At a complete loss, odd illness!

[Lutman_Chick]

Hi all,

Have a odd problem, I have a Sablepoot that’s just over a year old. 2 weeks ago she started displaying odd behaviour, I’d just done a round of fluebenvet and noticed this hen was a big listless and had both wing drooped down and was wobbly. After a bit of googleing it was surmised it could be worms but I had just down a worm so I gave everyone another go with panacur, the rest of the flock is a healthy as they have ever been but she is still the same, no better no worse. She eats and drinks fine although she toppled over when she does and her poop is really healthy, I have googled and searched and can’t seem to find anything that fits, I’ve thought of Merecks and searched all over for info, but wouldn’t the rest of the flock have caught it by now!? Next step after consulting you lovely ppl is vets, euthanised and an autopsy?
Am baffled and dumbfounded, any ideas??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Lots of things will cause those symptoms. They are generally seen as a bird stops eating and starts to lose weight. They can get pretty weak and have troubles walking. Have you felt her to see if she's very thin?

 

[Lutman_Chick]

Lots of things will cause those symptoms. They are generally seen as a bird stops eating and starts to lose weight. They can get pretty weak and have troubles walking. Have you felt her to see if she's very thin?

Yes, constantly picking her up to check if I’ve missed anything, she’s possibly marginally lighter that the others but not obviously super thin, her breastbone isn’t sticking out like a razor blade

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Any chance of her consuming moldy feed or maggots feeding on carrion? Botulism can cause paralysis. Otherwise a large egg can push on leg nerves causing problems too, as well as a head injury.

@Wyorp Rock , she's smarter than me, hopefully she comes by.

 

[Lutman_Chick]

Any chance of her consuming moldy feed or maggots feeding on carrion? Botulism can cause paralysis. Otherwise a large egg can push on leg nerves causing problems too, as well as a head injury.

@Wyorp Rock , she's smarter than me, hopefully she comes by.

Mouldy feed could be a possibility, totally never occurred to me but I have a compost heap that scratch around in when I let them out out... I could of been careless. I haven’t let them out since she want off as I’ve had a fox about but before that nearly every day.
If it was a large egg, do you mean it’s still in there or it did damage on the way out?
Seen no obvious signs of injury to her head but will have a check tomorow.
If I have been stupidly careless and she’s eaten mouldy food are there any tests for botulism?
Thanks for the reply. Gave me some more avenues to investigate.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have a video of her actions? (plus I would like to see a Sablepoot)

If she is lethargic, having trouble walking etc., then I would separate her so you can give her extra care. I would start with offering poultry vitamins and see that she is hydrated.

All good questions by @oldhenlikesdogs
@Lutman_Chick you mention that moldy feed is a possibility, but symptoms started 2wks ago?
Has she laid an egg since you dewormed her?
When you examine her, have you noticed any bloat/swelling of feeling of fluid in the abdomen?

@oldhenlikesdogs no way am I smarter

 

[Lutman_Chick]

Do you have a video of her actions? (plus I would like to see a Sablepoot)

If she is lethargic, having trouble walking etc., then I would separate her so you can give her extra care. I would start with offering poultry vitamins and see that she is hydrated.

All good questions by @oldhenlikesdogs
@Lutman_Chick you mention that moldy feed is a possibility, but symptoms started 2wks ago?
Has she laid an egg since you dewormed her?
When you examine her, have you noticed any bloat/swelling of feeling of fluid in the abdomen?

@oldhenlikesdogs no way am I smarter

I will get a video tomorow if you guys are still about to see it.

Have no idea if she’s laid, as she’s still with her coop mates, have been toying with the idea of separating but was worried it would add to the stress, but I think I will try that tomorow, I have my chicken hospital ready.

Yes, I have a big compost pile so it’s prossible she’s ate something mouldy but I don’t stick food on it, it’s pretty much grass and chicken waste and possibly some old food?? But that would be unlucky, she’s the only one out of 30 that’s acting this way, I think it was two ish weeks ago, maybe 10 days. If I see something odd I never remember to document it then when it’s time for action I have no idea how long it’s been going on

I downloaded a chicken logbook app to get myself organised perhaps a bit too late.

I have also had a hen just go down with suspected sour crop but she was in a different pen and displaying very different symptoms. But coul I get sour crop from mouldy food too? Is it possibly they discovered something on the compost and it effected them differently?

I feel like a terrible chicken keeper

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Do you have a video of her actions? (plus I would like to see a Sablepoot)

If she is lethargic, having trouble walking etc., then I would separate her so you can give her extra care. I would start with offering poultry vitamins and see that she is hydrated.

All good questions by @oldhenlikesdogs
@Lutman_Chick you mention that moldy feed is a possibility, but symptoms started 2wks ago?
Has she laid an egg since you dewormed her?
When you examine her, have you noticed any bloat/swelling of feeling of fluid in the abdomen?

@oldhenlikesdogs no way am I smarter

@Wyorp Rock you know more about treatments. We generally cull most that become ill because nothing I ever tried worked on any sick poultry. So for more helpful advice about what to do besides cull, you and @Eggcessive , are very knowledgeable.

 

[Lutman_Chick]

Do you have a video of her actions? (plus I would like to see a Sablepoot)

If she is lethargic,

Do you have a video of her actions? (plus I would like to see a Sablepoot)

If she is lethargic, having trouble walking etc., then I would separate her so you can give her extra care. I would start with offering poultry vitamins and see that she is hydrated.

All good questions by @oldhenlikesdogs
@Lutman_Chick you mention that moldy feed is a possibility, but symptoms started 2wks ago?
Has she laid an egg since you dewormed her?
When you examine her, have you noticed any bloat/swelling of feeling of fluid in the abdomen?

@oldhenlikesdogs no way am I smarter

Seen/felt no swelling on abdomen, the pic in my profile pic is a Sablepoot either her or one of her sisters

 

[Lutman_Chick]

@Wyorp Rock you know more about treatments. We generally cull most that become ill because nothing I ever tried worked on any sick poultry. So for more helpful advice about what to do besides cull, you and @Eggcessive , are very knowledgeable.

My husband is in the cull camp and I have been in the past but I’ve just lost my old cockerel and another hen and one went missing, I’m getting fed up of loosing chickens!