Dying off, one by one...

mame1616

Songster
11 Years
Jan 30, 2008
2,110
54
248
Middletown, NJ
Ok, been throught the week of Sulmet for what appeared to be Cocci. Lost two 4-month old pullets last month to? No signs until the day they died - lethargic, puffed up, etc. Started the Sulmet a week ago because one hen was lethargic, w/ yellow diarrhea - she died - 2yrs. old. Today, I find one of my original girls, 5 yrs old, is puffed up, eyes closed. She'd been broody all week, so her weight was down to begin with, now she hardly weighs anything. She's gotten worse all day, won't eat - forced some vitamins into her, and some water. Clear slime is now drooling out of her mouth. I'm devastated! Why can't they be sick long enough for me to see and then treat them?! I also have a couple of girls who have had swollen faces/combs since the spring. Someone suggested this may be fowl cholera. The girls don't range, since I had a rat problem in the spring, and I don't want them findiing any bodies out there. What is this?! I can't afford the $150 visit for the vet to see them, plus meds. My last hen cost me around $450! Not that they are not worth it, but I just don't have it. Can't find anything that matches these symptoms in any of the many chicken books I have, of course. I just don't know what to do anymore.
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Try a dewormer. They could have internal parasites other than coccidia. Some types of roundworms can cause yellow/orange diarrhea.

ETA: Swollen faces/combs could indicate a respiratory infection such as Mycoplasma or (another one I'm blanking on).
 
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I wormed everyone back in late June/early July. I use DE generously around the coops, so I rarely have an issue with worms, mites, or lice. I'll check out the info on Myco - Thanks!
 
Just lost that five year old. I'm going to put her on ice and have a necropsy done somewhere. Maybe that will help. With my luck, it will be fatty liver or something not contagious. I wish a vet could come to the house and see them all.
 
When they "waste", it is usually cocci, not all the time, but a good first guess. I am not found of sulmet for cocci; I recommend amprolium.

You can get it at your feed and farm store. There is a brand name called Corid which should be in the cattle section.

I would use 9 cc per gallon for 1 week to treat all the birds. Refresh the water every day.
 

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