Before culling this sweet girl... any suggestions on mystery ailment?

[technodoll]

Sigh. I dread having to cull my first chicken next week...

However one of my pullets just hasn't been "right" since December and I'm at a loss as to what could be ailing her.

Julia is about 9 months old.
Breed is black sex link.
She has not started laying yet.
The skin around her eyes looks "leathery", she does not have that bright-eyed look that chickens have.
She looks very tired all the time.
She spends her days fluffed up like she's cold, her head tucked in her shoulders.

She has been treated for worms twice now (Piperazine) as well as for lice and other parasites (Ivermectin). In fact I have treated the whole flock and everyone else is doing great. I see no lice on her body.
She has had Tylan-50.
Her feathers are normal and shiny.
Her poops are normal.
She eats and drinks well, yet is half the weight of her sister (who has been laying for over 2 months now) - skin and bones.
She roosts with the other hens at night and will free-range occasionally, but never for long.
Skin is normal, legs and feet are normal, I don't feel any lumps on her body.
No coughing, sneezing, eye bubbles or any discharges.

I really hate to see her suffering, she definitely has something wrong with her but I don't have a clue what it could be...

Slow organ failure? Cancer? Tumor?

No vet will treat chickens around here so I'm on my own.

Should I cull her to ease her suffering? She's been like this for 3 months now... Do you think whatever she has could just "pass"?

Please help, I don't know what to do but I want to do the right thing for her!!

 

[teach1rusl]

Sorry...I'm clueless. Since she appears to be eating and drinking normally, but is skinny and can't hold weight, unless someone comes up with something good, I probably would cull. Actually, I'd have to have my husband do it, because I probably couldn't. Poor girl...

 

[chicmom]

Could she possibly have a tape worm? When you look at her poo, look for little sections in it........(I know you said her poo looks normal, but it's the only thing I can think of). Plus it may take some other type of meds for a tapeworm.

Poor thing, I'm thinking it's some type of internal problem though truthfully.

 

[technodoll]

If she had a tape worm, wouldn't other birds catch it too?

I will have to isolate her to get a poop sample and then bring that to the vet for a fecal float... worth a shot, thanks for the advice!

 

[TriciaHowe]

Maybe an internal layer? Since she has never laid an egg and in obviously past laying age this would probably be my first guess....

 

[chickenzoo]

Have you treated for coccidia? It matches some of the symptoms................the leathery eye skin is dehydration and weight loss.

 

[technodoll]

If she's an internal layer, wouldn't she have gotten worse after 3 months?

Her condition is always the same...

I have not treated for coccidia as she is the only bird out of 38 that is ill, and isn't coccidia contagious?

Is it possible for only one bird in a flock to have it?

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
If one hen has it then the rest will if left untreated.

 

[technodoll]

Then it's not coccidia as she's been ill since early December and everyone else is healthy and thriving.

GAAAH!

 

[max101]

I have read on byc about gape worm.
You look down their throat and I think you see a red thing clinging on the wall of the throat.
It is a guess but maybe worth a shot.
Hope everything goes
well best of luck