Hi all,
Hope you're well.
This is my first post, but I've been using BYC for the two years since we got our two chickens, so thank you to the community and I hope I do this right (I read the guidelines, so will try and follow them).
In line with the thread instructions, I'll answer these questions:
1) What type of bird, age, and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others)
Isa Brown, 3yrs, unsure of weight (never weighed) but has always looked a healthy size (if not plump!) and still does.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
It started about three weeks ago. Usually, when I approached, they'd both ensure they were moving away from me. Not freaking out, but scattering. Three weeks ago, Amber (the bird in question), started not bothering to move away. That behaviour gradually increased into clear lethargy. About three days ago, I noticed she had poo all around her vent, so I followed instructions I found on here and gave her an epsom salt bath to clean it all off. I popped her back in the coop once dry. However, her lethargy reached its peak this morning, when I found her sitting on the bottom of the coop, at the base of the run, appearing like she'd either fallen down the run, or didn't have the energy to get up the run. I actually thought she was dead at first, such was her body language. I've brought her inside since finding her like that this morning and I'm keeping her in a box with a towel beneath her. Her vent was dirty again, so I gave her another bath. After extensive searching on this site and Google, I can't find anything that matches her symptoms exactly. For example: despite having not laid for about 6mths, which is really annoying (we're in Australia, so it's currently winter, which might be affecting) she's clearly not egg bound, because ... well, she's alive and it's been three weeks. I don't think it's that disease that begins with "c", because there's no blood in her stool. It's not like she's not eating or drinking, either, because she's showing interest and pecking at food and drinking plenty of water. When she's in the box, she actually goes through periods of looking wide awake and spritely. All of that probably has you saying, "Mate, the bird is fine!" But no ... there is something really wrong with this bird and I wouldn't be surprised if I wake up tomorrow and she's no longer with us. She is becoming more and more lethargic to the point where, as I said, she couldn't get herself off the floor of the coop and appeared dead. Carrying her the 20m from the coop to the laundry, she was fast asleep in my arms.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Progressively getting worse for three weeks. As bad as I've seen her for 24-48hrs.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No. Our only other chicken is a 3/4 Leghorn and she seems totally fine. However, that bugger isn't laying, either. I've got one egg in the past 6mths.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
I honestly can't think of anything. They have circulating water, I feed them every day, I clean the coop semi-regularly. They get kitchen scraps (just vegies) and a laying mix of seed each day. She's lived in the same place for the past three years - this is the first sign of issues.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
As above, but also, as I said, she is showing interest in food and water.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal ... maybe runny, given the dirty vent.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Espom salt bath and keeping in a box inside to keep her warm. I don't know what else to try, but willing to try something!
10) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Preferably treat myself. I don't REALLY want to spend money on a vet for her, but will if it's a necessity.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I can do, but I don't think it'll help in this case.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
I couldn't find the exact model, looks like they don't make it anymore, but it's similar to this: https://www.pinnacle.net.au/product/chicken-coop-the-manor/
And bedding is hemp stuff: https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/mini-hemp-bedding-ozhemp-mini-pack/
With some straw.
Any help, suggestions of what it could be, and suggestions of what I could do, would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
GF
Hope you're well.
This is my first post, but I've been using BYC for the two years since we got our two chickens, so thank you to the community and I hope I do this right (I read the guidelines, so will try and follow them).
In line with the thread instructions, I'll answer these questions:
1) What type of bird, age, and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others)
Isa Brown, 3yrs, unsure of weight (never weighed) but has always looked a healthy size (if not plump!) and still does.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
It started about three weeks ago. Usually, when I approached, they'd both ensure they were moving away from me. Not freaking out, but scattering. Three weeks ago, Amber (the bird in question), started not bothering to move away. That behaviour gradually increased into clear lethargy. About three days ago, I noticed she had poo all around her vent, so I followed instructions I found on here and gave her an epsom salt bath to clean it all off. I popped her back in the coop once dry. However, her lethargy reached its peak this morning, when I found her sitting on the bottom of the coop, at the base of the run, appearing like she'd either fallen down the run, or didn't have the energy to get up the run. I actually thought she was dead at first, such was her body language. I've brought her inside since finding her like that this morning and I'm keeping her in a box with a towel beneath her. Her vent was dirty again, so I gave her another bath. After extensive searching on this site and Google, I can't find anything that matches her symptoms exactly. For example: despite having not laid for about 6mths, which is really annoying (we're in Australia, so it's currently winter, which might be affecting) she's clearly not egg bound, because ... well, she's alive and it's been three weeks. I don't think it's that disease that begins with "c", because there's no blood in her stool. It's not like she's not eating or drinking, either, because she's showing interest and pecking at food and drinking plenty of water. When she's in the box, she actually goes through periods of looking wide awake and spritely. All of that probably has you saying, "Mate, the bird is fine!" But no ... there is something really wrong with this bird and I wouldn't be surprised if I wake up tomorrow and she's no longer with us. She is becoming more and more lethargic to the point where, as I said, she couldn't get herself off the floor of the coop and appeared dead. Carrying her the 20m from the coop to the laundry, she was fast asleep in my arms.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Progressively getting worse for three weeks. As bad as I've seen her for 24-48hrs.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No. Our only other chicken is a 3/4 Leghorn and she seems totally fine. However, that bugger isn't laying, either. I've got one egg in the past 6mths.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
I honestly can't think of anything. They have circulating water, I feed them every day, I clean the coop semi-regularly. They get kitchen scraps (just vegies) and a laying mix of seed each day. She's lived in the same place for the past three years - this is the first sign of issues.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
As above, but also, as I said, she is showing interest in food and water.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal ... maybe runny, given the dirty vent.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Espom salt bath and keeping in a box inside to keep her warm. I don't know what else to try, but willing to try something!
10) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Preferably treat myself. I don't REALLY want to spend money on a vet for her, but will if it's a necessity.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I can do, but I don't think it'll help in this case.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
I couldn't find the exact model, looks like they don't make it anymore, but it's similar to this: https://www.pinnacle.net.au/product/chicken-coop-the-manor/
And bedding is hemp stuff: https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/mini-hemp-bedding-ozhemp-mini-pack/
With some straw.
Any help, suggestions of what it could be, and suggestions of what I could do, would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
GF
