Brahma Bantam Hen Sick - Lethargic and Skinny

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thanks for your concern and information. We are still not sure what is wrong with her but we are doing all we can. We wormed her today, but only with the poultry wormer that only does roundworms because that is all the feed store carried. We also started feeding her Diatomacious Earth (not sure on spelling) mixed in her food, meal worms for added protein as well as cottage cheese for probiotics, and cooked eggs for the protein. She is eating well and drinking the water with wormer. Her comb color is better, but we weighed her and she is about 7 oz. lighter that she use to be, that is a lot for a small bantam. She is still sleepy, but has times were she is mildly active. Tomorrow she goes back on regular water after 24 hours on wormer. I think I will add Apple Cider Vinegar to it as suggested on Backyard Chickens. Not sure what is wrong, so we are kind of doing everything. Haven't done antibiotics because it doesn't sound like an infection to me. Hope we are helping.

The Wazine bottle has a notice on it that repeat dosing at 30 day intervals is needed to break the large roundworm cycle (I wouldn't do it every 30 days, but you might consider doing a second treatment if she vastly improves after the Wazine, in my opinion.)

In addition, some vets will do a fecal float test for worms for a small fee. False negatives are possible, however. If you take her poo in for a float, they might find other types of worms, if the Wazine doesn't work.

 

[blueheeler1998]

Thanks. I ended up getting Valbazen wormer this evening which is a broad spectrum wormers that was recommended by others on Backyard chickens. It is directly fed to the chicken, so there is not doubt she got as much as she needed. She did gain a small amount of weight in the last 24 hours. Hoping for the best. Thanks

 

[LakeBird]

You should talk to the Chicken Chick. I posted on her FB fanpage and she immediately answered me. Very helpful and great blog. Blog: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/ FB https://www.facebook.com/Egg.Carton.Labels.by.ADozenGirlz

 

[blueheeler1998]

Dont do Facebook, just dont understand it. Anyway. I wormed her with that other wormer and she is much better today. She is staying awake more and when she falls asleep she wakes herself up. Hopefully, it is all going to keep improving. Thanks.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Dont do Facebook, just dont understand it. Anyway. I wormed her with that other wormer and she is much better today. She is staying awake more and when she falls asleep she wakes herself up. Hopefully, it is all going to keep improving. Thanks.

Don't forget to repeat your wormer! I am glad that things are looking up.

For Valbazen others have suggested:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/392294/worming-with-valbazen-do-i-need-to-repeat

see post #4

 

[froggiesheins]

Also, look into vitamin deficiency, [vit B / E?] its possible she needs some extra help IF the worms sucked alot out of her......Sounds like you are doing well so far....

 

[blueheeler1998]

I have been giving her poultry vitamins directly into her mouth every couple of days. She is loosing weight again. Actually lost .6 oz the day I wormed and another .6 oz since yesterday. I am hoping this is just the worms dying and losing their weight. I still haven't found any worms in her poop. But the general opinion on here is worms. She has better comb coloring and she is staying awake more. She shakes her head to wake herself up. Kind of cute. I am going to look for weight gain ideas on her. She is down to 1 lb. 3.5 oz. She should weight about 2 lb. I feel bad we didn't notice she was skinny sooner, but it is so hard to tell through the fluff until you pick them up.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have been giving her poultry vitamins directly into her mouth every couple of days. She is loosing weight again. Actually lost .6 oz the day I wormed and another .6 oz since yesterday. I am hoping this is just the worms dying and losing their weight. I still haven't found any worms in her poop. But the general opinion on here is worms. She has better comb coloring and she is staying awake more. She shakes her head to wake herself up. Kind of cute. I am going to look for weight gain ideas on her. She is down to 1 lb. 3.5 oz. She should weight about 2 lb. I feel bad we didn't notice she was skinny sooner, but it is so hard to tell through the fluff until you pick them up.

Scrambled eggs are good! Eggs are the perfect chicken food, as that is what they eat when in still the shell.

 

[blueheeler1998]

She was doing badly yesterday, so I wormed her again early. She seems more active tonight, but still is losing weight. Wondering if that is normal after worming a heavily worm infest chicken. Still haven't seem any worms, but I know that may not matter.