Hi all! I have recently lost a very sweet hen and have another sick with the exact same symptoms. I'm beginning to suspect mycotoxins from moldy feed and am hoping someone can share a similar experience based on symptoms. I've searched through the forums with no luck.
It started off with me noticing dirty vent feathers on one of my hens who was very lethargic. She was just standing and not moving around much. I brought her in and treated for egg binding, that wasn't the problem. She went off her feed and water, had diarrhea, and began to get a swollen, squishy belly that I assumed was water belly. Took her to the vet, he said he thought was enteritis. I believe he caused her to aspirate when giving her oral antibiotics. She died the next day and I was unable to send her in for a necropsy because I did not refrigerate her prior to getting all the necropsy information.
A couple days after she died, I noticed another hen with the same symptoms. I have separated her and started treating for coccidiosis and giving her Tylan, which I believe is what's keeping her alive.
These are Rhode Island Reds that are 2 years old. They have never been ill. I'm having such a hard time diagnosing because all of this happened within 1 to 2 weeks of bringing a new flock in. They are Black Australorps. I knew the flock owner and she has never had any known problems with huge diseases. None of my other chickens seem sick, the Rhode Island Reds or the Black Australorps. I began inspecting and found moldy feed in the chicken tractor that I had kept the Black Australorps in for two weeks when I first got them. I had forgotten and left the feed out after I combined the two flocks, and all of the hens had access to the chicken tractor with the moldy feed.
I confirmed my now sick hen has water belly based on the fluid I drew from her abdomen. So I'm sure the one that died had it as well. My first thought was that the black hens brought Mareck's to my reds since that was one of the causes of water belly. However, it's because tumors from Marek's cause it. I don't believe two weeks is enough time to be exposed to Marek's, develope tumors that cause liver failure, and result in water belly. Then I found out that food poison can cause it as well.
Does this sound like possible mycotoxin poison? I've been ready to send my sick hen off for necropsy because I haven't expected her to live this long (it's been 1 week), but she's still fighting. I know necropsy is the only sure way to know but am hoping for stories of other similar experiences. And possible treatments. Thank you!!!
It started off with me noticing dirty vent feathers on one of my hens who was very lethargic. She was just standing and not moving around much. I brought her in and treated for egg binding, that wasn't the problem. She went off her feed and water, had diarrhea, and began to get a swollen, squishy belly that I assumed was water belly. Took her to the vet, he said he thought was enteritis. I believe he caused her to aspirate when giving her oral antibiotics. She died the next day and I was unable to send her in for a necropsy because I did not refrigerate her prior to getting all the necropsy information.
A couple days after she died, I noticed another hen with the same symptoms. I have separated her and started treating for coccidiosis and giving her Tylan, which I believe is what's keeping her alive.
These are Rhode Island Reds that are 2 years old. They have never been ill. I'm having such a hard time diagnosing because all of this happened within 1 to 2 weeks of bringing a new flock in. They are Black Australorps. I knew the flock owner and she has never had any known problems with huge diseases. None of my other chickens seem sick, the Rhode Island Reds or the Black Australorps. I began inspecting and found moldy feed in the chicken tractor that I had kept the Black Australorps in for two weeks when I first got them. I had forgotten and left the feed out after I combined the two flocks, and all of the hens had access to the chicken tractor with the moldy feed.
I confirmed my now sick hen has water belly based on the fluid I drew from her abdomen. So I'm sure the one that died had it as well. My first thought was that the black hens brought Mareck's to my reds since that was one of the causes of water belly. However, it's because tumors from Marek's cause it. I don't believe two weeks is enough time to be exposed to Marek's, develope tumors that cause liver failure, and result in water belly. Then I found out that food poison can cause it as well.
Does this sound like possible mycotoxin poison? I've been ready to send my sick hen off for necropsy because I haven't expected her to live this long (it's been 1 week), but she's still fighting. I know necropsy is the only sure way to know but am hoping for stories of other similar experiences. And possible treatments. Thank you!!!
and some of you were very helpful with my first post on BYC. Any of you had experience with this or know of someone who has??
