Anyone come in contact with Bird Flu Symptoms?

[TyRi]

I have had a few birds over the past 6 months or so cross the bridge but those were more loss of balance/leg issues (never found an exact reason..
BUT yesterday I had a hen acting semi strange of little more wanting to be by herself.. puffed up a bit, head/neck kinda pulled in, and kinda just didn’t want to do much. Ate and drank and did come fight for snacks. Today she was hanging out in the coop and wanted to just sit. Would make a few different places her area and just sit there. Did notice a little bit of sticky poo around her vent/below her vent. Did some research and seemed potential of reproductive issues/egg problems maybe? So brought her in for an epsom salt soak for a bit. Didn’t want to stand much but would grip my hands and fingers under water. Got her out and dried off and she was pretty talkative the whole time. Kept her in the garage with a heat lamp and figured to keep her warm and comfy for the night and hopefully back out tomorrow! WRONG. Went out after my shower and she was kinda flopped on her side and her head kinda had no control but was still with it. Got her readjusted and some water.. seemed a touch better. Checked on her again before bed and she is gone.
Run/coop is completely secure and they haven’t been out all weekend from the snow. Seemed quite quick and pretty unexpected and of course any chicken illness at all would checkmark bird flu symptoms as well. Suppose I will keep a close eye on the rest of the girls the next few days because if she miraculously contracted it.. in theory would not be long for the rest of them to start having issues.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have had a few birds over the past 6 months or so cross the bridge but those were more loss of balance/leg issues (never found an exact reason..

BUT yesterday I had a hen acting semi strange of little more wanting to be by herself.. puffed up a bit, head/neck kinda pulled in, and kinda just didn’t want to do much. Ate and drank and did come fight for snacks. Today she was hanging out in the coop and wanted to just sit. Would make a few different places her area and just sit there. Did notice a little bit of sticky poo around her vent/below her vent. Did some research and seemed potential of reproductive issues/egg problems maybe? So brought her in for an epsom salt soak for a bit.

I'm sorry for your losses.

It's time to have a necropsy to find out what may be going on.
If you still have the hen, double bag the body in plastic, refrigerate it and either take or send it to your state lab for testing/analysis.
Link below for your state.

The leg issues you describe with the roosters, sounds like it may have been Marek's, but hard to know. You had a couple of threads back last year. A suggestion for testing was made then, this is the only way to really know.

For the hen, if you are unable to send the body to your lab, then if you wish, do your own informal necropsy at home. Looking in the abdominal cavity, at the major organs, etc. Take photos and we'll try to help you with what you see.

Symptoms can vary greatly of course, but what you describe does sound more like something reproductive going on, but then again, if you do have Marek's within your flock, it's possible that can be a contributing factor of decline coupled with various other conditions.

See that your birds have clean drinking water, keep wild birds out of their areas and feed. Keep rodents under control. Keep your coop/run relatively tidy and see that housing has adequate ventilation and fresh air exchange. Keep droppings scooped up to avoid ammonia buildup.


If you are concerned about Bird Flu, then get testing.

https://agri.ohio.gov/programs/animal-disease-diagnostic-lab
Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 US

Here's a good video of necropsy showing the major organs.

 

[TyRi]

I'm sorry for your losses.

It's time to have a necropsy to find out what may be going on.
If you still have the hen, double bag the body in plastic, refrigerate it and either take or send it to your state lab for testing/analysis.
Link below for your state.

The leg issues you describe with the roosters, sounds like it may have been Marek's, but hard to know. You had a couple of threads back last year. A suggestion for testing was made then, this is the only way to really know.

For the hen, if you are unable to send the body to your lab, then if you wish, do your own informal necropsy at home. Looking in the abdominal cavity, at the major organs, etc. Take photos and we'll try to help you with what you see.

Symptoms can vary greatly of course, but what you describe does sound more like something reproductive going on, but then again, if you do have Marek's within your flock, it's possible that can be a contributing factor of decline coupled with various other conditions.

See that your birds have clean drinking water, keep wild birds out of their areas and feed. Keep rodents under control. Keep your coop/run relatively tidy and see that housing has adequate ventilation and fresh air exchange. Keep droppings scooped up to avoid ammonia buildup.


If you are concerned about Bird Flu, then get testing.

https://agri.ohio.gov/programs/animal-disease-diagnostic-lab
Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 US

Here's a good video of necropsy showing the major organs.

I certainly appreciate your wisdom! It will probably have to be an at home necropsy because I work from before they open to after they close and they are over 3 hours away plus for sending them it seems I need a veterinary ID along with the form? Just wondered what it sounded like to more seasoned chicken owners. The whole situation seemed odd and confusing to me. Completely secure run and coop and fresh water 2 times a day. Once the freeze is off there will be a mass cleaning spree for darn sure.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I certainly appreciate your wisdom! It will probably have to be an at home necropsy because I work from before they open to after they close and they are over 3 hours away plus for sending them it seems I need a veterinary ID along with the form? Just wondered what it sounded like to more seasoned chicken owners. The whole situation seemed odd and confusing to me. Completely secure run and coop and fresh water 2 times a day. Once the freeze is off there will be a mass cleaning spree for darn sure.

I think some states do require a vet to submit for you. I'm not sure how that works since it's not done that way here in NC.