4mo D'Uccle Pullet Unresponsive -Parasites Suspected

[Tesumph]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-go-team-tube-feeding.805728/

I use a squirrel feeding tube and very large syringe. I think some use aquarium tubing.

Will she eat anything? Scrambled eggs?

 

[azygous]

Does she have a chicken buddy that doesn't bully her? I would offer her a soft boiled egg and see what happens. Often, if a chicken refuses to eat, being with another friendly chicken will inspire it to eat when the other chicken attacks the food.

I don't see how this chicken could have a bacterial infection just being in a tractor on grass. If she's been deprived of food, she may have reached the tipping point today where she no longer has the strength to go on or even to eat.

If she refuses to eat, you may need to try to syringe the food into her beak, but tube feeding would be safer and far more efficient. I got a feeding tube and a feeding syringe from my vet for just $3. It's easy to slide the tube into the right side of the throat and into the crop.

I would urge you to take a poop sample to your vet and ask for a fecal float test for worms and coccidia. Coccidiosis is a possibility. She may have an overload of coccidia due to her weakened condition from starvation. Cocciciosis can make a chicken suddenly very sick.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

@Cyprus Sounds like you have gotten really good advice. I am not an expert by any means, but if you can hand feed her now, I would continue to try that for now, in the mean time, hopfully she will poo for you as that may help to tell what the problem is. Bring her friend in with her and offer chick feed and cooked egg (high protein) and make sure she is drinking. Watch for her poo. I do this when I let my chicks out, I follow them around and watch for them to poo so I can check it out. May help to see if it is worms. See if the vet will check her poo for a reasonable price or free since you just spent so much on the dog. But keep feeding her small amounts as long as she is willing to take it from you or her crop feels like it is starting to fill. Good Luck, prayers for both of you. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[itspebbl]

 

[Cyprus]

She's dead, guys.
I'm sorry. I tried and it didn't work.

I am devastated. I just lost two of my highest valued breeders in one month.
I don't know what to do. Now I have to scramble to find mlre breeding stock.

 

[azygous]

I'm sorry. It really hurts when you can't make them better. I lost a sweet little adopted hen yesterday myself. It never gets easier.

Are you breeding chickens to sell? If so, you probably would like to know what killed this little gal. I urge you to find an ag lab and get a necropsy to see if whatever killed the D'Uccle might affect present and future chickens in your flock and your plans of breeding.

 

[Tesumph]

I’m so sorry Cy. You tried your best, that’s all any of us can do. I agree, a necropsy might bring closure so you’re not constantly wondering. Worst case scenario, you could stop a huge outbreak early.

 

[Cyprus]

I'm sorry. It really hurts when you can't make them better. I lost a sweet little adopted hen yesterday myself. It never gets easier.

Are you breeding chickens to sell? If so, you probably would like to know what killed this little gal. I urge you to find an ag lab and get a necropsy to see if whatever killed the D'Uccle might affect present and future chickens in your flock and your plans of breeding.

As good an idea as that is I cannot afford it. We just took our dog to the vet.
I've done a necropsy before. But I don't have the heart to do it on her.
I'm going to treat it like she died from a combination of starving to death and internal parasites and I will deworm my flock.

 

[Tesumph]

As good an idea as that is I cannot afford it. We just took our dog to the vet.
I've done a necropsy before. But I don't have the heart to do it on her.
I'm going to treat it like she died from a combination of starving to death and internal parasites and I will deworm my flock.

I understand. It’s different when they’re special. I think additional feeders and really watching for external/internal parasites is wise.

Might want to invest in tube feeding materials too. It’s an invaluable part of my animal first aid kit.

 

[Cyprus]

I understand. It’s different when they’re special. I think additional feeders and really watching for external/internal parasites is wise.

Might want to invest in tube feeding materials too. It’s an invaluable part of my animal first aid kit.

I'll get some this week.
I'm going to TSC today to get corid and a dewormer.