HELP!!! Lame chicken, green poop

[jfarr]

I'm new at chickens!

My 5 month old Golden Wyandotte isn't walking right. I have 18 chicks now beginning to lay so I'm not sure if she is. Her vent is oblong and pale and seemed to pucker constantly when I hold her.

I thought she might be egg bound, so I soaked her in warm water bath and kept her in the house on a heating pad overnight. I also used olive oil on a Qtip to lubricate the vent. No egg yet. She ate a small amount of white Karo syrup, sour cream and olive oil.

This morning, she has shiny dark green poop and is still lame. I gave her fresh water and moved her to a larger dog crate so she could move more easily if she wanted to. She is drinking the water, so I added some electrolytes to it since she doesn't seem to be interested in food right now. She is also wheezing slightly after she drinks the water. No runny fluid in eyes or nostrils.

Any ideas of what to do?

 

[klmclain1]

I think the green poop indicates she's not digesting food. Do a search in this forum for green poop. You should get several ideas for what it might be. <bump>

 

[jfarr]

I saw the part about not digesting food and I've attempted giving her plain yogurt, but not interested in food right now

I went to Blue Seal and they suggested Oxytetracycline HCI antibiotic at the rate of 1/2 t./gallon of water for her as well as the rest of the flock for 7-14 days. No one else seems sick at this point, but they suggested it as a preventive.

We had snow and freezing rain in NH last night and this AM, so it sounds OK to me.

She didn't want any more water, so after I added it to the new water I measured 1 1/2 t. into a syringe and got some into her. She's so quiet! Heavy breathing (her whole body moves each time she takes a breath). Doesn't seem to be shivering or have puffy feathers. At least she's warm and quiet without any other birds bothering her. I feel so badly for the poor little girl. One of my Granddaughter's, Abegayle, will be so sad if she doesn't make it!

 

[jfarr]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7044610/Lame chicken.MOV is a movie of her walking yesterday when I thought she was egg bound.
She's pooping today, so I don't think that was the problem

 

[backyardcitychickenfarmer]

My guess would be that the green poop is caused by some type of indigestion or reaction to the foods in the diet.

 

[jfarr]

Hoping it's not my imagination, but she seems to be perking up now

Still not drinking a ton of water, but little sips every so often.
I replenished the plain yogurt that she was nibbling at with a fresh batch with some olive oil and parmesian cheese mixed in and she's eaten quite a bit of that.

She's still favoring the right leg and hobbling around, and her belly still almost scraps the ground when she does try to walk.

Thanks to those of you that have commented and Wish me luck tonight! I don't want to have a severely ill (or dead) chicken when my Granddaughters get here for Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[backyardcitychickenfarmer]

That's good to hear. Hope you and your grandkids have a very happy thanksgiving!

 

[Betsy57]

My chickens are sick too. Many have green poop, some very watery. They're very thin, can feel their breast bone, no meat on them but they look fine (feathers hide their thinness I guess). Looking through the Chicken Health Handbook it may be Lymphold Leukosis for which there is no cure. I am soooo scared! I don't want to lose my flock!

 

[jfarr]

Betsy, how did you make outwith your sick chickens? Mine recovered and is still doing well. She's even laying small eggs now!

 

[Betsy57]

Everyone is doing great. I switched back to Layena Crumbles and they're doing great. I am so thankful. Can sure get upset and stressed out over these silly chickens!

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