SequoiaBaby7
Chirping
- Jul 28, 2017
- 65
- 53
- 81
I had a house sitter come and stay at my house to take care of my dogs and 13 chicks while my husband and I were gone for the last four days. All of the chicks were happy and healthy when I left. When we got home last night at 11 pm, my husband killed a rat that was on the roof of our henhouse/ brooder. When I checked on the chicks, I noticed that my Cornish Cross had a bloody, poopy vent but did not do a thorough check on her because I only had a flashlight. This morning, I began treating it like it was cocci, however after doing an exam on all of the chicks I noticed that there is something wrong with three of my chicks and they all have different signs and symptoms. Please, please, please help, this is my first set of chicks and I am unsure of what to do!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Cornish Cross- 4 weeks old, heavy (but average weight for a meat bird).
Salmon Faveroles- 3 weeks old, seems to be losing weight and is much smaller than the other birds her age.
Bantam Cochin- 4 weeks old, average weight.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
CC- some kind of infected wounds at the vent that are bloody with puss.
SF- appears significantly thinner and did not grow at all in size while I was which is what really worries me. It is opening its mouth a lot, it looks like she is yawning over and over again. However, it does not appear like it is labored breathing. She has always been a little slower too and does her own thing away from the flock.
BC- is limping/ not using one of its legs. It will get up an move around but mainly stays laying down. She is usually very social but today she has not interacted with the other birds.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Symptoms showed up sometime within the last 4 days while I was gone.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No, all three have different signs and symptoms. The rest of the flock does not have any symptoms.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
There is a wound around the vent and on the side of the tail, feathers are missing in the area. The other 2 show no signs of injury.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
My husband found a rat on the roof of the henhouse and immediately killed it. It does not look like it got into the house, but I have no idea since I was not home for the last four days. Is it possible that it attacked and injured the CC and Cochin?
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
All three are eating and drinking.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
The CC's stool was runny, foamy blood and what looked like puss- not normal whatsoever. I haven't seen the other chicks' stool yet but will update.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I have quarantined the three birds and have begun giving corid to the whole flock because I originally assumed that I was dealing with cocci with my CC until I was able to get a better look. I am going to clean the CC's wound asap with warm water.
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 would like to treat completely myself if possible. If home treatment is not possible, we will have to cull the chicks. My husband is just wanting to cull the CC because he is disgusted by the wound and cannot imagine prossessing and eating the bird.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will post pictures bellow.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
They are in a closed henhouse that I am using as the brooder with aspen shavings. Once it gets hot enough during the day, I open the house for them to be out in the coop. Chicks have been vaccinated for Mareks, are on medicated chick starter and vitamins in their water.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Cornish Cross- 4 weeks old, heavy (but average weight for a meat bird).
Salmon Faveroles- 3 weeks old, seems to be losing weight and is much smaller than the other birds her age.
Bantam Cochin- 4 weeks old, average weight.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
CC- some kind of infected wounds at the vent that are bloody with puss.
SF- appears significantly thinner and did not grow at all in size while I was which is what really worries me. It is opening its mouth a lot, it looks like she is yawning over and over again. However, it does not appear like it is labored breathing. She has always been a little slower too and does her own thing away from the flock.
BC- is limping/ not using one of its legs. It will get up an move around but mainly stays laying down. She is usually very social but today she has not interacted with the other birds.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Symptoms showed up sometime within the last 4 days while I was gone.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No, all three have different signs and symptoms. The rest of the flock does not have any symptoms.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
There is a wound around the vent and on the side of the tail, feathers are missing in the area. The other 2 show no signs of injury.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
My husband found a rat on the roof of the henhouse and immediately killed it. It does not look like it got into the house, but I have no idea since I was not home for the last four days. Is it possible that it attacked and injured the CC and Cochin?
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
All three are eating and drinking.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
The CC's stool was runny, foamy blood and what looked like puss- not normal whatsoever. I haven't seen the other chicks' stool yet but will update.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I have quarantined the three birds and have begun giving corid to the whole flock because I originally assumed that I was dealing with cocci with my CC until I was able to get a better look. I am going to clean the CC's wound asap with warm water.
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 would like to treat completely myself if possible. If home treatment is not possible, we will have to cull the chicks. My husband is just wanting to cull the CC because he is disgusted by the wound and cannot imagine prossessing and eating the bird.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will post pictures bellow.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
They are in a closed henhouse that I am using as the brooder with aspen shavings. Once it gets hot enough during the day, I open the house for them to be out in the coop. Chicks have been vaccinated for Mareks, are on medicated chick starter and vitamins in their water.
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