Blackhead or Histomoniasis case in Chicken

[SDChickMom]

Drained 50mL of clear yellow greenish fluid from RIR tonight. She seems in less pain. It seems very likely her liver damage is causing problems with her heart and in turn causing the ascites from this article. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...s_of_poultry/ascites_syndrome_in_poultry.html I have ceased the Corid and am still treating with the Fish Zole and giving Milk Thistle. They are eating and eliminating. Hoping that we can kill off these protozoa so that their livers will heal, hopefully the heart damage isn't too bad.

 

[SDChickMom]

Update: I think we have overcome the blackhead with medication and drained off the ascites(bile? clear and green 50mL) with no reccurance as of yet. If there is a mild secondary infection, I have been giving them probiotics and milk thistle(to repair their liver). They had a course of Corid in the beginning of this episode.

Since the patients aren't gaining weight, I believe they are infested. After doing a little more research, I think(hard to see) my Orpington was being assaulted by mites. I rolled her and the RIR in wood ash last night, just for fun, and the Orpington is now standing instead of sitting all the time this morning.

I also think the two worming sessions with albendazole, 10 days apart, might not have been enough to get those cecal worms.

I have pour on Ivermax(5mg/mL) on hand and some Strike III feed to mix in(Hygromycin B 612g/ton-yeah THAT's useful) on hand. Leaning toward the pour on stuff, but I just read your Top 10 Myths. More albendazole? What would you recommend if you suspect cecal worms at this point?

 

[casportpony]

How much Valbazen did you give them? Giving them ivermectin would b okay, though it might not treat cecal worms.

The pour on ivermectin dose I would use is 0.1 ml per pound, and that might also treat any external parasites.

-Kathy

 

[SDChickMom]

I gave them .08ml/lb. The RIR was 5.5lb = .44mL and the BO was 3.5lb = .28mL. Not enough?

I think I am also trying to figure if they need to be wormed consecutive days, not just the standard.

 

[casportpony]

I gave them .08ml/lb. The RIR was 5.5lb = .44mL and the BO was 3.5lb = .28mL. Not enough?

I think I am also trying to figure if they need to be wormed consecutive days, not just the standard.

That one dose should have been enough, but maybe it wasn't? Did you shake the bottle really well?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

You've probably read that ivermectin won't treat some external parasite, if so, read this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1114731/ivermectin-experiment

-Kathy

 

[SDChickMom]

hmm, I can't remember. So much going on. I think so. I wish I knew how to look at their feces under a microscope. I have access to a professional microscope, my mom use to work as a cytotechnologist. I am just missing the staining and knowing what to look for. I would pay a Vet Tech to teach me at this point. I don't know what to do now,. e. coli, mites, worms. don't know anymore. Vet in the area is an Avian and exotic animal specialist = $$$$ $65 to see them, doesn't cover fecal tests, and they won't do it without seeing the bird.

 

[SDChickMom]

So, the update. The BO was visibly suffering, so i had to cull her. I opened her up to find what I think was internal laying, a mass with that "cooked egg' consistency people talk about, and inside the mass was a shelled part and it was light green inside, and some fat pieces. I have the pictures, but I am unsure how to post them so people don't HAVE to see them. I think her liver and reproductive issues were brought on by obesity. So, all our chickens are no longer getting ANY treats. This was a great article for those inclined:

http://www.thehappychickencoop.com/feeding-your-chickens-to-death/

My RIR continued to slide and after seeing the internal laying on the BO, we started her on Fish Mox in case an egg inside her was supporting some kind of bacterial infection. She perked up and has been on the antibiotic for quite awhile now. She is holding her weight, but she seemed like the ascites came back some. We have tried to drain her 2 separate times with no success, so I guess it might be fat? or tumors? Her demeanor is good, her comb not so much, sad, and her poop varies from green with lots of urates, to rust colored cecal, to actually normal in any given moment. My question is how long to keep her on the Fish Mox? Is there any harm in keeping her on it? We are still giving the milk thistle, probiotics, and also some CoQ10. I started the CoQ10 because I thought she was suffering from the congestive heart failure associated with a bad liver and was willing to try anything.

We have quite the regime now, morning and night, but this is my son's favorite chicken. Every time I try to convince him "It's time" she rallies, and I have to concede that she is eating, not losing weight, walking around(the kitchen unfortunately), and generally acting ok, except I think a little lonely. I would put her back with her friends, but I don't have a definitive diagnosis and would hate to get my flock sick and adding one of our older chickens that isn't laying would increase my workload in the house.

Ideas? Comments on next steps?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Hey SDChickMom:

I'm so sorry to hear about your Buff Orpington. And that her diagnosis ended up EYP. I was afraid of that. It is common in hatchery birds. (IDK if yours were hatchery or breeder...?) In Hatcheries They are bred for laying eggs and with that lies the complications to the reproductive system. You can say overfeeding scratch or whatever. But I had free range hens that ate alot of greens and foraged bugs, etc. --a healthy hen lifestyle, I thought and still lost some. I will say though it is prudent to watch the diet. They nutritionally need their feed for optimal egg laying potential. But sometimes their genetics predispose the condition as well. So go easy on yourself ...if you're having any guilt about it.

I remember I did... I also had one hen that had the Fatty Liver and would throw out hemorrhages. But she was a VERY gluttonous bird. Just the way she ate feed or any food of the sort. It was always like her last meal. So sometimes their character and own habits give them troubles.

It is hard to know with the RIR on what you have going on there. Certainly if it was anything infectious you'd want to keep her away from the healthy birds. But if you feel she's had any sort of infection under control with the med use you could try letting her go with your other birds. I'm suspicious of more EYP. RIR (often a production breed) can present with the same issues. I would say if she slides again...unfortunately for the rest of your flock's well being, cull.

Through my own trials and going through things trying medicines. I've come to the point where I'll try a little bit of 'doctoring' but if it doesn't turn the bend then I need to just do it. It's what usually happens on their own anyways. Out of our hands most of the times.

 

[SDChickMom]

Well Said Bogtown. I agree with all of it. The RIR was from a local breeder, but I knew nothing about her stock loooooong ago I agree with EYP, but I don't know if I have the cajones to put her together with the rest of my flock. I almost feel like I need two pens. One that has my healthy layers, and one with my older ladies that are purely pets. I think my husband might have heart failure if he read that though.....

Any comments on how long to keep her on Fish Mox? It's in the category of "Will it do her any harm?" because I have already bought the bottle, if it keeps an infection at bay... I just don't have too much experience with antibiotics and birds. In a flock, I wouldn't want the bacteria to become resistant, but she is on borrowed time in my opinion.