Nutri Drench

I have a 2 1/2 year old BO who is extremely weak. Her weight has gone from 6.8 lbs to 2.1 lbs. She has been checked by a vet; all tests came back normal. X-rays show nothing irregular. She has no parasites inside or out. According to the vet, she is healthy. I had what appears to be the same thing happen last year, that hen finally recovered. This is Sadie, a very sweet girl. She is eating and drinking, her droppings are normal. I brought her inside last week because she was so weak and gave her Nurti Drench for four days then put her with the flock. She seemed to be a bit better. I had read that more than four days on Nutri Drench would give her diarrhea. She sure doesn't need that. I just checked on her, she was trying to drink but is so weak she couldn't stand long enough to drink. I am going to bring her back inside. My question is, how long can I give her Nutri Drench? Is there anything else I can try giving her that might help? She is going to die if I can't come up with something.

Also, I am wondering if I should put grit in the crate with her if she is inside very long because she is eating ok. Thanks.

How experienced is your Vet?She sure doesn't sound healthy to me.

You can put a little cup of Grit for her.

He is not an avian vet. He has tended a couple of my chicks before with good results. The chick I mentioned with apparently the same problem spent four days at an out-of-town vet hospital with an avian vet. She even consulted with and faxed test results and x-rays to a colleague in California who is strictly an avian vet. The nearest one is 70 miles away and my schedule doesn't permit me to take her at all next week. I have her inside now. I just don't know what else to do for her.

Giving her nutridrench for more than 4 days will not hurt her, especially if she is sick. There is something wrong, either some type of disease or parasites. Do you know for sure that the vet tested for cocci and worms? Try getting her to drink some fluids with a dropper. I would feed her some chopped egg or tuna with her chick feed, and probiotic plain yogurt. Perhaps she is being kept from her food by the others. Tube feeding can be done to get water and food into her. Search for "go team tube feeding," a good thread about learning to tube feed.

I kept a close eye on her while she was inside and saw she was eating and drinking with no problem. She even liked the Nutri Drench.I would open her beak and put a couple small drops just inside her beak in front. She swallowed it and was looking for more.I gave her one ml each day for four days. At couple drops a time, it was a lengthy process. Their feed is Purina Layena pellets and they get well water. She talked to us constantly when we were in the room with her and she is alert. She looks fine except she is skinny and weak.

The vet checked for cocci and parasites. Cocci was 50/50, which he said is ok, and there was no sign of parasites. The x-ray didn't show anything unusual. I don't really want to make the 140 mile round trip to the avian vet. Not only does the trip take up a day but it is expensive. Been there, done that before but it might be my only option. I don't want to lose her.

I'll make her some chopped egg tomorrow for added nutrition and started her on Nutri Drench this afternoon when I brought her in. I asked how long she can have Nutri Drench because I read somewhere on BYC that it can give them diarrhea. I have Rooster Booster, would that help her?

I just found a PM but I can't reply for some reason. No, the vet didn't do a CBC. He said he can't do blood work. I checked with other vets in town and found one that can draw the blood but they send it out and it can take up to two weeks to get results. I will either go that route or take her out of town this week if I can get her an appointment.

I didn't know about the Poultry DVM website. Will check it out now.

thanks

I just took a look at PoultryDVM. Since her only symptom is weakness, there were few possibilities. The only one that I think could possibly be causing the problem is toxins in the feed due to exposure to dampness. I have to buy 50 lbs at a time and have a 5 lb sealed container that I keep in the coop. The remainder of the bag is kept in my car trunk from which I fill the 5 lb container when it is empty. I know, odd, but I can't carry the heavy bag. A bag of feed lasts about five weeks; I always check the expiration date when I buy the feed. The feed has never smelled bad nor has it ever been moldy when I take it from the bag to the sealed container. Plus, if there are toxins in the feed, wouldn't the others be affected too? I have a total of six hens. Has anyone had experience with this and does anyone have any suggestions? Is there lab work that can check for toxins that I can ask my local vet about?

Eggcessive - I must apologize. I finally realized why you suggested tube feeding; my post sounded like she wasn't able to drink at all. She wasn't able to stand at the waterer at the coop because it is high. She has no problem in the cage, feed and water are low enough that she can eat and drink sitting down. I wasn't able to get her a vet appt until next Monday so have her inside and giving her Nutridrench and chopped egg along with pellets which are always available. She talks to us whenever we are in the room with her and seems fine other than the weight loss and weakness. Doesn't make sense.

Oh, no problem. At her age, they sometimes can be laying internally or have egg yolk peritonitis. That can cause weight loss, problems walking or standing, diarrhea, poor appetite, and other symptoms. No treatment cures it, but they can sometimes live awhile with it. Sometimes we don't figure out the problem until they die, unfortunately, and getting a necropsy can help to explain things. The state vets do them for a fee, although a couple do it free, such as California. Doing one at home to look at internal organs can sometimes give answers. Let us know what the vet says next week.

Thanks, I will. She is tucked in for the night and cooing her little heart out.