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

[jerseygirl1]

I am so sorry

 

[JulieZ]

I bought these chickens for egg production. They turned into pets. Very heart wrenching to watch them go through this. I've had to dig deep to figure out what is more humane ... go ahead & take them out or give them the chance to live. I don't know anymore.

Julie

 

[PandoraTaylor]

So Sorry for your losses

.....that is very heartbreaking......

I am glad you have a Vet nearby willing to help.

there are no easy answers when you care for any living thing, it is a personal choice as to whether or not to cull.
I just culled a newly hatched chick, because it had no chance of normal life.

 

[Oven Ready]

I found this on a report of an H5N1 outbreak in China recently. I don't think it's specifically for suspected Avian Flu. It might be worth a try.

The USDA operates a toll-free hotline (1-866-536-7593) with veterinarians to help you. The USDA wants to test sick birds to make sure they do not have a serious poultry disease. There is no charge for USDA veterinarians to work with you to conduct a disease investigation.​

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:

I think this is an excellent idea.

 

[JulieZ]

If I lose another today, which is most likely from the way she is looking, I will think about calling that number. The reason ... my vet (my daughter's boss) has offered to do an autopsy. The amazing thing ... the help of 2 vets & they are not charging me. Can't go wrong there.

On a good note ... Lexie is up walking around, drinking a ton of water (she never stopped while the others gave up. I think it may have been a determining factor with her still alive on day ... what? 4?). She was the bird that always greeted me at the door with a loud chuckle. Today she mustered up all she had & met me half way with a throat gurgle. Ya know what? I'LL TAKE IT !!!

She is not out of the woods yet but what a fighter.

Sadly, I still have sick ones.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

I am glad to hear about Lexie's improvment! Hope they all continue to get better.

 

[Chickiebaby8]

I am so sorry you are going through this. I just lost 10 chickens to ILT. I took two birds (one dying and one dead) to the University of Kentucky http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/links.html and they did an exam and necropsy. It was hard but just knowing what I am dealing with helped me deal with this situation without getting so emotional (I was a MESS). I knew what it was and know how to prevent it (or at least try to) in the future.

I would get a necropsy done by a poultry specialist.

I hope your Lexie pulls through.

 

[chickbird]

Quote:
what is ilt and what are the symptoms and treatment?????????????//

 

[JulieZ]

I had to look up ILT as well. Here is the only link I followed. I'm sure there are better ones out there ... http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/83/infectious-laryngotracheitis-ilt

My birds have had no symptom of upper respiratory, ILT, toxicity or other diseases I've read about that are common & uncommon. I don't see how 12 chickens can become sick in a 12 hour time with no former signs & 2 are dead within that frame. Symptoms arrived the day I found the 2 dead. To me, that seems a bit off from everything I'm reading. Still, the vets are on stand by. Honestly, they have no experience with chickens & I think mine are guinea pigs. They take care of my mammals so I have trust.

NO ONE DIED TODAY !!!! I must make 30 trips a day to the coop to make sure everyone is still alive & it feels like a death walk. So reaper like.

Lexie was eating ... she is still down in a slump so I put the crumble on the ground for her but she ran from One Boy who wanted to marry her.

I wanted to cook the rooster right there but on the other hand, it was nice to see Lexie with the energy to get away. I'm getting my hopes up.

I'm still putting amoxicillin in the drinking water with the Corrid. Today I stop the corrid & 2 more days of antibiotics. Even the un-sick are getting it. I also bought a bag of "infant crumble" that has the medication in it to treat cocci. For the 2 birds that don't drink like Lexie, I'm using the syringe.

Their stools are becoming more liquid with less blood & I'm cleaning the hay out daily. Their stools look like a cleansing going on....it is diarrhea but they've been so over medicated to clean out their systems that this seems to be normal. The only reason I have hay down is because it's easier to get picked up then turning the dirt.

I think it's safe to say we are on the mend ... Maybe I shouldn't talk too soon ....