American serama thread!

[flockofbantams]

Also her skin is bright yellow with red patches. Is bright yellow skin normal for her because she hasyellow legs? And is the red irritation? Is there anything I can put on her skin to help her?

I'm so sorry for 20 questions but I just want to help her the best I can!

I did not think so. After looking at my yellow legged serama and Japanese bantams, their skin is not the least bit yellow. I hesitate to give any advice as this is something completely out of my experience. Hopefully, others will be able to help. I rather think that Porcupine is unique. I'd wait on putting anything on her skin until you know more what is going on. Again, good luck.

Thank you so much for checking for me! You guys are all so helpful! I won't do anything about it yet. I wonder if it could be diet related. Will be interesting to see if it imporoves with thine. She acts like she feel so much better after her bath! She has been prinning what feathers/ down/fluff that she has!

 

[nchls school]

I do not know if this will help.


AriasFarm Junior Member
November 2006 edited November 2006
Hey another question - I've just found another hen thats about 3 years old, thats gone all yellow - yellow skin, yellow vent, red comb gone orange - acts and looks very ill indeed - I assume fatal liver failure?? Best to end her misery now, right?

Sandy Senior Member
November 2006 edited November 2006
Yellowing of the skin indicates some form of poisoning

Copper Poisoning or Mycotoxin Poisoning
Usually the result of improperly formulated mineral mixes or certain plants causing mineral imbalances. Primarily affects sheep but can affect other animals. Signs are related to liver damage and include diarrhea, pain, dehydration, jaundice


crazychick Senior Member
November 2006 edited November 2006
I, too, suspect lymphoid leukosis, most likely in both your birds. It is moderately contagious so when one bird gets it, sometimes a couple more do as well. Signs include all you've described so far- the yellowish or jaundiced skin can be a sign of liver failure, as you've mentioned, because lymphoid leukosis will often target the liver. Affected birds may have a large, swollen liver that you can feel through the abdomen on their left side, behind the ribs. Extreme emaciation, loss of appetite, slowing of digestive system, ruffled feathers, sleepy eyes and dehydration - sleeping in a different spot (so they don't have to jump up to roost), diarrhea... these are all symptoms of LL (although many of them are symptoms of other diseases too, which is why LL is so difficult to diagnose). If the bird has a swollen liver, though, this is a pretty clear indication that they have LL.

Sorry that your birds are sick... I just lost one to LL last weekend.

Laura
AriasFarm Junior Member
November 2006 edited November 2006
Hi guys - reporting back.

Wormed the chooks.

No change in poor PomPom (the yellowed one), so put her out of her misery.
Hardly any blood left in her, and what was there, was very light and watered down - not the deep dark red.
Can't believe how much fat a little bantam could have throughout her insides!
Liver not all that enlarged, but very pale indeed.
Poor heart had been worked half to death - very saggy and limp.
No other chickens have shown this same yellowing, so I'm hoping it was a one-off.

The poorly hen has made quite a good recovery - can hardly tell her from the others now. Woopee!
In fact, the entire flock has really perked up. No more diarrhea on the ground.


Actually reminds me of Infectious Bursal Disease

This is the PM findings... does any of it ring a bell with what you found

Postmortem Finding:
Cloacal bursa is swollen, edematous, yellowish, and sometimes hemorrhagic.
May also see congestion and hemorrhage of the pectoral, thigh, and leg muscles.
Kidney lesions are sometimes seen (excessive urate deposits).
Chickens that have recovered have small, atrophied cloacal bursas.
Sometimes none significant or dark shriveled breast muscles flecked with bloody streaks
Mucus filled intestine
Cloacal bursa may be yellow, pink or red, or black, swollen, oblong-shaped, filled with creamy or cheesy material and surrounded by gelatinous film (as the disease progresses, the bursa returns to normal size, then shrinks and shrivels up)
Swollen spleen covered with gray dots
Birds that die from inflection have swollen, pale kidneys

The poorly hen has made quite a good recovery - can hardly tell her from the others now. Woopee!
In fact, the entire flock has really perked up. No more diarrhea on the ground.

 

[flockofbantams]

Thank you for posting that. But she has a great appetite. Also is drinking normal, her poops are normal and regular. She still has good comb color. She is not roosting but that because she doesn't have feather currently. She is a good solid weight also. I have her separated from all mybothers and will keep her separated till she fully recovers. I'm not sure if LL is her problem, but it is decently a conciseration... Thank you again everyone for your help. I'm am honing to keep researching

 

[nchls school]

Thank you for posting that. But she has a great appetite. Also is drinking normal, her poops are normal and regular. She still has good comb color. She is not roosting but that because she doesn't have feather currently. She is a good solid weight also. I have her separated from all mybothers and will keep her separated till she fully recovers. I'm not sure if LL is her problem, but it is decently a conciseration... Thank you again everyone for your help. I'm am honing to keep researching

Post this on the emergency thread. You are more likely to find assistance that way.

 

[flockofbantams]

http://www.chickenkeepingsecrets.com/keeping-chickens/identifying-the-age-chickens/
I hope one is that right and the link is assesable...
I did some research and found this link. Hens regain there yellow coloring after there egg production years are over. I hope this is her case.

 

[nchls school]

http://www.chickenkeepingsecrets.com/keeping-chickens/identifying-the-age-chickens/
I hope one is that right and the link is assesable...
I did some research and found this link. Hens regain there yellow coloring after there egg production years are over. I hope this is her case.

I hope so, but I do not think so. I have raised chickens for more than 40 years. Some lived to ripe old ages-none had skin like Porcupine.

 

[flockofbantams]

http://www.chickenkeepingsecrets.com/keeping-chickens/identifying-the-age-chickens/
I hope one is that right and the link is assesable...
I did some research and found this link. Hens regain there yellow coloring after there egg production years are over. I hope this is her case.

I hope so, but I do not think so. I have raised chickens for more than 40 years. Some lived to ripe old ages-none had skin like Porcupine.

oh no poor baby. I'll do all I can to make her comfortable, and I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[nchls school]

oh no poor baby. I'll do all I can to make her comfortable, and I'll keep everyone posted.

Attention, care, and a good diet and you just may see a change for the better.

 

[flockofbantams]

That's what I'm gonna do!!!
Thank you again everyone!

 

[prizepete]

Thank you for posting that. But she has a great appetite. Also is drinking normal, her poops are normal and regular. She still has good comb color. She is not roosting but that because she doesn't have feather currently. She is a good solid weight also. I have her separated from all mybothers and will keep her separated till she fully recovers. I'm not sure if LL is her problem, but it is decently a conciseration... Thank you again everyone for your help. I'm am honing to keep researching

Good luck, I really hope she makes it, Make sure you take Pictures regularly while she recovers So you can see the progress! My horse was skinny and wasn't super muscley at all, hardly anything, and I really wish I took pictures when I first got him until now!