chickens sick and dying - what can I do to stop this?

[ejctm]

Thanks Lydia, we have tried some yoghurt which she did eat (fruit one, had no plain), and also added some apple cider vinegar to her water, alternating that with vitamin enriched water. Should try and find some dioralyte in the cupboard, or I will get some tomorrow.

She has sat in her little sick box all day, the sweetie and not complained. Mind you, she is being waiting on hand and foot like a princess. Bottom fluff needs daily washing under the tap - stinky wet feathers

She is so thin, bless her. We did not notice until we picked her up and her breastbone was like a knife edge. She seems alert, but when we let her walk around, she just sits there looking at us. She is my son's hen and he is really upset as we suspect the worst, even if it takes a few weeks. Not sure whether to euthanise as she does not seem to be at death's door and we are (perhaps naively) hoping for a recovery. If it is just diarrhoeia then perhaps there is hope?

My vet would not even know the dosage to euthanise a chicken - they just don't do birds. I once took a hen to her with bumblefoot and she had no idea what it was, charged me a fortune for just prescribing antibiotics (at least that was useful). I went home, did some research and operated on the foot myself successfully.

these birds get to our hearts, don't they!

 

[Miss Lydia]

getting her to eat some kind of probiotic will help with the diarreha, but if she does have cocci then you'll have to treat her for that, which at this juncture I'd say why not, heres a link that might help you decide if thats the route you want to go.
http://www.millerhatcheries.com/Information/Diseases/coccidiosis.htm
theres another disease thats not mentioned alot but happens in older chickens called Lymphoid Leukosis that you might want to research about too. I hope she pulls through this especially for your son, it's heart breaking when we try so hard to help them and then lose one anyway, but I know your doing all you can, so hopefully she will pull through. let us know from day to day how she is..

 

[ejctm]

Thanks Lydia, I will look into those.

Today, she has spent the whole day in her bed not really moving. We got her up this evening to clean her up and get her to stretch her legs and she just stood still for a while and then sat down. She is eating a little and drinking too which is a good sign. The runny poops is still there though. We are giving her high energy food such as mealworms and scrambled egg, plus vitamin water. She is not really very interested in food, like before, she would knock you down on her way to a mealworm!
We are keeping her quite dark too to reduce any laying if she is internally laying. She is not floppy or breathing heavily or physically unable to move.

The poor wee thing, she is just so lethargic.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know what you mean about the meal worms thats a good sign something is wrong with one of mine if they don't come running for meal worms, sorry to hear theres not been much improvement, but that she's still here is saying something.. At least your doing all you can.

 

[ejctm]

Update

Unfortunately, Squishy died this morning. She just went to sleep, bless her.

My son is devastated. He took such care of her these last few days, fretting over her, stroking her and keeping her company, giving her treats, etc. He wants any chickens we buy in the future to be pure breeds, as the hybrids seem to wear themselves out so quickly in less than 3 years with their prolific laying.

Sad times. Now wondering whether the 3 we have left will be keeling over any minute, now that 2 have gone in as many days.

 

[nuchickontheblock]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your pets. I'm praying that all's well with the rest of your girls. Hugs to you and your son.
Paula

 

[ejctm]

Thanks Paula - much appreciated.

 

[Miss Lydia]

so sorry to hear about your loss ejctm, I am sure your son is devasted I would be too and I am an adult.. I hope the rest of your girls will remain healthy.. As for getting pure breeds next time, from all I read it's best to buy from a breeder than to order from a hatchery any way, This would be a good time of healing for you and your son to go online and look up the breeds your interested in and see if you can find people in your area who my raise them. I hope in the coming days that the hurt will be replaced with a feeling of understanding that everything was done that could have been done. and that you'll be able to go on from here and enjoy the girls that are left.. All the Best...

 

[ejctm]

Thanks Lyd, what wonderful comforting words.