marlaw
Songster
- Apr 24, 2019
- 55
- 199
- 106
We have a sick boy and have no idea what more we can do for him. I have a bad feeling he might have a worsening heart condition or something. Any insight or advice is appreciated!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Serama Bantam, Rooster. Approximately 2 years old. He has lost about 2 ounces recently and currently weighs right at 1 lb.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Very low energy. Hardly crowing. Not eating or drinking much. Comb and waddles purple tinted/bluish and cool to touch. He seems a bit "wobbly" at certain times, especially in the morning. His head was "loose" and wobbly this morning and look disoriented for the first few minutes after he got off the roost. He usually shoots out there like a bullet. No interest in the girls. Bedding down in hemp and not sitting on roost throughout the day like he usually does. His eyes are bright, alert, and curious when they are open. But he is sitting around with them closed more often than not now. We can hold him and warm him up but his comb gets cold again with minutes.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I think this is day 5.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No sign of acute injury. Crop feels ok. Vent looks ok. No sign of worms or parasites. Can't feel any fluid built up anywhere. No swelling.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
We have NO idea. His woman is broody right now and we are having a terrible time trying to keep her off the nest. She wants nothing to do with him (but he really doesn't seem to care right now). We thought maybe he was lonely/depressed so we let him visit with the other girls and he just seem disinterested and little.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
His normal food is all flock crumble from feed store, always moisten it to make sure its soft. He was barely picking at it. I started giving him his favorite treat--yogurt with crumble sprinkled on top--and he eats it enthusiastically. He's also still excited to eat his dried meal worms. Can't hardly get him to drink though. Have probiotics in his water but can't see that he has drank enough to help much. We have chick grit available for them at all times because the regular grit is too big.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Poops have been small. The more solid ones are somewhat bright green with little white caps--like miniature versions of what he normally does. The water ones are white and foamy. Both small in quantity and frequency. No blood at any point.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Probiotics in water--Hydro Hen to be exact. (Tried vet rx in water but he did not like). Intermittently rubbing vet rx on his comb and waddles. We have corid here but the symptoms don't seem to line up and don't want to give him something that may tax him for nothing. We've been holding him for hours at a time and he seems to enjoy the extra love but just isn't showing any improvement. I mixed a drop or two of Cod Liver Oil into his yogurt this morning and he ate about a half a tablespoon. Tried to get some Vitamin D in him but no improvement yet.
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 have to treat him ourselves. We do not have any vets within a 100 mile radius that would even see him.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
He does not like cameras at all and I don't want to stress him out.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
This is not a cold hardy breed and we have a small flock so he is currently over wintering indoors in large enclosures--inside a heated garage. The temp is never below 70 and is on average around 75. All their bedding is hemp curd and was freshly changed yesterday. We have a light duty heat lamp in an area of his enclosure now that he can get under if he likes but he isn't using it much. We know lack of sunlight is a problem so we have been supplementing with vitamin d. We open the side door for them on days the sun is out so they can catch some rays, but the sun hasn't come out in weeks and it's been rainy and cold.
Thank you!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Serama Bantam, Rooster. Approximately 2 years old. He has lost about 2 ounces recently and currently weighs right at 1 lb.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Very low energy. Hardly crowing. Not eating or drinking much. Comb and waddles purple tinted/bluish and cool to touch. He seems a bit "wobbly" at certain times, especially in the morning. His head was "loose" and wobbly this morning and look disoriented for the first few minutes after he got off the roost. He usually shoots out there like a bullet. No interest in the girls. Bedding down in hemp and not sitting on roost throughout the day like he usually does. His eyes are bright, alert, and curious when they are open. But he is sitting around with them closed more often than not now. We can hold him and warm him up but his comb gets cold again with minutes.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I think this is day 5.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No sign of acute injury. Crop feels ok. Vent looks ok. No sign of worms or parasites. Can't feel any fluid built up anywhere. No swelling.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
We have NO idea. His woman is broody right now and we are having a terrible time trying to keep her off the nest. She wants nothing to do with him (but he really doesn't seem to care right now). We thought maybe he was lonely/depressed so we let him visit with the other girls and he just seem disinterested and little.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
His normal food is all flock crumble from feed store, always moisten it to make sure its soft. He was barely picking at it. I started giving him his favorite treat--yogurt with crumble sprinkled on top--and he eats it enthusiastically. He's also still excited to eat his dried meal worms. Can't hardly get him to drink though. Have probiotics in his water but can't see that he has drank enough to help much. We have chick grit available for them at all times because the regular grit is too big.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Poops have been small. The more solid ones are somewhat bright green with little white caps--like miniature versions of what he normally does. The water ones are white and foamy. Both small in quantity and frequency. No blood at any point.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Probiotics in water--Hydro Hen to be exact. (Tried vet rx in water but he did not like). Intermittently rubbing vet rx on his comb and waddles. We have corid here but the symptoms don't seem to line up and don't want to give him something that may tax him for nothing. We've been holding him for hours at a time and he seems to enjoy the extra love but just isn't showing any improvement. I mixed a drop or two of Cod Liver Oil into his yogurt this morning and he ate about a half a tablespoon. Tried to get some Vitamin D in him but no improvement yet.
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 have to treat him ourselves. We do not have any vets within a 100 mile radius that would even see him.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
He does not like cameras at all and I don't want to stress him out.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
This is not a cold hardy breed and we have a small flock so he is currently over wintering indoors in large enclosures--inside a heated garage. The temp is never below 70 and is on average around 75. All their bedding is hemp curd and was freshly changed yesterday. We have a light duty heat lamp in an area of his enclosure now that he can get under if he likes but he isn't using it much. We know lack of sunlight is a problem so we have been supplementing with vitamin d. We open the side door for them on days the sun is out so they can catch some rays, but the sun hasn't come out in weeks and it's been rainy and cold.
Thank you!
