Why is my chicken's comb pale, stumbling, and always laying down?

Hello. It is very common to see reproductive disease in chickens including salpingitis & egg yolk peritonitis. If you could bring her indoors where it is a bit cooler, feed her nutritious foods such as cornbread, cooked eggs, even a bit ( not much ) of canned cat food & see if she perks up. Many of these birds are actually in quite a bit of pain, so if there is any way to have her seen by a vet, this would be best. X-rays are often taken in these cases to evaluate the internal organs or see if she is actually egg bound. There is a lot we know about chickens, but sometimes not much we can do to save them. Hope you can have her evaluated soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about this. Are we talking about chickens. No sure what diseases are prevalent in Africa but if multiple bird dying simultaneously, concerns would be around a viral etiology. Many countries have national veterinary diagnostic laboratories that might help with a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is concluded, a treatment plan can be implemented. Isolation and quarantining any sick animals is important to decrease cross contamination. Good luck.

I'm sorry that Peanut is not well but I really don't think we can help you much. She sounds very sick and should see a veterinarian in person. Her symptoms do not point to any one specific illness that I can think of. There are many, many things that could cause her symptoms. Please take her to a vet.

If home remedies haven't worked, then it is time to seek out the care of a vet. It is possible there is a bacterial or fungal infection going on that may be causing the symptoms you are seeing and require antibiotic or anti-fungal treatment. Making sure the coop is kept clean and the hens aren't laying in their own droppings can also help keep their bottoms clean if there is no underlying illness. You can also bathe any affected hens to help clean up their bottoms and provide some relief from the irritation. If you have a hen that is acting very ill, I would remove her from the flock and place her into a hospital cage with easy access to food and water until you can be seen by a vet. Separating any other sick birds is also a good idea if you suspect something infectious to keep your remaining hens safe and healthy.

Thanks for reaching out about Visu. He should be separated from the other birds to prevent cross contamination. Viral, bacterial, fungal infections are all possible. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can give some support but is not a treatment in itself. Good luck.

It looks like she may have some mites going on if you're seeing them. Extended exposure to mites and other parasites can cause anemia which may make birds weak, unable to stand or move, etc. Taking care of the mites with a mite spray/and providing dust baths, and deworming all the birds to remove internal parasites can help lower the parasite load and help prevent anemia. Moving your sick hen to an isolated hospital area, removing as many mites and debris as you can, checking for visible wounds and treating them, and giving her close access to food and water may help, however if her symptoms continue or worsen, or other birds become ill, seeking vet care is best.

She is definitely in need of an examination by a veterinarian to assess the situation more carefully. Based on the information you've provided, it sounds like she could have some sort of upper respiratory infection, as these often can cause the eyes to crust up and shut completely. Antibiotics and anti inflammatory medication are usually the best bets for this sort of ailment. However, first things first, you'll need to have someone take a look at her to make sure there isn't a primary ocular issue going on instead. Hope this makes sense.