Chicken suddenly sick(Is this bird flu??)

[Hidden Chick]

So I went out this am and one of my girls was tucked away in the corner, which tells me right away, something is wrong. I gathered her up and put her in a dog kennel with hay and water. She is very lathargic. She does not have any discharge from mouth or face, and does not seem stress for breath, although when I put her in the kennel she did flayel (sp) around for a second or two, like a bird I lost of Gap Worm. Her bottom area is a little wetter than normal. She is about 3 1/2 years old. Of course I am worried about bird flu as I live in the midwest in an area that is very popular with geese and ducks. All my other birds seem fine and I even have two brand new babies that seem very healthy. Anybody got any ideas as to what this may be?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Could be a hundred things. Right now there are few new AI infestations.

 

[Hidden Chick]

I know right, Chickens are such a guessing game. I am glad to hear that there are very few new AI infections. I quess I will keep my eye out on the rest and hope this one bounces back from whatever is making her not right.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you check her skin, especially around the vent for lice or mites, feel of her crop to see if it is full or hard, and look at her droppings for any odd color or diarrhea. Have you wormed her lately, and if so, with what? What does she eat? Is her breast bone prominent like she has lost weight, or is her lower belly full or spongy. Is she laying eggs? Have you added any new birds lately?

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I doubt it is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza because some of the main symptoms are nasal discharge and difficulty breathing. If the "wetness" on her bottom white? If so it may be Egg Yolk Peritonitis.

 

[Hidden Chick]

Okay, I checked her vent area and it looks pretty good, no mites or lice she is not leaking fluid that I can see. Her crop is soft and has no food in it. However her breast bone is prominent. Her tummy does not feel spongy at all. I feed her a grain mix I get from my local coop. It's a non gmo mix of corn, soy, limestone and something else I can not think of right now. I have a flock of 22 birds and have not added any new ones lately. Because I have such a large flock it's hard for me to know who is laying and who is not. I have not wormed my chickens every. Not really sure what to use but I do however put a small amount of raw apple cider vinager in their water. Do you think she has worms? Someone in my coop has diarrhea.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

.... I feed her a grain mix I get from my local coop. It's a non gmo mix of corn, soy, limestone and something else I can not think of right now. ...
...


however put a small amount of raw apple cider vinager in their water. Do you think she has worms? Someone in my coop has diarrhea.

Is that what your whole flock is fed or just that bird?

A grain mix isn't chicken feed but a treat that shouldn't make up more than 5-10% of their total intake. It is low on crude protein and devoid of some essential amino acids as well as vitamins and minerals.

ACV isn't a wormer either. Most chickens that forage will have some worms. However, healthy chickens can handle a light load with no problems. She doesn't sound healthy.

Diarrhea can be a sign of roundworms but shouldn't be a reason to worm. A fecal float test will tell you if they have worms and which kind so you can treat appropriately.

 

[Hidden Chick]

Thank you very much for your information. I do not have a vet in my area who will even talk to me about my chickens, can I do the fecal test on my own? I can run to the local country store and see if they have anything to help her out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you have access to a microscope you can do your own fecal float test.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/363072/at-home-fecal-matter-testing-do-you-own-a-microscope
Sometimes you have to venture quite far to find a vet to do it even though any vet should be able to do a fecal sample regardless of the animal. Worms are worms.

What are you feeding? Is it a grain mix or chicken feed? If the latter, what kind?

 

[Hidden Chick]

Here is the what the label says on it.

32 – Freshly Ground Layer Feed
Order number of bags.
50# bags of freshly mixed poultry feed that we grind ourselves. Ingredients: non-GMO corn from Burt & Cuming Counties, organic barley from Madison County, transitional non-GMO soybean meal from eastern Nebraska, organic alfalfa meal from eastern Nebraska, organic Fertrell Nutribalancer, and natural feed grade limestone for calcium. We also sell in bulk and bags at the farm. We aim for a 16-17%+ protein level, and lots of extra calcium for strong eggshells.

I started with these guys as I am really trying to keep round up off my diner table. But I don't want the girls to be getting sick because they are not getting what they need.