Hello everyone,
I'm hoping to get some help. Got a sick pullet.
1) What type of bird , age and weight- 16ish week old pullet, as big as the rest of the flock
2) What is the behavior, exactly- she is standing like a statue for hours on end in isolation, occasionally rotating her body once in a while now (we found her just laying down yesterday and did not run for scratch grains with the rest/didn't seem to notice when we walked up to grab her and inspect), thrusting her neck up to swallow forcefully (the rest of the time standing with her head tucked in ((not down)), slowly blinking while swallowing like it's painful, oily looking head feathers, overall unkempt looking, raspy chirping occasionally (unusually quiet), clear slimy mucus in mouth that forms almost a bubble at throat opening, not eating or drinking on her own. Cannot feel crop (assuming it's completely empty) and no foul breath odor.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 24 hours
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma? No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Nothing
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all? Using a dropper to give homemade electrolytes (diluted solution of himalayan salt ((did not have sea salt)), baking soda, and sugar) and also diluted ACV to try to help with the mucus. Offered finely dices carrots, scratch grains, and usual feed- believe she has not eaten anything in 24 hours.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Poop appears completely normal- nice dark grey with white and not runny.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Homemade electrolyte solution, using qtips to clear her mouth and airways of mucus as much as possible, diluted ACV 20% to try to help the mucus.
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 will treat ourselves completely and if she has not eaten by end of day 4, humanely euthanize.
Her eyes are very alert unless she is swallowing, in which one closes almost completely and is slow to open again. No crusties, swelling, rednes, discharge, etc from eyes or nose. She is holding her head up fine and has improved since last night with swallowing and rotates herself a bit once in a while now. She has pooped once since last night. She has not laid down and seems to be just incredibly weak in her body. Checked her legs, no mites or bumble.
It really seems as though the pain she experiences with swallowing and the ton of mucus is deterring her from eating. She is eyeing her food hungrily, and has even put her beak down to almost peck, but then thrusts her head up and swallows forcefully a few times and looks away.
I've listened to her breathing and it doesn't sound clunky- a minor amount of crackling in her chest but honestly could be her feathers moving against my ear. Nothing immediately obvious.
The ACV has not seemed to help in the last few hours and her mucus is forming a bubble over the back of her throat everytime we go out to give her more electrolytes/ACV (every 1-2 hours).
I have Baytril 10% on hand currently. I can also go out and buy nutridrench/anything else anyone recommends that I could find at Tractor Supply.
Thank you so much for your help in advance, and I really want this little girl to pull through. She's improved but not nearly as much as I'd hoped.
I'm hoping to get some help. Got a sick pullet.
1) What type of bird , age and weight- 16ish week old pullet, as big as the rest of the flock
2) What is the behavior, exactly- she is standing like a statue for hours on end in isolation, occasionally rotating her body once in a while now (we found her just laying down yesterday and did not run for scratch grains with the rest/didn't seem to notice when we walked up to grab her and inspect), thrusting her neck up to swallow forcefully (the rest of the time standing with her head tucked in ((not down)), slowly blinking while swallowing like it's painful, oily looking head feathers, overall unkempt looking, raspy chirping occasionally (unusually quiet), clear slimy mucus in mouth that forms almost a bubble at throat opening, not eating or drinking on her own. Cannot feel crop (assuming it's completely empty) and no foul breath odor.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 24 hours
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma? No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Nothing
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all? Using a dropper to give homemade electrolytes (diluted solution of himalayan salt ((did not have sea salt)), baking soda, and sugar) and also diluted ACV to try to help with the mucus. Offered finely dices carrots, scratch grains, and usual feed- believe she has not eaten anything in 24 hours.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Poop appears completely normal- nice dark grey with white and not runny.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Homemade electrolyte solution, using qtips to clear her mouth and airways of mucus as much as possible, diluted ACV 20% to try to help the mucus.
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 will treat ourselves completely and if she has not eaten by end of day 4, humanely euthanize.
Her eyes are very alert unless she is swallowing, in which one closes almost completely and is slow to open again. No crusties, swelling, rednes, discharge, etc from eyes or nose. She is holding her head up fine and has improved since last night with swallowing and rotates herself a bit once in a while now. She has pooped once since last night. She has not laid down and seems to be just incredibly weak in her body. Checked her legs, no mites or bumble.
It really seems as though the pain she experiences with swallowing and the ton of mucus is deterring her from eating. She is eyeing her food hungrily, and has even put her beak down to almost peck, but then thrusts her head up and swallows forcefully a few times and looks away.
I've listened to her breathing and it doesn't sound clunky- a minor amount of crackling in her chest but honestly could be her feathers moving against my ear. Nothing immediately obvious.
The ACV has not seemed to help in the last few hours and her mucus is forming a bubble over the back of her throat everytime we go out to give her more electrolytes/ACV (every 1-2 hours).
I have Baytril 10% on hand currently. I can also go out and buy nutridrench/anything else anyone recommends that I could find at Tractor Supply.
Thank you so much for your help in advance, and I really want this little girl to pull through. She's improved but not nearly as much as I'd hoped.