Foods that even sick chickens find irresistible?

[Airyaman]

I have one sick CCL pullet (~26 weeks) that won't eat. I basically force fed her yesterday with some bread soaked in medication but it was a chore.

She won't touch moistened food, dry pellets, scrambled eggs, or black soldier fly larvae. But I noticed she'll eat oats. For the sake of some time of nutrients, I fed her some but did not want her diet to only consist of oats.

Another thing I saw her try to eat as I watched her in my yard (she was away from all of the others) was some type of bug. I don't have access to "pet grade" bugs, but I can buy crickets meant for fishing (yes, they are live). Same for worms. Would that be OK, or avoid? I just want to get some nutrients in her.

Right now she is in decent condition, fat and muscle wise. She only stopped eating yesterday best I can tell. Nonetheless, she's had green poop for the last two which tells me she likely isn't eating much.

Suggestions?

 

[MROO]

You may be dealing with coccidiosis - an easily treated issue when it's caught early. Do you have Corid (amprolium) on hand?

For your sick pullet, lay a drop or two of undiluted Corid alongside her beak, she'll swallow reflexively.

If one bird is exposed, they all are, but don't panic. It's easy to treat the whole flock - just add it to their water according to package instructions. Treat all accessible water sources and don't use vitamins or medicated feed during treatment.

Coccidia are in all soil and the treatment is simple and benign. A few days of Corid-water won't hurt them. Even if it's not coccidiosis, amprolium is a must-have for any poultry first aid kit!

Good Luck!

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she drinking water? How does her crop feel this am? Is it empty and flat, full, firm, doughy, or squishy/puffy? Crop disorders may affect appetite. Is she having trouble laying an egg? Has she ever been wormed? Usually there is a reason one won’t eat or refuses food. Offer some mushy very wet chicken crumbles or pellets.

 

[Airyaman]

You may be dealing with coccidiosis - an easily treated issue when it's caught early. Do you have Corid (amprolium) on hand?

For your sick pullet, lay a drop or two of undiluted Corid alongside her beak, she'll swallow reflexively.

If one bird is exposed, they all are, but don't panic. It's easy to treat the whole flock - just add it to their water according to package instructions. Treat all accessible water sources and don't use vitamins or medicated feed during treatment.

Coccidia are in all soil and the treatment is simple and benign. A few days of Corid-water won't hurt them. Even if it's not coccidiosis, amprolium is a must-have for any poultry first aid kit!

Good Luck!

Actually, the medicines she received yesterday were both toltrazuril and fenbendazole. I did not mention that there is a chance she could have Marek's as well, but no way to be sure. I have a flock that looks to have Marek's, and I had a pullet from the CCL's flock who died recently, though the symptoms were totally different (she was gasping for air and the necroscopy did not reveal any Marek's related issues, see https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/curved-keel-on-25-w-o-pullet.1675894/post-28809830).

I do have Corid, but thus far none of the rest of the flock's droppings indicate coccidiosis, all pretty normal except the pullet. I feel like I spend much of my time inspecting chicken poop.

Obviously if it is Marek's then she has the visceral form. She does not show any other symptoms such as paralysis, eye issues, follicle problems, etc. Not much I can do if she has that, but I'm currently trying to treat her as if she doesn't have it but something else.

 

[Airyaman]

Is she drinking water? How does her crop feel this am? Is it empty and flat, full, firm, doughy, or squishy/puffy? Crop disorders may affect appetite. Is she having trouble laying an egg? Has she ever been wormed? Usually there is a reason one won’t eat or refuses food. Offer some mushy very wet chicken crumbles or pellets.

She is drinking fortunately, and her crop is empty because she's not eating. I felt yesterday for a stuck egg because she has not laid in a couple of days at least, but after multiple times of feeling that area, I don't think that is it either. She has not been trying to expel an egg either. She is mostly just lethargic at periods, but then she perks up and acts almost normal. She is currently isolated.

 

[Airyaman]

She seems to be a bit more peppy today and she ate some of her wet mash. Definitely ate all of the oats I tossed to her earlier, they all seem to love oats (I just tried it yesterday, only giving it to her until she starts eating regular food again).

 

[Airyaman]

Mixed the started medications with oats. As I expected, she ate all of them.

 

[Airyaman]

I let he back onto the roost last night because she seemed eager to be with her flock. I was hoping she would do OK, and she slept all night where I put her. I was concerned because of the way she had been sleeping without the roost with her head drooped far but she was fine this morning. I put her back in confinement so she would not be bothered and could eat at her own leisure. She does seem to be perkier.

 

[Airyaman]

Same again last night, and I can report that she had normal (not green) looking droppings! I know they were hers because she did not move from where I set her on the roost last night. She will still be going back to isolation until she is moving like the others.

 

[Airyaman]

Tonight she actually moved up to the top roost quickly. As of right now she seems much better.