Help! Help! Dying Chickens !!!! - UPDATE - BOUNCING BACK !!!

[JulieZ]

We've lost a total of 3 yesterday. The other 6 were in a bad way. As the day progressed & most of my day was spent nursing my chickens ... 3 are on their way back slowly. I'm still worried about the last 3.

The Vet called me today after checking the fecal matter one last time & said he found nothing but wants me to treat them with Corrid as a safe matter. His words were "let's do a little over kill with medication." Personally, I don't think he knows what to do but I figured it couldn't hurt ... right?

One of my chickens now has a nasal drip and the blood in her stools is mixed with green looking mucus. I'm hoping she is clearing out from all the medication, Epsom salt, vegetable oil & now Corrid. Seems like an over medication but they are dying ... there's no time to sit and wait. Dramatic times ....

Thanks everyone for the thoughts, help & ideas. I'll keep the thread updated.

Julie

 

[MysticScorpio82]

I am glad to hear at least 3 are on their way back. I still would like to slap the person that poisoned them

.

Did you end up getting a few chicks yesterday? If so , how are they doing?

 

[JulieZ]

I picked up 7 Dixie Rainbows today ... all hens & already laying. I've had them isolated until I cleaned out the coop/run today to rid of new poo & old hay. I bleached containers, added new hay and fluffed the place up nicely. In the process of all that my girls were getting to know the Rainbows through the fence. There was some mild fighting going on & now I understand the concept of my Roo "One Boy". When one of the rainbows was going after my girls, One Boy was not going to stand for that. Major guard effect went into place. I did receive 3 huge eggs from the Rainbows today despite their long ride home from Stark, Florida.

I was not sure rather I should have brought home new chickens with what is going on but it's not like they have a parasite & all things have been cleaned up "just in case". So I went ahead & done it. Problem ... the girls I picked up today have most of their feathers on their back ripped out because of the rooster"S" at their old place. I will get a photo of what I'm talking about tomorrow. It's as if someone nearly shaved their backs. it's very sad & makes them very ugly but I know it'll come back. Hopefully soon?

Detesting my neighbors...
Julie

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:
Julie --

Locks and extra fencing are your friend. Get motion sensor lights and maybe a couple of geese for alarm. I'm so sorry to hear you lost several chickens. How awful.

 

[chickbird]

Quote:
i heard on the news today for the birds exposed to the toxic oil that they are feeding mayonaise to them. they said it would hurry up the removal of impure substances from the birds. certainly think it would work for chickens.

 

[JulieZ]

I have to administer Corrid to each of my sick birds that are no longer drinking & I don't know how to open their beaks. I have it in the water for the ones that are healthy. I wasn't going to do it this way but I lost another bird late last night & now this morning. That makes a total of 5. They are all very lethargic & have extreme amounts of blood in their stools. yet again ... nothing is showing up under the microscope. Dr. think corrid may help so he gave me syringes but the also attachment to make insertion easier.. It's long & thin but how do I get their beaks open?

Julie

 

[jjthink]

I don't know what volume of med you have to give them but in most cases I usually just use a dropper and very slowly and gently dribble the liquid along their beak line. They will open their beaks and swallow on their own and this avoids them choking. It is a process that requires time and patience and many reassuring calm words (for you and them) but it works. There are much quicker ways to administer but best to be well versed in them before taking on a very sick bird....
A vet could also do very quickly if you had one willing to come by - I know, a near impossibility...
So sorry about this sad situation

JJ

 

[Brahma Mamma]

We lost almost 50% of our 100 RIR's to Cocci. For the beak question. I would hold the bird and gently pry open the beak and then my husband would dribble in the Corrid water. Usually the ones who were to weak to get up and get water died. Don't be too sure that your birds were poisoned. When my husband was driving like mad to get the Corrid (nearest Tractor Supply an hour away) we were losing 3 birds an HOUR. They were just dropping like flies. Ours had soupy bloody stool and that was the only symptom (until they got very weak and collapsed). Hang in there. We were thrilled that we saved half our flock!

 

[SkyWarrior]

To open your birds' beaks:

Slide your finger along the line where the top and bottom beak meets. You'll catch the lower part of the beak easily -- just gently pull down. Now, slide the syringe into the mouth and dribble the water in.

I would save one of the dead birds for your vet or the state agricultural extension office to perform a necropsy. He might be able to tell you more once he determines what killed that bird.

I'm so sorry to hear this has happened. Hang in there.

 

[JulieZ]

Thank you again everyone. I was able to use the syringe & attachment with ease by opening beak on some while others I had to have that patience. I think I was more scared than anything.

Sadly, the death count is now 6. Lexie ... the stubborn one ... has so far out lived everyone but is hanging on by a thread. "Leghorn" has not been sick & then today she takes a turn. Not deathly sick but you can see it in her eyes. The Vet said if another one dies they want to do an autopsy Monday. I hope it doesn't come to that but I think it will. My birds are falling & fast.

Julie