bobanna02
In the Brooder
- Oct 31, 2016
- 14
- 3
- 29
Hi, I'm Joanna. I'm new to chickens and have learned from some of my friends with farms. I've asked for advice from them and we have them stumped. My fiance had chickens and we've added to the flock. We probably didn't handle it right, since it seems they've been sick off and on since.
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
They started out happy and healthy.
We have three types, Rhode Island Reds (1.5 years old had since chicks), 2 Buff Orpingtons (.5 years old purchased at feed store at 2 and 3 months old), and a Buff Orpington mutt rooster (about 2 years old from a friends' farm).
The rhode island reds and the rooster seem to be losing weight and feathers. They have gotten scrawnier in the last month.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
We recently had to cull a rhode island red, because she seemed so sick and in pain, her fluffy feathers near her vent were all matted with poop and she was extremely lethargic, she smelled really bad too. She was missing most of the feathers from her front. We laid her down to check her out and she didn't fuss or run or anything.
We are worried the other rhode islands and the rooster have what she had.
The current chickens have lost feathers and weight, and the rooster's feet have pink on them. They are all missing feathers on their chests.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
We doctored them after she was culled with mite spray. They were missing feathers on their chests.
This picture was about 3 weeks ago.
For a month or two it seems the hens and rooster have had some issues.
This picture is from last week.
One of the hens is looking particularly rough as well, I think both are struggling.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Yes, all but the buff orpingtons.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No bleeding or visible trauma.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
About 3 months ago we treated them with a powder antibiotic in their water until they stopped sneezing.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Layena Pellets. It is hard to tell if one is eating and others aren't but the food seems to disappear at a normal pace.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
There's some runny poop in the coop. Mostly solid poop in the coop.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
So far, we've culled one chicken, and monitored the others.
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?
We'd prefer to treat ourselves if possible. We will take to a vet if there's one that knows something. We are in NE Oklahoma.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
They are in an enclosure with a building containing their food, water and nesting boxes, and they have a run in the front with a dirt floor and roosting materials. There is ventilation in the building for them. The have nesting boxes with sachets of wormwood and we use pine shavings for bedding.
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
They started out happy and healthy.
We have three types, Rhode Island Reds (1.5 years old had since chicks), 2 Buff Orpingtons (.5 years old purchased at feed store at 2 and 3 months old), and a Buff Orpington mutt rooster (about 2 years old from a friends' farm).
The rhode island reds and the rooster seem to be losing weight and feathers. They have gotten scrawnier in the last month.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
We recently had to cull a rhode island red, because she seemed so sick and in pain, her fluffy feathers near her vent were all matted with poop and she was extremely lethargic, she smelled really bad too. She was missing most of the feathers from her front. We laid her down to check her out and she didn't fuss or run or anything.
We are worried the other rhode islands and the rooster have what she had.
The current chickens have lost feathers and weight, and the rooster's feet have pink on them. They are all missing feathers on their chests.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
We doctored them after she was culled with mite spray. They were missing feathers on their chests.
This picture was about 3 weeks ago.
For a month or two it seems the hens and rooster have had some issues.
This picture is from last week.
One of the hens is looking particularly rough as well, I think both are struggling.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Yes, all but the buff orpingtons.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No bleeding or visible trauma.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
About 3 months ago we treated them with a powder antibiotic in their water until they stopped sneezing.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Layena Pellets. It is hard to tell if one is eating and others aren't but the food seems to disappear at a normal pace.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
There's some runny poop in the coop. Mostly solid poop in the coop.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
So far, we've culled one chicken, and monitored the others.
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?
We'd prefer to treat ourselves if possible. We will take to a vet if there's one that knows something. We are in NE Oklahoma.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
They are in an enclosure with a building containing their food, water and nesting boxes, and they have a run in the front with a dirt floor and roosting materials. There is ventilation in the building for them. The have nesting boxes with sachets of wormwood and we use pine shavings for bedding.
