- Apr 27, 2014
- 31
- 1
- 79
I hope someone can help with my Buff Orpington "Buttercup". She hasn't been right since she was a chick. She's 10-months now. Never developed or laid eggs. Now she's very ill. Worming her helped a lot, but she just never got completely better and is now not well again. I'm afraid to worm her again since she's so weak.
Thank you!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
10 month-old Buff Orpington female, never laid eggs, lighter and thinner pretty much always, failure to thrive, feathers look unkempt - not smooth like the others, comb and wattles never developed, very pale.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
From the day she arrived as a chick, she has acted kind of odd. Head-shaking, a little off balance. I tried everything even back then... Polyvisol, Tylan 50 orally, selenium, etc. We assumed maybe she had a neuro issue and left it at that. Fast-forward to about 6 weeks ago, she was puffed up and lethargic. No interest in anything. Always cold.
Brought her in and she perks up for a while after various treatments and then regresses. She's had a few close calls where I thought she was slipping away, only to come back. She has had a slight bloody discharge from one nostril, but no respiratory symptoms. Eyes are nice and clear.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Since a baby chick, but the past 6 weeks have been different/worse.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No, everyone else is very healthy.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Nothing that I know of.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
She was on omega crumbles/pellets, and treats like fresh veggies, mealworms, and was free-ranging for an hour a day until winter.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
She's had green diarrhea for weeks now. It's yellow mucus with green bits. Sometimes undigested food.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
In the past couple of weeks.... Strike III dewormer (some ungodly things came out in her poop, but I didn't pick around in it. Kind of like lo main noodles, from what I could tell.), Tylan 50 orally for about 5 days (given soaked in a bread piece), Corid for cocci (seemed to help the most besides deworming), Polyvisol (no iron) in her water, Save-a-chick probiotics in her water. Now she's back on Corid again, and again she seems to slightly be improving until today when I think she had a seizure.
For food... she's refusing a lot of food, including her feed. She will still eat grapes (cut up), bits of zucchini, bits of greens, plain organic yogurt, berries. She was eating scrambled eggs, but refusing now. She not drinking much currently.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I hope to treat her myself. We aren't near an aviary vet, and honestly, we are VERY low on money this month. My husband works construction, and winter is hard for us (and our kids). I can't afford a vet unless it's under $75 or so.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will if someone needs something specific. Her poop looks like everyone else's who have posted pics of green, runny poop.
She has a Facebook page because my friends want updates on her and love her. Anyone can "like" her page and see photos.
https://www.facebook.com/buttercupthechicken
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Currently in a large dog crate with just newspaper that I change daily. There is a sheet over the crate as well as reflective bubblewrap to help keep heat in. She has a 2x4 mini perch, a light if needed, food, water, grit. She roams the house daily as well.
I grew up with chickens, was in 4-H as a child. Had 2 chickens a few years ago as an adult, and now have 6. Never had any issues until this one. I wonder if she has a type of cancer. I forget the name...
THANK YOU!! Pics below. You can tell we love her!
Thank you!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
10 month-old Buff Orpington female, never laid eggs, lighter and thinner pretty much always, failure to thrive, feathers look unkempt - not smooth like the others, comb and wattles never developed, very pale.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
From the day she arrived as a chick, she has acted kind of odd. Head-shaking, a little off balance. I tried everything even back then... Polyvisol, Tylan 50 orally, selenium, etc. We assumed maybe she had a neuro issue and left it at that. Fast-forward to about 6 weeks ago, she was puffed up and lethargic. No interest in anything. Always cold.
Brought her in and she perks up for a while after various treatments and then regresses. She's had a few close calls where I thought she was slipping away, only to come back. She has had a slight bloody discharge from one nostril, but no respiratory symptoms. Eyes are nice and clear.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Since a baby chick, but the past 6 weeks have been different/worse.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No, everyone else is very healthy.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Nothing that I know of.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
She was on omega crumbles/pellets, and treats like fresh veggies, mealworms, and was free-ranging for an hour a day until winter.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
She's had green diarrhea for weeks now. It's yellow mucus with green bits. Sometimes undigested food.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
In the past couple of weeks.... Strike III dewormer (some ungodly things came out in her poop, but I didn't pick around in it. Kind of like lo main noodles, from what I could tell.), Tylan 50 orally for about 5 days (given soaked in a bread piece), Corid for cocci (seemed to help the most besides deworming), Polyvisol (no iron) in her water, Save-a-chick probiotics in her water. Now she's back on Corid again, and again she seems to slightly be improving until today when I think she had a seizure.
For food... she's refusing a lot of food, including her feed. She will still eat grapes (cut up), bits of zucchini, bits of greens, plain organic yogurt, berries. She was eating scrambled eggs, but refusing now. She not drinking much currently.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I hope to treat her myself. We aren't near an aviary vet, and honestly, we are VERY low on money this month. My husband works construction, and winter is hard for us (and our kids). I can't afford a vet unless it's under $75 or so.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will if someone needs something specific. Her poop looks like everyone else's who have posted pics of green, runny poop.
She has a Facebook page because my friends want updates on her and love her. Anyone can "like" her page and see photos.
https://www.facebook.com/buttercupthechicken
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Currently in a large dog crate with just newspaper that I change daily. There is a sheet over the crate as well as reflective bubblewrap to help keep heat in. She has a 2x4 mini perch, a light if needed, food, water, grit. She roams the house daily as well.
I grew up with chickens, was in 4-H as a child. Had 2 chickens a few years ago as an adult, and now have 6. Never had any issues until this one. I wonder if she has a type of cancer. I forget the name...
THANK YOU!! Pics below. You can tell we love her!
