Anemic 9 month old hens losing weight and feathers

[PlainChicks]

The first pictures are the 2 girls affected most when they started looking better after the antibiotics were finished, the last 2 are the same girls a few months ago fat, happy and healthy. I’m not sure if they were vaccinated but I can find out

 

[Notaneggspurt]

I apologize for missing the Colorado reference in your original post. Lots of good information and suggestions have been posted.

I would strongly suggest checking for mites. I had no idea what to look for on my chickens when I checked them during the day. I followed the advice in some other posts and went out to the coop after dark with a white sheet of paper and ran it along the roost. When I went inside it looked like someone had made a bunch of little dots and smears with a red pen. This was a few winters ago. I used poultry dust to treat the chickens and the coop.

I bought one of those plastic squeeze bottles like you see ketchup in and filled it half full. I also got the liquid concentrate and mixed it accordingly and sprayed the walls down in the morning and let them all free range while it dried.

I hope this helps.

 

[PlainChicks]

The first pictures are of the 2 girls who affected worst, they looking a little better once the antibiotics were finished. The last 2 pictures are the same girls this fall fat, happy and heathy. When I took them to the vet she checked for lice/mites and checked their crops. I’m not sure if they were vaccinated but I can find out. Will definitely add the Nutridrench, egg, and yogurt. Thanks

 

[Kessel23]

Birds staying inside a heated coop and refusing to go into the run is common, it's why most people choose not to heat their coops, that and it's unnecessary. So this is probably not a symptom of the virus, also because it seems to be a problem with the entire flock, not just the two hens.

When did the birds visit the vet? Was it an avian vet? Having "experience" with chickens is different than being an actual Avian vet, working and treating birds is their profession. Also, what is stopping you from bringing these two birds back to the vet? Or at least calling him and asking him. Brining your birds to an avian vet will have a better outcome than describing symptoms and showing pictures to people online, the vet can actually examine the birds, it is his profession. Do give them Nutri Drench, eggs, and yogurt, but if you are seriously concerned I would definitely recommend taking them back to the avian vet, if he is an avian vet anyways.

 

[PlainChicks]

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]

I will definitely check for mites and treat for it regardless. I love my girls!

 

[WindingRoad]

Birds staying inside a heated coop and refusing to go into the run is common, it's why most people choose not to heat their coops, that and it's unnecessary. So this is probably not a symptom of the virus, also because it seems to be a problem with the entire flock, not just the two hens.

When did the birds visit the vet? Was it an avian vet? Having "experience" with chickens is different than being an actual Avian vet, working and treating birds is their profession. Also, what is stopping you from bringing these two birds back to the vet? Or at least calling him and asking him. Brining your birds to an avian vet will have a better outcome than describing symptoms and showing pictures to people online, the vet can actually examine the birds, it is his profession. Do give them Nutri Drench, eggs, and yogurt, but if you are seriously concerned I would definitely recommend taking them back to the avian vet, if he is an avian vet anyways.

I was gonna say the same thing. They are probably sweating in their down coats.

 

[PlainChicks]

I apologize for missing the Colorado reference in your original post. Lots of good information and suggestions have been posted.

I would strongly suggest checking for mites. I had no idea what to look for on my chickens when I checked them during the day. I followed the advice in some other posts and went out to the coop after dark with a white sheet of paper and ran it along the roost. When I went inside it looked like someone had made a bunch of little dots and smears with a red pen. This was a few winters ago. I used poultry dust to treat the chickens and the coop.
View attachment 1653472
I bought one of those plastic squeeze bottles like you see ketchup in and filled it half full. I also got the liquid concentrate and mixed it accordingly and sprayed the walls down in the morning and let them all free range while it dried.

I hope this helps.

 

[PlainChicks]

I have regularly dusted the floor, nesting boxes and roosts with food grade diatomaceous earth. But I’ll do this as well. Thank you!

 

[PlainChicks]

I was gonna say the same thing. They are probably sweating in their down coats.