Any ideas with a chick with distended and sharp breast bone

[oregonkat]

Hi, one of my 3 week old Easter Eggers has developed a very sharp bony protrusion at the top of her breast. She hunkers, and doesnt eat much and walks about with her 'shoulders' hunched up. When I pick her up, I can feel not only the boney point but at the base of her neck in the front, her 'chin' as it were, there is a hard knobbly feeling thing separate from the breast bone. Sorry about the description and lack of terminology. She wont even go after the mealy worms that the others are demolishing. Is there any hope for her? Thanks.

 

[casportpony]

Hi, one of my 3 week old Easter Eggers has developed a very sharp bony protrusion at the top of her breast. She hunkers, and doesnt eat much and walks about with her 'shoulders' hunched up. When I pick her up, I can feel not only the boney point but at the base of her neck in the front, her 'chin' as it were, there is a hard knobbly feeling thing separate from the breast bone. Sorry about the description and lack of terminology. She wont even go after the mealy worms that the others are demolishing. Is there any hope for her? Thanks.

She sounds like she is very sick. Can you post pictures of her and her poop. Also, how much does she weigh? If you don't have one, go now and buy a digital kitchen scale (see my avatar), weigh her and the rest of her buddies and I bet you'll see just how thin she is.

 

[casportpony]

While you're out, buy some Corid (amprolium) before your feed store closes. If she has coccidiosis, you're running out of time.

 

[casportpony]

Forgot to mention, Corid is in the cattle section.

 

[oregonkat]

Thanks for your info. Is it contagious???? I will go to the store ASAP. Thanks.

 

[oregonkat]

Re the photos, I dont have anyone who can hold her while I take the pics or the other way around. I will try as soon as the hubby gets back. Her vent is clear.

 

[casportpony]

If it is coccidiosis, yes, it's contagious to other chickens, but they have already be exposed if they were together.

 

[seminolewind]

X2. I would start her on Corrid or Sulfadimethoxine right away. Dribble some water on the side of her beak . She sounds skinny.

 

[oregonkat]

OK, so if the rest of the chicks are happy and seemingly healthy, do I treat them also? I have been giving her water today with a dropper and she takes that quite willingly and then seems to be happier for a little while and then goes back to hunkering.

 

[PoultryGirly]

Coccidiosis in chicks is very contagious to one another. My chicks had it last year and it wiped all of them out but 4. I used Sulmet to treat my case. The symptoms of cocci are: red, bloody poop, lethargic, very droopy (wings dropped and tail down), not eating or drinking, losing weight. If you suspect this is what your chick has, I would treat all of your birds. The chicks that are already affected, you will have to force them the medicine. Good luck!