ADDITIONAL INFO: Ugh. My Margo. Again.

[micstrachan]

Aspergillosis comes to mind.

Same here. There was an INSANE amount of moldy hay in the yard this spring because DH kept buying it for his bunnies and then leaving it out in the rain. At one point I even asked him, “ Are you TRYING to kill my chickens?!?!” I did my best to move it (BTW, wet bales of hay are very heavy!) but mold exposure definitely occurred.

 

[Peepsi]

Aspergillosis comes to mind.

Although, the postmortem findings with aspergillosis is supposed to be "Grayish yellow lungs" according to one of the chicken health books I have.

I went through all the diseases in that book, and came up with two possibilities based on the symptoms and postmortem findings. One was Botulism and the other was Toxoplasmosis. Both cause paralysis (with botulism, it's limp paralysis, which was one of Margo's symptoms...limpness. But Toxoplasmosis was the only one that had the postmortem findings of "Blood-filled Lungs" (ie, red-tinged). I'm a newb, and I'm just going by the books I've studied, but I wonder if either Botulism or Toxoplasmosis could be a possibility. Especially since there are so many stray cats all over the world that spread Toxoplasmosis. Insects eat the infected cat poop, get the protozoa parasite, the chickens eat the insect, and boom, they have it too. Supposedly both diseases are "rare", but they're still a possibility.

 

[micstrachan]

Can aspergilliosis overcome a bird that quickly? Respiratory was not her first symptom. Three hens have mild respiratory issues right now. I hope Margo’s results come quickly so I can act if it’s something that affects the whole flock.

 

[micstrachan]

Although, the postmortem findings with aspergillosis is supposed to be "Grayish yellow lungs" according to one of the chicken health books I have.

I went through all the diseases in that book, and came up with two possibilities based on the symptoms and postmortem findings. One was Botulism and the other was Toxoplasmosis. Both cause paralysis (with botulism, it's limp paralysis, which was one of Margo's symptoms...limpness. But Toxoplasmosis was the only one that had the postmortem findings of "Blood-filled Lungs" (ie, red-tinged). I'm a newb, and I'm just going by the books I've studied, but I wonder if either Botulism or Toxoplasmosis could be a possibility. Especially since there are so many stray cats all over the world that spread Toxoplasmosis. Insects eat the infected cat poop, get the protozoa parasite, the chickens eat the insect, and boom, they have it too. Supposedly both diseases are "rare", but they're still a possibility.

Thanks! I did list suspected botulism on my paperwork. And I recently found evidence if mouse/mice in my storage area above the coop, so toxoplasmoais would be possible, too.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh, and my neighbor has a bunch of cats that live in the yard my birds free range in. I even have to remove cat turds from their dust bathing area.

 

[Peepsi]

Oh, and my neighbor has a bunch of cats that live in the yard my birds free range in. I even have to remove cat turds from their dust bathing area.

Oh geez. Well, put Toxo at the top of the list of possibilities based on that fact. Pooping right in your chicken's dust bath? Blech! Cats are filthy beasts. (Sorry all you cat lovers, but we have a bad feral cat problem here, and those things poop and piss everywhere, they're horrible).

 

[AmyJane725]

I'd go over and tell your neighbor to keep the cats out of your yard. My neighbor lets his cat go all over my yard as well. Ticks me off. I'm about ready to go over there and tell him off.

Really sorry about Margo
(She had the same name as my mom)

 

[micstrachan]

I'd go over and tell your neighbor to keep the cats out of your yard. My neighbor lets his cat go all over my yard as well. Ticks me off. I'm about ready to go over there and tell him off.

Really sorry about Margo
(She had the same name as my mom)

Well, that’s tricky because my flock poops all over his yard, too. It’s very rustic, there are no fences, and we get along fine.

 

[micstrachan]

And I love that your mom’s name is Margo. Same spelling?

 

[micstrachan]

On the botulism note, my dog has been bringing home what appear to be deer bones. However, they don’t seem to have any flesh on them.