to long grass (or similar)

Good luck & I hope she is soon well again

[Verinda]

Yes, they are free range for most of the day and can access long grass.
But horribly I think it might be my fault for giving them mashed potato? I feel guilty now. Still I suppose you live and learn.

I'll let you know how she is tomorrow.

[Nicos]

Fingers crossed for the morning.
Live yog is good if you can clear her crop?

[kathyd]

I'm sure mashed potato won't have caused it Verinda, don't guilt yourself. One of my birds, my oldest one, had a big dangly crop when we got her. It's always been the same, whether she eats or not, but when she has a myco attack (something else we inherited with her), it seems to affect her crop and she also dribbles and finds it hard to eat. I'm not suggesting for a moment that Tilly has a myco virus, but it's one more thing to be aware of in the great catalogue of chicken problems! If it's not sour crop or impacted crop, it's just something else to consider as a possibility, and an antibiotic from the vet might help. Good luck with her, hope she's OK xx

[chris]

Have they been wormed recently?

Have a look at gapeworm symptoms too.


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[Verinda]

Well, I went to the henhouse this morning with their breakfast and a dropper to give Tilly a sip of water and also prepared for the worst. I opened the door and practically mown down by all four hens, Tilly full of beans, leaping about with the others. I couldn't believe my eyes. She didn't eat the pellets but I had a handful of oats in my pocket and she gobbled them all up. So happily she seems to have made a good over night recovery. Such a relief! I hope she's ok now.

Many thanks for all your replies and help xx it really makes such a difference. Is mashed potato ok for hens? I often give them a bit with their tea if there's some left over.

Just to add, I haven't wormed them recently but will do, I don't much like the sound off gapeworm.

[veggiechicken]

So happy for you and Tilly ..

[Nicos]

fantastic news...well done that chook!

[skeggijon]

So pleased verinda

[kathyd]

I'm delighted she's so much better . It's amazing how often they seem to heal themselves isn't it? In terms of mashed potato, strictly speaking of course one isn't supposed to give any treats to the birds, but I know lots of people who give a bit of mash to theirs without any apparent harm, certainly I've not heard of it damaging a crop - but someone else might know differently of course .

[Verinda]

Thank you Kathy, I expect I'll still give them a little mashed potato occasionally, perhaps it wasn't that that caused it. Tilly has been a little under the weather these past few days, but making the most of it! haha! And happily right back to normal today