Chick Failing to Thrive Now Seems Frankly Ill - Hunched, Shivering, Thin, Miserable

[DarkWater1929]

Hello! Our wonderful Cuckoo Marans hen raised two batches of chicks this year. The second batch hatched on Halloween. (Now 2 months old.) One of the babies has always seemed frail. At first it was just that she seemed always to be cold, hunched with her feathers poofed out. As time has passed, she has stayed mostly the same. Indeed, she has stayed too much the same. She has not grown any in about a month. But, because she seemed otherwise happy, eating, playing, etc. I concluded that mom must have had a shameful one nighter with one of our bantam roisters. I guess that still might be the case.

But lately, several days now, I see that it is more than just her size that is off. She now stands in that hunched pose, eyes shut, looking like she is wearing an older siblings pyjamas, all the time, unless she is actively eating or following mom.

Tonight, as I was doing all the end of the day stuff for the chickens, I saw that she had stopped even chasing mom. She was in that miserable posture, shivering. So, in she has come. She first snuggled in my husband's neck, to get warm, then she wildly gobbled about a cold-tablet-sized amount of food, and now she is out like a light.

Her lungs and sinuses have no wheeze or rattle that I can hear. She does not feel feverish. Now that she is warm, she is not shaking. But, my goodness, is she bone-thin. She is now less than half the size of her siblings, and weighs maybe 25% of what they do.

I have, on hand, Tylan 50, LA300, and Albuterol, that I use when they are too congested to breathe. She is not having that problem. Should I give be Tylan? If so, how much? She is the size of a 3-4 week old chick.

Clearly it is a chronic.condition. Has it simply "ripened" into something new? Or is she just succumbing to it at last? Or does she have a new, additional, Illness? Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? Could it be a cancer of some kind? Do birds get diabetes? What would you do, if she were in your flock?

Thank you for your time and input!!! I honestly appreciate it very much!!

Patience

 

[Shadrach]

Hello DarkWater1929.
First option for me if she was one of my flock would be to take her to a vet. This may not be possible for you.
Did she get medicated chick feed? The posture is what I would expect for a coccidia infection but if she's survived for this long I would say Coccidiosis is doubtful. However, for sick chicks that would be the first thing I would try. It's unlikely to do any harm.
The next option would be to get a fecal float done. This can be done by post but you would have to find a lab in your area.
Worms will keep a chicks weight low and not kill rapidly so I would consider checking for worms. The fecal float would confirm worms.
Flubedazole is effective for most worms and is licensed for chickens.
I would try both the above before giving antibiotics.
She may be shivering due to lack of energy from food.
Meanwhile it's a question of keeping her fed and hydrated and warm.
You may need to do this with a syringe if she won't eat or drink regularly.
This is an excellent article on syringe feeding.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[DarkWater1929]

Hello DarkWater1929.
First option for me if she was one of my flock would be to take her to a vet. This may not be possible for you.
Did she get medicated chick feed? The posture is what I would expect for a coccidia infection but if she's survived for this long I would say Coccidiosis is doubtful. However, for sick chicks that would be the first thing I would try. It's unlikely to do any harm.
The next option would be to get a fecal float done. This can be done by post but you would have to find a lab in your area.
Worms will keep a chicks weight low and not kill rapidly so I would consider checking for worms. The fecal float would confirm worms.
Flubedazole is effective for most worms and is licensed for chickens.
I would try both the above before giving antibiotics.
She may be shivering due to lack of energy from food.
Meanwhile it's a question of keeping her fed and hydrated and warm.
You may need to do this with a syringe if she won't eat or drink regularly.
This is an excellent article on syringe feeding.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

Thank you so much! Barring nursing her yourself, I can't think of anything additional I could possibly ask! Thank you! Yes, she had medicated chick starter, until 5-6 weeks, anyway. I had not thought of coccidiosis, because I had not seen blood in anyone's poop, which I associate with that disease. But, of course, you may well be right. Regarding the lab, how would I find one? Is there a phrase I should Google? This is a question I have needed to ask for years, and neglected until now. I love a mystery, until it comes to sick babies.

Thank you again, so very much! I shall worm, and give Coccidiostat directly!

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you so much! Barring nursing her yourself, I can't think of anything additional I could possibly ask! Thank you! Yes, she had medicated chick starter, until 5-6 weeks, anyway. I had not thought of coccidiosis, because I had not seen blood in anyone's poop, which I associate with that disease. But, of course, you may well be right. Regarding the lab, how would I find one? Is there a phrase I should Google? This is a question I have needed to ask for years, and neglected until now. I love a mystery, until it comes to sick babies.

Thank you again, so very much! I shall worm, and give Coccidiostat directly!

I'm afraid I can't help with finding a lab. I'm not in the USA so I don't know how you would go about finding one.
I would search for necropsy services, you will at least find a lab like this and maybe contact by phone. I'm sure they will have information on the nearest lab that could perform a fecal float.

 

[Shadrach]

I believe there is a vitamin supplement called Nutridrench in the US.
I would try to feed your hen with this as a supplement.
Many people here have had good results with this product.

 

[chickens really]

Possibly coccidiosis and needs corrid..
@Wyorp Rock

 

[DarkWater1929]

What a difference half a day makes! She is so much worse, its staggering. Her poop, which last night looked pretty normal, now is a foul-smelling liquid, that seems to be 90% blood. She is thirsty, but drinking seems to make her gasp for breath. I don't have Corrid or similar on hand, and can't get a ride to get any for a few hours yet. I feel very hopeless. She seems unlikely to survive long enough to receive the medication. I will try, though. I can't even sit and care for her while I await a ride, because the cattle must be fed and moved. This is just awful.

Thank you, though, for your help! If only I had asked sooner.

 

[casportpony]

@DarkWater1929, I'm so sorry. Do you have any sulfa antibiotics for humans or cattle on hand? If so, those can be used to treat coccidiosis too. Many times, birds with coccidiosis will get necrotic enteritis too, and that can be treated with Tylan.

Your Tractor Supply or another feed store should have Corid (amprolium), so get that ASAP, though it might be too late.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I had not thought of coccidiosis, because I had not seen blood in anyone's poop, which I associate with that disease.

Regarding the lab, how would I find one? Is there a phrase I should Google?

She is so much worse, its staggering. Her poop, which last night looked pretty normal, now is a foul-smelling liquid, that seems to be 90% blood. She is thirsty, but drinking seems to make her gasp for breath.

@DarkWater1929 I'm sorry about your chick.

I agree with @casportpony I would immediately start treating with Corid. Also agree that secondary infection like necrotic enteritis could be at play (in addition to Coccidiosis overload).

Since she is taking a turn for the worse, I would also treat her with the Tylan50 + the Corid.
Tylan50 dosage is .25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days.

Corid dosage is 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water. Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period. Mix a fresh batch at least once a day.

Let us know if you get liquid or powder Corid, we can help you with a direct oral drench to help give it a jumpstart. (this is in addition to making the mixed corid solution available).

The gasping for air is concerning, do what you can to keep her drinking. Gently feel the crop and tell us what that feels like too. I would focus on getting fluids into her and don't worry about food for the day.

As for testing, you live in CA so you can contact your state lab here https://cahfs.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/

fwiw - Not all strains of Coccidia cause bloody poop. Poop can vary widely when dealing with protozoa or even worms for that matter. Symptoms, behavior and looking at the poop would all be something to do.

 

[DarkWater1929]

Thank you both, Wyorp Rock and casportpony, for the additional information! I wish that I had the time to stufy thoroughly all of the common, and some not so common, ailments that afflict my critters. It just tears at me when I lose one, only to subsequently discover the treatment that would have saved it. I have even considered giving up keeping animals, because I cannot afford a vet for each illness or injury, and I am not truly competent to treat them reliably, myself. My husband is of the "you can't save 'em all" school of thought, common to so many lifelong stocksmen. I want to accept that, but I just can't. I feel that, once I have confined another creature, such that it cannot see to its own needs, independently, then I have an unconditional duty to see competently and thoroughly to those needs, myself. His argument that, if they were free upon the land, they would not survive, does not sway me, because their inability to fend in the wild is the product of their confinement by humans over many generations of their species (whichever domestic species that may be). This detail heightens, rather than diminishes, the potency of my belief.
But, on the occasions that I have tried to divest myself of my family of critters, I never manage to part with them all, and someone, or some circumstance, soon brings me more little people which have three possible futures, since a vet is either too costly, or unavailable: they will die untreated; they will be killed to minimize inconvenience, contagion or expense; or someone (ahem) must step up to nurse them as best as can be managed. What can I do? They are so dear and so dependent! Sigh. Sorry for the rant. I just hate this feeling of uselessness. I am so grateful to all three ( or perhaps more by now) who have contributed to my education, and attempt to save this sweet little bird.
One more question: I should treat the whole batch of babies, right? Because, one must assume, that they are all infected? And this being the case, it will do no harm, to bring in one or two of her sisters? I noticed that she is calling for them from time to time. I don't want her to get depressed from being isolated, and die more easily because of it. Any thoughts on that would also be very much appreciated. Thank you so much!