Bantam rooster balance problems

[ljninja]

I have no experience with chickens A year and a half ago I was put in charge of ten hens and one rooster. Recently my rooster started acting "drunk", having balance problems. I had started feeding them scraps about six months ago and more recently have started letting them out of their coop to free range for and hour or two most days. the rooster and at least 2 of the hens now appear to be sick. The hen doesn't have the balance problems the rooster does but both have dirty butts due to diarrhea. The hen's wings and tail are droopy She looks really bad.They are both eating and drinking but the hen is being picked on. I can post pictures this afternoon. I'm very worried. I'm sure my boss wont get a vet; but I could do antibiotics myself.

 

[azygous]

If you can get some amoxicillin, that would be what I would treat the affected chickens with. They may have gotten into some spoiled or rotten or moldy compost. Is there a place where kitchen scraps are disposed of?

Another thing that can cause balance issues and lameness is petroleum distillates. Have the chickens been ranging near where machinery is stored that may be leaking fluids onto the soil?

 

[Eggcessive]

Is the rooster also experiencing a limp or a weak leg or drooping wings? First, make sure that they are all drinking plenty of fresh water in case of dehydration, and adding some electrolytes would be helpful. A tsp of sugar and a small pinch of salt to a quart/liter of water can be food for electrolytes in a pinch. Gatorade also works. Mareks disease is something to suspect with loss of balance, especially with a weak leg. But an ear infection or weakness from dehdydration or diarrhea, and vitamin deficiency would be good to rule out. What do the droppings look like? Coccidiosis would be something to think about, and Corid in the water can treat for that.

 

[ljninja]

What is Corid? If u treat with amoxicillin, what is the dose? And yes on the machinery—there’s a used car lot adjacent to their coop. The rooster is more balance problem. The hens are droopy

 

[Eggcessive]

Corid is fo the treatment of cocciciodis, an intestinal infection common in young chickens. It causes them to appear hunched or puffed up, to stop eating, to be weak, and have runny poops sometimes with blood.

The hen in the picture looks like some that I have seen who sat upright, and who had internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. Symptoms of that may be weight loss, enlargement of the lower abdomen between the legs, poor appetite, runny poops, waddling like a duck, and preferring to sit or lie down most of the time. Amoxicillin dosage is 57 mg per pound twice a day. Most large hens average between 5-6 pounds, and a bantam would be around 2-3 pounds.

 

[azygous]

Are your chickens accessing the car lot and scavenging under the cars? The danger in machinery leaking fluids onto the soil is chickens pick up grit as they scratch around for bugs and seeds. One tiny piece of contaminated gravel quickly paralyzes a baby chick and kills it in hours. It takes more to kill an adult chicken, but even one piece of contaminated gravel will cause brain damage and will paralyze or cripple. Motor oil, gasoline, and transmission fluid are deadly.

You can give the victim activated charcoal if you catch it soon enough, but if it's been days or weeks, the brain damage is permanent and so are any crippling effects.

 

[ljninja]

Corid is fo the treatment of cocciciodis, an intestinal infection common in young chickens. It causes them to appear hunched or puffed up, to stop eating, to be weak, and have runny poops sometimes with blood.

The hen in the picture looks like some that I have seen who sat upright, and who had internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. Symptoms of that may be weight loss, enlargement of the lower abdomen between the legs, poor appetite, runny poops, waddling like a duck, and preferring to sit or lie down most of the time. Amoxicillin dosage is 57 mg per pound twice a day. Most large hens average between 5-6 pounds, and a bantam would be around 2-3 pounds.

Ok I noticed the hen’s belly swollen. They don’t go under cars but there is only a chain link fence between the dealership.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I had started feeding them scraps about six months ago and more recently have started letting them out of their coop to free range for and hour or two most days. the rooster and at least 2 of the hens now appear to be sick. The hen doesn't have the balance problems the rooster does but both have dirty butts due to diarrhea. The hen's wings and tail are droopy She looks really bad.

What is Corid? If u treat with amoxicillin, what is the dose? And yes on the machinery—there’s a used car lot adjacent to their coop. The rooster is more balance problem. The hens are droopy

Ok I noticed the hen’s belly swollen. They don’t go under cars but there is only a chain link fence between the dealership.

Can you post some photos of the rooster?
What type of food other than scraps do they get?

I agree, the hen's stance looks like she is having troubles with a reproductive problem. You mention that her belly is swollen - does it feel like it has fluid in it?
You can check to see if she has an egg stuck by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger inside the vent about 1-2", but if she's been like this for several days, then she likely has something else going on like Egg Yolk Peritonitis or similar. http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx

The rooster, I'm not sure what is going on with him - it would be good to get him hydrated as mentioned. Photos of him and his poop may be helpful.

 

[Eggcessive]

I forgot to add the dosage of Corid, if you decide to treat them for possible coccidiosis. It is 2 tsp of the Corid Liquid or 1.5 tsp of the Corid powder per gallon of water for 5-7 days, as their only source of water. You can of course divide that into two waterers if needed.

An enlarged lower belly in a hen may be a sign of ascites or internal laying/egg yolk peritonitis.

 

[ljninja]

My hen is almost dead. Others appear sick as well. Rooster still off balance. But the hens are in terrible shape. Can I get amoxicillin at tractor supply? I know I can get Corid there. I’m afraid I’m gonna lose the the whole flock. I’ve started them on electrolytes and probiotics. Also used DE because the sickest hen appears to be infested with mites