Baffled and Totally Bummed OUT!! ***FINAL UPDATE***

[williamtfarns]

Jeeza-loo...i've had chickens for years, and have never had any diseases...just mean neighborhood dogs that call them home to their heavenly chicken home before their time. Peace out...W.T.F. William T. Farns

 

[JayBird+16]

Fist off, sorry for the loss of your hens, it's so tough when they just die, I've lost 3 this summer. Your current situation sounds very much like what I have been going through with 1 of my chicks for the last week or so, I'm still trying to get a diagnosis, here is a link https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=254621 to my problem if anyone can help.
Wundernurse, the question I have for you is, is your sick chick eating? Any info you can provide might help me save my girl! Thanks.

 

[wundernurse]

Jaybird- yes she is still eating, but not as enthusiastically as before. OK, called around and can get Sulmet at a TSC store, or wait to tomorrow am and take her and her stool to an avian vet. What to do--need to decide soon.

 

[JayBird+16]

I think, if everybody here is pretty sure it's cocci, treat her. I don't think it will hurt her to be dosed w/ Sulmet. I have been dosing my chick and she dosen't seem any worse for it.

 

[honeydoll]

Quote:
Do you have your chickens on pine mulch? Is the floor always dry? Just curious what you do that is so successful. Is you coop super clean or are you less concerned with detailing the coop (i.e. bleaching waterers, nesting boxes and that kind of stuff.) I would love to knwo how you keep your coop. Please PM me.

I am so sorry Wundernurse about your chickens. How frustrating for you. Hope you can save the others.

 

[wundernurse]

It has been a busy day. I have made some changes, thanks to all of your great advice. I drove an hour each way to a TSC that was open to start Nelly on Sulmet. I shoveled up much of the damp dirt/mulch in my coop sprinkled some hydrated lime (TSC man suggested) and covered with some wheat straw. I still plan on taking the fecal sample and/or the bird to a vet tomorrow--I just have to get to the bottom of this if I can. Thank you to all that helped. Cocci does make sense from the symptoms, poop (although not bloody), and the damp coop floor since we have had all this rain. I am attaching a pic of my coop so you can see why it is hard to keep the floor of the coop dry. I'll keep you posted...

 

[honeydoll]

I was told to never use hydrated lime. Very bad for your chickens. I use only food grade/agricultural lime. I'd be very carefule using hydrated. Maybe some of the more experienced chickeners on here will know more about why hydrated lime is bad for them. I have been told repeatedly not to use hydrated. Hate to see you use something that could hurt them and not know it.

 

[wundernurse]

Thank you honeydoll--Oh my gosh, now I see all the posts about the hydrated lime. I called the TSC today and gave them a piece of my mind. I got in the coop last night after the girls went to roost and raked up the straw, then tilled all the lime into the soil underneath, then raked the straw back again. Also, took the sick bird to the vet today. Her fecal was NEGATIVE for everything. The vet did not know what it was, but gave her some fluids and put her on antibiotics. She still looks crappy. Going to bring her in tonight since the temps are going to be in the 30's. I don't have much hope, but we'll see

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I think Rule #1 for chicken tenders should never believe the people in the feed stores. A few are quite knowledgeable, but most aren't, they are hired based upon retail experience.

You said you put the straw back- I think you should remove ALL the straw until drainage can be improved. Being on a slope, your very pretty coop/run is going to stay damp. Is there any way you can build up soil on the high side, then cut some trenches so the water will flow around the run? The raised beds where the marigolds are is a typical diversion, maybe just put it all the way around.

Very nice coop/run you have, and I really hope she pulls through for you!

 

[sammi]

sorry to hear she isn't better..

what antibiotics did the vet put her on?

best to try and and find a way to keep the area dry by diversion or some other method..
or if you have another area that stays dry..you may have to move the coop/pen.
dampness and/or wet is no good.
straw will go moldy and throw off spores.