Dead Buff Orp - Dark Diarrhea, Lethargy, Floppy comb & wobbly

[EggHeadedMama]

I have looked for something like this in other posts and could not find it. So, I was hoping someone had some insight as to why I lost my Buff Orpington last night. I noticed Monday that she had really dark diarrhea stuck around her vent and back feathers. Tried cleaning. Her comb was floppy, not pale or blue. She kept laying down while walking around the yard and then seemed wobbly going back in the chicken run/coop. When I found her it looked like she had explosive diarrhea all over her rear end.

I have 6 others and none of them appear to have symptoms. I'm not sure if she got into something in the yard. We have four acres and I let them roam during the day and lock them up at night.

I don't know how long all of the symptoms were going on. I have a three month old and two year old (children), so I can't watch over my chickens as well as I used to. So, I also don't know if she was eating or not. She seemed to go after the scraps I give them though. (I'm careful not to give them avocados or onions.)

I live in Colorado and have been told we don't have a lot of mites here, but who knows. Should I deworm everyone or dust the remaining just to be sure? Any thoughts or advice are welcome.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have looked for something like this in other posts and could not find it. So, I was hoping someone had some insight as to why I lost my Buff Orpington last night. I noticed Monday that she had really dark diarrhea stuck around her vent and back feathers. Tried cleaning. Her comb was floppy, not pale or blue. She kept laying down while walking around the yard and then seemed wobbly going back in the chicken run/coop. When I found her it looked like she had explosive diarrhea all over her rear end.

I have 6 others and none of them appear to have symptoms. I'm not sure if she got into something in the yard. We have four acres and I let them roam during the day and lock them up at night.

I don't know how long all of the symptoms were going on. I have a three month old and two year old (children), so I can't watch over my chickens as well as I used to. So, I also don't know if she was eating or not. She seemed to go after the scraps I give them though. (I'm careful not to give them avocados or onions.)

I live in Colorado and have been told we don't have a lot of mites here, but who knows. Should I deworm everyone or dust the remaining just to be sure? Any thoughts or advice are welcome.

In my opinion you should delouse and de-mite ALL of your birds at least twice each year. The same goes for de-worming. This is especially true if they are allowed free and open access to mite and worm infestations by living a free range lifestyle.

 

[LoLoBucci]

Hi there,

I have no info for you unfortunately, but I am having similar problems with my Buff Orpington and she's my favorite girl.. I am new to the chicken game and have scoured the Internet (and even taken her to a vet for a physical exam) and can't seem to figure out what's wrong with her..

Ever since she was very little her tail has drooped down, the vet seemed to think this was just a genetic deformity with her tail. She actually gave us a very clean bill of health at the time. They are getting to egg laying age- I got my VERY first egg today, how exciting! She has always had diarrhea/dark and watery stools but the vet did a fecal test on her when I took her last month, so I haven't worried about this so much. She has the tendency to develop sour crop and I have to basically feed her yogurt on a weekly basis to keep her crop in normal condition.

She is excessively thirsty and hungry (or maybe just a little piggie?) but I have seen her do this three times within the last few weeks where she drinks too much and vomits a little bit of water. I sniff it and it doesn't smell abnormal. I chalked this up to her just drinking too much at a time, but her comb has been extra floppy the last couple days and this is new.
It looks almost wilted? Otherwise, she is active, comb & waddle are red, she is alert and she eats drinks and passes stool, albeit abnormal. It has been her norm forever.

Did you ever figure out what happened to your BO? She is getting ready to lay (has been doing the submissive squat for about a week now) and I am worried something bad will happen to her.. Her anatomy is so weird anyway, with her stretchy crop and down turned tail. Any info would be so so appreciated!

Thank you!
-Lauren & Justine

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi there,

I have no info for you unfortunately, but I am having similar problems with my Buff Orpington and she's my favorite girl.. I am new to the chicken game and have scoured the Internet (and even taken her to a vet for a physical exam) and can't seem to figure out what's wrong with her..

Ever since she was very little her tail has drooped down, the vet seemed to think this was just a genetic deformity with her tail. She actually gave us a very clean bill of health at the time. They are getting to egg laying age- I got my VERY first egg today, how exciting! She has always had diarrhea/dark and watery stools but the vet did a fecal test on her when I took her last month, so I haven't worried about this so much. She has the tendency to develop sour crop and I have to basically feed her yogurt on a weekly basis to keep her crop in normal condition.

She is excessively thirsty and hungry (or maybe just a little piggie?) but I have seen her do this three times within the last few weeks where she drinks too much and vomits a little bit of water. I sniff it and it doesn't smell abnormal. I chalked this up to her just drinking too much at a time, but her comb has been extra floppy the last couple days and this is new.
It looks almost wilted? Otherwise, she is active, comb & waddle are red, she is alert and she eats drinks and passes stool, albeit abnormal. It has been her norm forever.

Did you ever figure out what happened to your BO? She is getting ready to lay (has been doing the submissive squat for about a week now) and I am worried something bad will happen to her.. Her anatomy is so weird anyway, with her stretchy crop and down turned tail. Any info would be so so appreciated!

Thank you!
-Lauren & Justine

I don't think the OP will answer. This is an old thread and viewing their profile they have not been active since.

So I'll give it a go

Is every single poo that she has runny or is it like 1 out of every 8-10?
What type of food/treats do you feed?
Are you providing any oyster shell free choice?
Does she have a source of grit?

If you have had a lot of hot weather she may be drinking more than normal, sometimes they will do that and spit up a slight bit of water.
You can check her crop when she goes to roost to see if it's full and then check first thing in the am to see if it's emptied. Full at night-empty in am is usually a sign of a functioning crop.

The tail could be genetic -something call "wry tail", there is really nothing you can do about it.

As far as worrying yourself about all the "what if's" you're really not helping yourself. If her poo has been like that forever, the vet has checked her out and finds no problems, she's eating, drinking and seems happy, then just relax and enjoy her.