Have a chicken who walks around like it's equilibrium is out of whack
- Thread starter Primer
- Start date
This may be tmi, but i have to limit my BYC time to only 10 hours a day..it is now a few minutes past my allowed time..so I am going to tag a few people that may be able to continue to help you.
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@rebrascora
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@rebrascora
- Thread starter
- #13
Yes, she walks like she's drunk
- Thread starter
- #14
Thanks
Hi @Primer
Welcome To BYCWere you able to speak with a vet? Can you take a fresh poop sample in to have them test for Coccidiosis?
The pullet that died a month earlier - did it also eat dead bugs that were sprayed with Permethrin?
You mention Dumor Chicken Feed - what type - Layer, Grower, Chick Starter?
How long have you had the pullets - how long have they been outside?
Check your feed to make sure it's not gotten moldy, wet or rancid. I see that you have the feed in a tub - that's fine, but is it a mix of chicken feed with corn, sunflower seed, etc. - it's hard to tell. If you're mixing other things with the chicken feed (goodies) chickens generally won't eat the food that is best for them and can become deficient in essential nutrients - your pullets are still growing, so it's important they eat a balanced ration every day. Corn, seeds, etc. make great treats, but should not be more than 5-10% of daily intake depending on the amount of protein that's in your balanced poultry feed.
Now, let's look at your pullet - look in her ears just to make sure she has no ear mites or infection which can cause a balance problem.
Balance problems can be a number of things - vitamin/nutritional deficiencies, ear infection, diseases like Marek's, ingesting toxins and neurological/developmental disorders are a few. Without testing, it's hard to know what's going on with her. Since you had another with similar symptoms, if you happen to lose her, it would be best to send her body for testing at your state lab to see if it's something that can be treated and/or corrected.
It won't hurt to start her on vitamins to see if there is any improvement. Provide her with B Vitamins - you can crush a human B-Complex tablet and add it to her feed daily. Add vitamin E along with Selenium as well.
Acting like she is drunk is almost certainly a neurological problem and at that age Marek's Disease is the most likely cause. Coccidiosis causes weakness and they would look hunched and go off their food as well as loose or possibly bloody stool. Unfortunately there is no cure for Marek's. It is a virus and once your flock has been exposed, you must assume they are carriers for life. It affects mostly adolescent birds and unfortunately is often fatal although some may recover from the initial attack and be healthy for weeks months or even years before their next attack.....although usually they will be quite lean or undersized.
As well as causing a lack of coordination or paralysis, it suppressed the immune system like AIDS in humans, so birds with it are prone to secondary infections that their system would normally have resistance to, like coccidiosis or respiratory disease and even worms. It can also cause tumours. In fact there are so many and varied primary and secondary symptoms that it can be quite difficult to diagnose and often it is misdiagnosed until a necropsy is done. Some get neurological symptoms, some die suddenly from visceral tumours. Some get coccidiosis or respiratory infection.
The best treatment I can suggest is to support the immune and digestive systems with a good quality poultry vitamin supplement like Nutri drench or Rooster Booster or Save a Chick and a probiotic or fermented feed and good quality treats like scrambled egg or a bit of red meat/liver as well as access to greens, particularly fresh grass and keeping them as happy and as stress free as possible. Unfortunately the surge of hormones at point of lay is believed to be one of the triggers, as well as the unwanted attentions of young roosters. A chicken sling or hammock may be beneficial if she becomes more paralysed and is no longer able to stand. I've had some make pretty miraculous recoveries from an attack, so if you are emotionally attached to them I can say that there is hope as long as they continue to show an interest in food. If they stop eating, I have learned that is the time to end their suffering.
I hope I am wrong, but it is a very common and widespread disease and even the vaccination doesn't guarantee to protect them from getting it.
Out of interest, did you get the birds from a hatchery as chicks or a breeder or auction/swap and have you got your flock from different sources, as this is most often the means of transmission, although it can travel via wild birds or even on the wind.
As with all viruses, some birds will be more susceptible and others will have more resistance. I hope that if I am correct, the strain you have is a less aggressive one and you have mostly resistant birds.
Best wishes
Barbara
As well as causing a lack of coordination or paralysis, it suppressed the immune system like AIDS in humans, so birds with it are prone to secondary infections that their system would normally have resistance to, like coccidiosis or respiratory disease and even worms. It can also cause tumours. In fact there are so many and varied primary and secondary symptoms that it can be quite difficult to diagnose and often it is misdiagnosed until a necropsy is done. Some get neurological symptoms, some die suddenly from visceral tumours. Some get coccidiosis or respiratory infection.
The best treatment I can suggest is to support the immune and digestive systems with a good quality poultry vitamin supplement like Nutri drench or Rooster Booster or Save a Chick and a probiotic or fermented feed and good quality treats like scrambled egg or a bit of red meat/liver as well as access to greens, particularly fresh grass and keeping them as happy and as stress free as possible. Unfortunately the surge of hormones at point of lay is believed to be one of the triggers, as well as the unwanted attentions of young roosters. A chicken sling or hammock may be beneficial if she becomes more paralysed and is no longer able to stand. I've had some make pretty miraculous recoveries from an attack, so if you are emotionally attached to them I can say that there is hope as long as they continue to show an interest in food. If they stop eating, I have learned that is the time to end their suffering.
I hope I am wrong, but it is a very common and widespread disease and even the vaccination doesn't guarantee to protect them from getting it.
Out of interest, did you get the birds from a hatchery as chicks or a breeder or auction/swap and have you got your flock from different sources, as this is most often the means of transmission, although it can travel via wild birds or even on the wind.
As with all viruses, some birds will be more susceptible and others will have more resistance. I hope that if I am correct, the strain you have is a less aggressive one and you have mostly resistant birds.
Best wishes
Barbara
Last edited:
@Wyorp Rock @rebrascora Thank you!
PS. It would probably not hurt to feed them a little activated charcoal in case it is poisoning, as that may absorb any remaining toxins as it passes through their digestive tract.
- Thread starter
- #19
It could be early stages of respiratory disease or a tumour if she is open mouth breathing.
I'm not sure what you are trying to show on the photos.
I'm not sure what you are trying to show on the photos.
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