fuzzyfarmer
Songster
- Mar 9, 2021
- 52
- 105
- 123
Hello! I currently have a mixed flock of egg-laying hens that I got at the same time from the same hatchery (mostly red sex link, a few Sussex white and poule noir). A few days ago one of my reds was mostly hunched in one corner of the coop and didn't move much or seem interested in food. All other birds seemed perfectly normal. Checked her for parasites, wounds, etc - nothing evident except pale comb and small cuts on her comb because the coop bully took advantage of her immobility to peck on her. Treated the wounds, put her in the old rabbit cage to keep her safe from bullies with some food and water. The next morning she was dead. Still couldn't find any evidence of why. Figured maybe it was a freak occurrence/5% mortality/she found something bad in the run and ate it. Then this yesterday evening I noticed one of the noirs acting the same way - low energy (but not completely immobile), not diving in for breakfast. Checked her out too - no obvious problems with vent, parasites, wounds... What am I missing??
The only thing from Storey's that seems like it could be a match for the symptoms is septicemia or liver worms?
Otherwise of note: this batch of chickies has had a lot of vent prolapse problems, which makes me think they have bad genetics.
Edit to answer standard questions:
1) Type, Age, Weight: Poule Noir, slightly less than 1 year old, does not seem obviously thinner than others
2) Behavior: isolating self from group, not moving around much
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? since yesterday
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? not currently, but a red hen was exhibiting similar symptoms a couple days ago and died quickly/suddenly overnight
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma: other than some nips to her comb from bully chickens, no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation: no idea whatsoever
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all: layer feed and oyster shells are available in trough, and water; she doesn't seem very interested in food
8) How does the poop look? Hard to say right now because she was with the whole group, we've since moved her to infirmary so will see
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Moved to infirmary with food and water and hay bedding, put old blanket over it to keep it warmer and maybe help her relax a bit
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? Just trying to figure out what on earth happened! Will treat at home if we can, call vet if we can't.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. (I can't take a photo of her in a bit)
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use: housing is a purpose-built coop; bedding is hay which is added every morning for sanitation and also warmth; inside of the coop is comfortable temperature and they have plenty of room and plenty of linear feet of feeder so that shouldn't be an issue; we have had some bullying lately especially with several chickens molting and the worst bullies have been pecking/biting the weaker chickens. Their food is well balanced with plenty of protein but I did give them some hardboiled eggs a couple days ago as a protein boost in case that was causing the cannibalism.
The only thing from Storey's that seems like it could be a match for the symptoms is septicemia or liver worms?
Otherwise of note: this batch of chickies has had a lot of vent prolapse problems, which makes me think they have bad genetics.
Edit to answer standard questions:
1) Type, Age, Weight: Poule Noir, slightly less than 1 year old, does not seem obviously thinner than others
2) Behavior: isolating self from group, not moving around much
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? since yesterday
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? not currently, but a red hen was exhibiting similar symptoms a couple days ago and died quickly/suddenly overnight
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma: other than some nips to her comb from bully chickens, no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation: no idea whatsoever
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all: layer feed and oyster shells are available in trough, and water; she doesn't seem very interested in food
8) How does the poop look? Hard to say right now because she was with the whole group, we've since moved her to infirmary so will see
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Moved to infirmary with food and water and hay bedding, put old blanket over it to keep it warmer and maybe help her relax a bit
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? Just trying to figure out what on earth happened! Will treat at home if we can, call vet if we can't.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. (I can't take a photo of her in a bit)
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use: housing is a purpose-built coop; bedding is hay which is added every morning for sanitation and also warmth; inside of the coop is comfortable temperature and they have plenty of room and plenty of linear feet of feeder so that shouldn't be an issue; we have had some bullying lately especially with several chickens molting and the worst bullies have been pecking/biting the weaker chickens. Their food is well balanced with plenty of protein but I did give them some hardboiled eggs a couple days ago as a protein boost in case that was causing the cannibalism.
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