Chicken lying on side, but still eating

[Eggcessive]

Started Oxytetracycline yesterday, (powdered mixed into drinking water) as well as switched out her food to medicated chick crumbles. Still giving her vitamin E and B complex - I guess its been about a week on those? And electrolytes.

Put her in a sling like suggested overnight - rigged up one that tied over her back so she couldn't wiggle out. I thought. This morning she was on the floor of the cage. She had had massive diarrhea overnight. I thought I would probably have to euthanize her tomorrow.

Just now (24 hours of antibiotics) she stood up and took two steps. She uncurled the foot that has been curled up for the last two weeks. Then, she fell over again, head first into her food bowl. Then, like Winnie the Pooh, she just stayed there and ate. Maybe we need to change her name.

I'm back to "wait and see" mode.

Well, it sounds a little better, poor little thing. I hope she starts moving around more.

 

[ChikenMom]

Isn't ampirillium an anti-protozoa agent? I thought, given the loose stool, maybe it might help?

She does seem to be chowing down on the chick crumbles. Not sure if I should keep feeding them to her or not.

 

[junebuggena]

Isn't ampirillium an anti-protozoa agent? I thought, given the loose stool, maybe it might help?

She does seem to be chowing down on the chick crumbles. Not sure if I should keep feeding them to her or not.

It's a thiamine blocker. The coccidia protozoa feed off of thiamine (a B vitamin). Ampirillium will 'starve' the protozoa so that they don't overwhelm a bird's immune system.
Giving the thiamine blocker and vitamin B complex is counter-productive.
Chickens gradually build resistance to the coccidia that they are exposed to. Unless this bird is brand new to your flock, coccidia is not a likely cause for the diarrhea.

 

[ChikenMom]

Her poop is back to normal now. I will switch her back to her regular feed.

 

[ChikenMom]

Just checked on my girl and she stands up, and then weaves like she's drunk, and falls over. She hadn't stood up for almost 3 weeks before yesterday. Just saw her preening - she also hasn't done that for the last couple of weeks. This whole illness/injury is a mystery, but I am wondering if she actually had Wry Neck, since she was and is doing the falling forward onto her face thing, and then she fell out of the coop and hurt herself as a result of the sickness? She is definitely moving her neck today a whole lot more than I've seen from her the last few weeks.

I really want this chickie to get well enough to get out of my house and rejoin her friends! I'm rediscovering that I am allergic to chickens... and she is in my office.

If it was/is Merek's there is not much I can do. I only have two other chickens and they all share a space, so if she has it they do too. They are all past the age of inoculation. Plus, our neighbor's roo has the habit of coming by to visit the ladies (and beg for handouts) a couple times a day, so they are exposed to this other flock I have no control over.

 

[ChikenMom]

Reece's was doing so much better mid-week, standing & walking a couple of steps. But now she is just sitting, eyes half closed. I don't know what to do, if I should keep hoping for recovery or cull her.

 

[Eggcessive]

If she was chowing down on the chick crumbles you were feeding her, I would let her have some of that again. Amprollium in medicated chick starter is not a problem, even if treating with Corid. Make sure that she is drinking plenty of water. Mareks doesn't come and go normally, so I would baby her and see if she rebounds again.

 

[ChikenMom]

I had decided Reece's wasn't going to recover... I stopped giving her antibiotics. And then yesterday she was up walking again. More like staggering and falling on her face, but on her feet.
Gave her a bath to get the crusted poo off her tail yesterday. This morning she's taking steps again. Still falling every couple of steps. But on her feet.

 

[ChikenMom]

Here is a better photo. She is upright but leaning on side of cage for support. The only other thing I did was give her some topical treatment for lice (we had an infestation this summer so I have been doing monthly treatments)

 

[rebrascora]

Unfortunately my experience with Mareks is that it does fluctuate like this with sick birds. Good days and bad days. I have had some make significant improvement from being in a pretty desperate state sxo don't give up hope whilst she is still eating. I find the company of other chickens helps (providing they are not being bullied... need to be well supervised) and sunshine and grass are a big benefit but sadly mostly beyond our control. Stress is a big factor with Marek's and I wonder if the rooster from next door has been pestering her. Hormone changes as they approach point of lay are also a common trigger.

Good luck with her. I know how heart breaking it is. If it is Marek's and it's a similar strain to the one in my flock, you may be lucky that your other pullets don't come down with it but keeping them stress free is really important as that can make a big difference in suffering from it rather than perhaps just carrying, it in my experience.

Best wishes

Barbara