18- 20 week EE behaving sick

[SamVern]

My EE is suddenly behaving sickly. This morning she was fine. She is getting close to laying her first egg as I have noticed the typical changes in her features. This afternoon she is lethargic. She is walking very s-l-o-w-l-y, seems sleepy. feathers are NOT ruffled. I can pick her up with no struggle from her (usually this one is skittish). Her vent looks normal in size, color, and shape. Her eyes are clear, nares are clear, ears are clear, and crop feels normal. I was able to observe her drinking water and picking at the grass. I haven't been able to observe her feces yet...........

All of the other chickens are fine....

Please advise!!

 

[SamVern]

anyone? Thoughts?

I started her and the others on corid.......... just to be safe...

 

[Eggcessive]

Since it is summertime and probably hot where you live, do you think she may be lethargic from the heat or from dehydration? I would place several waterers in shady spots, and add ice or frozen water bottles to keep them cool. She might also be acting funny due to hormonal changes, or worms could be a problem. The symptoms of coccidiosis are lethargy, standing around puffed up, not eating well, ruffled feathers, and diarrhea or blood in the droppings. Usually by this age they are developng a tolerance to coccidia in the soil. A vet can diagnose cocci or worms with a fecal sample. Corid is good and not harmful if it really is cocci.

 

[SamVern]

Eggcessive- Thanks for responding.

If this happened last week (or the week before), I would agree about the heat. We had a terrible heat wave. But the last two days have been fairly mild comparatively. Today was mid 80's with a nice cooling rainstorm. Yesterday the temps were decent as well.

All the birds have been enjoying the change of weather. None of them are getting over-heated. I always keep an abundance of fresh clean water. I do use ice as well when the temps are nasty.

I really didn't think it was cocci. Her symptoms aren't consistent for cocci. Her feathers are not ruffled. That said, her feces are loose... not diarrhea. I only observed her once passing stool since my original post. Her crop is normal... so I ruled out crop impaction. No sour smell or any respiratory symptoms at all.

I only have the Corid, Sulfadimethoxine, Rooster Booster Triple wormer, & Wazine on hand. Since Sulfa tends to be harder on them I decided to go with the Corid.

We do have a Cockerel who has discovered that he is a "he". I haven't observed him giving this pullet a hard time, but he has been attempting to mount another pullet for three days now. Both pullets are about the same age.... and should be laying soon based on appearances and behavior.

 

[SamVern]

Update: She is doing better. Within 24 hours she was up and running around with the flock. Still had loose stools, but her over-all behavior is fairly normal. Although I'm still not sure if the Corid is responsible for her turn around. The others are still asymptomatic.

 

[Eggcessive]

It's good to hear that she is acting more normal. It may have just been something temporary, but the Corid surely won't hurt her.