[Pretty Chick]

Hi,

My rhode island red hen (called Nutty) looks ill 
Yesterday, she was her normal self, but when I just popped down to check on them all, I noticed that she doesn't look right.
She has always been very scared of us, but today, when I walked towards her she didn't really try to run away.
She is the only hen who has scaly leg mite. We have been giving her a bath around once a week, scrubbing at her legs to help get some scales away.
I don't think she has layed for about 1 week, but has been fine up till today.
She is standing still, closing her eyes and is around 2 and a half years old.
I have looked down her throat, but that looks normal.
Her crop feels kind of soupy, if you know what I mean.

If anyone knows what could be wrong with her and/or how to help/treat her, I would really appreciate your thoughts 

[Pretty Chick]

I don't think she has layed for about 1 week, but has been fine up till today.

Sorry, I didn't type that very well.

Nutty hasn't laid any eggs since 1 week ago, but has been her normal perky self until today.

[ehs284]

Not the way to treat scaly leg mite. Use insecticide or, better, just kill off by using oil/grease (vaseline etc - see historical posts). Apart from the pain of removing scales you may have allowed bacteria into the bloodstream. If so, the only answer is antibiotics and that means a visit to the vets. You could check under the wings for increased temperature which would tend to confirm infection. The lack of appetite also suggests infection. To the vet - and please check online for any future treatments you might need. Hope she recovers. Best wishes

[Pretty Chick]

Many thanks ehs284, I will go and check under her wings a little later.
This is probably a really silly question, but does scaly leg mite eventually kill the chickens then?
Nutty already had scaly leg mite when we bought her which was when she was around 18 weeks.

[joyfull]

after they have been treated for scaly leg mite they will still look like they have them as they will still have raised scales. These scales will stay like this until they moult which is when the old scales will drop off and new ones appear.

[Pretty Chick]

Okay, thanks joyfull 
I have checked under Nutty's wings and compared the temperature of hers with a couple of other hens and Nutty's temp seems normal.
She's still just standing around though  

[Aunt Sally]

PrettyChick, You would do well to read some of our poultry information topics.  Particularly the numbered ones.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?board=13.0

[Pretty Chick]

Thank you Sally, I'll have a look 

[Pretty Chick]

Just to let you all know, Nutty is back to normal and almost fully recovered  !!
I'm so pleased that she has pulled through

[sarah f]

thats good news