Anemic 9 month old hens losing weight and feathers

[PlainChicks]

I have 5 9 month old hens, 3 Barred Rocks and 2 Golden Wyandotte’s. For more then a month now 2 of the Barred Rocks have looked anemic and are losing weight and feathers. Combs and wattles are shriveled and very pale almost gray. Vet said most likely a virus and gave me 5 days of antibiotics to keep them from developing a secondary infection. Vet said fecal sample was fine just a little soft. Finished the antibiotics 2 weeks ago and they started looking better. Treated the whole flock since all have been exposed. Only 2 are bad though. Noticed today that the same 2 are looking worse again, though their feathers are starting to grow back. Eyes and beaks are clean and clear, no discharge. Egg production went from 3-4 a day to none over night over a month ago and has not started again. They have a very well built insulated coop with radiant heater that only comes on at 35 or lower and 200sqft run. We are in CO and our temps have been going from 50’s to teens over night. The entire flock is choosing to stay inside even on nice days now when they didn’t seem to mind the cold or wind before. I clean out the coop weekly and the run monthly. Their food has not changed, right now they are still interested in food and treat, but previously they lost all interest in food and were withdrawn. That is when I took them into the Vet. This is my first flock and of course I don’t want to lose any of my girls. Any suggestions or help is much appreciated!

 

[Notaneggspurt]

So sorry to hear this. Can you post some pictures of your girls? Also a little history on where you got them from and your general location?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How old are the hens?
Does the vet have any experience with avians or more importantly, poultry?
It always bothers me when a vet assumes a virus and then prescribes antibiotics. FYI, antibiotics can't cure a virus.
Is it possible the birds are molting? Loss of feathers, appearance of losing weight and shriveled, pale combs are all symptoms of molt.
Have you weighed any of your birds? How does the keel bone feel?

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you check them at daylight tomorrow and feel of their crops to see if they are flat and empty, or if they are full, hard, doughy, or puffY? Are they having any runny or boody droppings. At nine months, they should not be molting. Can you post any pictures of them? Do you know if they were vaccinated for Mareks disease? What antibiotic did you give 2 weeks ago, and do you know what virus the vet was suspecting? I would give them Poultry NutriDrench 2 ml daily, and offer them a little soft egg as a treat in addition to their chicken feed. Add some water to a little chick feed in a bowl and see if they will eat. A spoonful of plain yogurt mixed in for probiotics may be good as well. Look around and under their bents in case of tiny bugs (lice or mites.)

 

[Kessel23]

I would also check them for mites. During the winter time the birds don't dust bathe much, if at all, so a mite problem that was previously not noticeable in the summer can become deadly in the winter. I have almost lost 2 birds to mites during the winter. Not saying this is the problem but it's definitely would not hurt to check them over.

 

[PlainChicks]

So sorry to hear this. Can you post some pictures of your girls? Also a little history on where you got them from and your general location?

 

[PlainChicks]

We are in Colorado so rapid large temp changes are the norm and quite a bit of wind. Very dry with occasional snow. I clear the snow out of the run since my gals absolutely will not walk on snow. I did have straw and alfalfa down for a couple months but have since cleaned all that out and now it’s just dirt. The first pictures are after they started looking better when the antibiotics finished. The others are the same girls fat, happy and healthy

 

[PlainChicks]

How old are the hens?
Does the vet have any experience with avians or more importantly, poultry?
It always bothers me when a vet assumes a virus and then prescribes antibiotics. FYI, antibiotics can't cure a virus.
Is it possible the birds are molting? Loss of feathers, appearance of losing weight and shriveled, pale combs are all symptoms of molt.
Have you weighed any of your birds? How does the keel bone feel?

 

[PlainChicks]

My girls are only 9 months old so they shouldn’t be molting and the feathers are definitely breaking off leaving quills like a porcupine. I know antibiotics don’t treat a virus but there is great value in preventing a secondary infection. The vet does have experience with chickens, not sure how much though, and checked for mites, respiratory infection, and crop problems. I’ve never weighed my girls but the 2 are very noticeably thinner.

 

[PlainChicks]

Can you check them at daylight tomorrow and feel of their crops to see if they are flat and empty, or if they are full, hard, doughy, or puffY? Are they having any runny or boody droppings. At nine months, they should not be molting. Can you post any pictures of them? Do you know if they were vaccinated for Mareks disease? What antibiotic did you give 2 weeks ago, and do you know what virus the vet was suspecting? I would give them Poultry NutriDrench 2 ml daily, and offer them a little soft egg as a treat in addition to their chicken feed. Add some water to a little chick feed in a bowl and see if they will eat. A spoonful of plain yogurt mixed in for probiotics may be good as well. Look around and under their bents in case of tiny bugs (lice or mites.)