Chicken stumbling/losing weight/crop not full

[jshaddix88]

I have a approx 4.5-6 month old blue laced red wyandotte hen that I noticed was stumbling, lethargic and appears to have a good amount of weight loss. The older girls started being way more aggressive and she fell over when they pecked at her which is how I started to notice she seemed off. I have her seperate from them now, she is eating and drinking but her crop is not full at night (checked it tonight). I checked her for being egg bound but did not feel anything (it was my first time trying this) and checked again today and she seemed swollen feeling inside and kind of made a throaty hissing sound. She breaths deep it seems like and opens her mouth but not all the time. I am treating the water with de-wormer just in case.
I have been upping her calcium over the past few days but was suprised when my husband said her crop was empty tonight. I have not noticed her pooping but she did let out a little after I checked her for being egg bound. Also she is kind of humped over or like a slouchy back and wing feathers are droopy but not sure if it is due to the weight loss. I also checked for lice and mites and did not see anything.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) BLUE LACED RED WYANDOTTE BETWEEN 4-6 MONTHS, SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WEIGHT LOSS
2) What is the behavior, exactly. TIPSY WHEN WALKING/LETHARGIC/FALLING OVER/OPEN MOUTH DEEPER BREATHING BUT NOT ALL THE TIME
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? DAY 2, THAT I HAVE NOTICED
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? NO
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. NO TRAUMA THAT I CAN SEE
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. NOTHING THAT I KNOW OF
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. CRUMBLES, WATER, BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES AND WHATEVER SHE FREE RANGES
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. NOT SEEING MUCH POOP
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? CHECKED FOR EGG BOUND, UPPED CALCIUM, DE-WORMER IN WATER/KEEPING SEPERATE
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? WOULD LIKE TO TREAT MYSELF IF POSSIBLE
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. AT WORK RIGHT NOW SO I DONT HAVE A PICTURE.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use. TYPICAL COOP SHARED WITH 3 BIRDS, BEDDING IS SHAVINGS NOT HAY

 

[Eggcessive]

Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? She could possibly be dehydrated and may not have been getting enough to eat. Chickens will pick on a weaker member of the flock, or one that seems sick or imbalanced sometimes. I would try to get her eating and drinking normally, and you can offer things like wet chicken feed made into a mash, scrambled egg bits, tuna, canned cat food, or things that she likes. I would look for any weakness in a leg or limping. It wouldn’t hurt to start some vitamins and electrolytes, or give some Poultry NutriDrench orally 2 ml daily. It may help to keep her separated in a sog crate with food and water near her.

 

[jshaddix88]

Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? She could possibly be dehydrated and may not have been getting enough to eat. Chickens will pick on a weaker member of the flock, or one that seems sick or imbalanced sometimes. I would try to get her eating and drinking normally, and you can offer things like wet chicken feed made into a mash, scrambled egg bits, tuna, canned cat food, or things that she likes. I would look for any weakness in a leg or limping. It wouldn’t hurt to start some vitamins and electrolytes, or give some Poultry NutriDrench orally 2 ml daily. It may help to keep her separated in a sog crate with food and water near her.

I don't believe she was vaccinated. I have been giving her a scrambled egg but will try the NurtriDrench. I do have her separated. She did seem to be limping but I don't see any noticeable injury. Thanks for the advice.

 

[OneToManyChickens]

With the given information I would also say it is probably Mareks. This causes limping and eventually legs locking up at the joints. Mareks also causes a sunken crop and tumor growth inside the chicken. I would look more into the descriptions and see if this matches everything you are seeing. I do not believe there is anything you can do other than help the chicken get food and water at this point.

 

[jshaddix88]

I don't believe she was vaccinated. I have been giving her a scrambled egg but will try the NurtriDrench. I do have her separated. She did seem to be limping but I don't see any noticeable injury. Thanks for the advice.

I just had a vet come out and confirm it was Marecks. She was put down and they took her with them. She was around my newest chick so we shall see if it was passed on. The vet said I would know for sure in 2 weeks. I hope I get lucky though. We sure will miss our Pearl girl.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Glad that the vet is getting her tested. I really hope that it turns out to be something other than Mareks for the other chicken’s. Here is some reading about Mareks disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[OneToManyChickens]

I’m very sorry for your loss. It really hurts to lose a pet.