DRUNKEN hens!!

[Tropical Chickies]

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She hasn't really pooped in a day or two. I had come across some runny poop the a few days ago, which could have been her poop, but with 6 other chickens in the coop I can't be 100% sure. She has lost a lot of weight. She used to be hefty and over the last 2 days, she barely has any umpf to her at all. Don't think she has thickened feet, but she does keep wanting to twist her neck.

 

[yotetrapper]

IS she gasping for breath, or coughing?

 

[Tropical Chickies]

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I clean the coop out daily and I did separate her from the rest as soon as I noticed she was sick. But, didn't even think about this....her separate little coop away from the others is only on the other side of the fence. I am an IDIOT!!! It is was too close to the other coop.

 

[Tropical Chickies]

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Not coughing, just gasping for breath I assume.

 

[yotetrapper]

If she's not away from the others yet, get her seperated now. There are many things your chicken could have, including Mareks, streptococcosis, algae poisoning, botulism, spirochetosis, antifreeze poisoning, or <gasp> newcastles. I've been sitting here trying to cross reference symptoms in my chicken health handbook, but most of the symptoms that she has in common with others are shown as being rare diseases. In any event, watch your others closely, seperating them out at first signs of illness. How many birds do you have?

 

[Tropical Chickies]

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I just moved her to a little dog crate on my back porch. She is definately far away for the others now. I have 7 other chickens.

 

[yotetrapper]

I have to do a few things outside before dark, but I'll check in with ya later to see how she is... sorry I couldnt be of more help to you....

 

[Tropical Chickies]

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I understand..get to those chores!

 

[LarryPQ]

FL- Definately listen to Yoretrapper. I just finished reading through this thread, and everything you posted sounds like (to me) like Mareks.

Marek's is a form of herpes, which can present itself in three forms. #3 is the most virulent, and the most deadly. It creates the legions on the brain, which cause the "drunkenness" you describe. It also has auto-immune symptoms, which make the sick bird more susceptable to other diseases: so a chicken dying of mareks may often be KILLED by something stupid and treatable like cocci.

A good friend of mine just went through this, and lost 2/3 of her flock. She was treating for anything and everything, but the birds just did not get better. Once the legions are on the brain, they are there to stay. When she finally could afford the vet--4 months later--, he was ASTOUNDED the chickens had lived that long. None of the still living birds could walk, stand, sit, preen, or make "normal" noises. Some could still eat and drink on their own. Some honked like geese-probably the result of damaged tracheas when the nerves to the neck muscles were damamged.

Once a chicken exposed to Marek's, it is always a carrier. The herpes is transmitted via the shed dander. Vaccinating your entire flock---at this point----is a waste. Your chickens will either live, die, or get one of the 2 lesser forms (legions in the throat, or legions in the eye--gray/inconsistant iris like you mentioned). The best you can do is make SURE to vaccinate & quarantine any new birds coming in. Otherwise you are on complete flockdown until all your current birds have passed.

Mareks can also live in the soil for up to (I read recently) 65 weeks. So keep that in mind.

SO, SO VERY SORRY for your troubles

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

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Lots of good information, thanks for sharing!