ldirk7
Songster
Hi everyone, I have had chickens for 1 year 2 months and this is my first real sickness so I am a newbie. Thank you in advance!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Ginny is 1 year 2 months old, Rhode Island Red. She is smaller than my other birds but she feels as if she is her normal weight and has not lost weight.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Ginny has been lethargic in the run. Laying down all day, seeming sleepy. She is still going and roosting at night. I did a thorough check today and she is missing a lot of feathers on her breast and near her vent. She has not laid in 2 days (today is day 3) which is very unusual for her. She is usually daily with one day off every 7-10 days.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
2 days or so is what I have noticed.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
All other birds look and are behaving normally.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Missing feathers (photos below). Skin does not seem too irritated.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Two things have changed: weather turned a little hotter than we have had, and last weekend we integrated our 2 new pullets as well as pigeons. All birds integrated were quarantined for 1 month or longer. Pigeons are keeping up high away from the chickens. Ginny was one of the biggest bullies of the pullets when we integrated.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I have witnessed her drink water. I have not seen her eat but I just separated her so I should know soon. Her crop is soft, felt liquidy.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal. A little liquidy but I’m sure she is drinking more due to the heat.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
First- I checked for egg bound via gloved finger and lube. I did not feel an egg.
Second- gave a 15 min epsom salt warm soak. Checked clean feet for bumblefoot (no signs)
Third- gave syringe with crushed tums mixed with water. About half a Tum.
Fourth- she is quarantined in a crate in our garage. Cool and dark, her own water and food.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I can take her to a vet if needed but not until most are open on Monday, so self treatment would be best.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Photos and descriptions below!
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
We have a large enclosed run and coop.
Pine shavings are used in the coop, wood chips in the run.
Additional thoughts
-I checked for mites, bugs etc and saw no signs
-her comb is red and still looks healthu
-tail is up
-she had a bald patch up high on her breast, near her neck. Bonnie has the same bald patch so I have been working on the assumption that I have an over aggressive groomer (Rosie)
-Ginny has always had an unclean ass area, poop sticks to it
- skin where the feathers are missing looks not irritated
- I feed all flock feed with oyster on the side and their own eggshells crushed up. Treats are every couple of days, blueberries bananas and greens. On top of that treat they get a handful of mealworms every 5-7 days or so. It’s not many for 7 birds.
My next thought was maybe plucking and eating feathers due to low protein?
After bath with wet feathers:
Vent area:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Ginny is 1 year 2 months old, Rhode Island Red. She is smaller than my other birds but she feels as if she is her normal weight and has not lost weight.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Ginny has been lethargic in the run. Laying down all day, seeming sleepy. She is still going and roosting at night. I did a thorough check today and she is missing a lot of feathers on her breast and near her vent. She has not laid in 2 days (today is day 3) which is very unusual for her. She is usually daily with one day off every 7-10 days.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
2 days or so is what I have noticed.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
All other birds look and are behaving normally.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Missing feathers (photos below). Skin does not seem too irritated.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Two things have changed: weather turned a little hotter than we have had, and last weekend we integrated our 2 new pullets as well as pigeons. All birds integrated were quarantined for 1 month or longer. Pigeons are keeping up high away from the chickens. Ginny was one of the biggest bullies of the pullets when we integrated.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I have witnessed her drink water. I have not seen her eat but I just separated her so I should know soon. Her crop is soft, felt liquidy.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal. A little liquidy but I’m sure she is drinking more due to the heat.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
First- I checked for egg bound via gloved finger and lube. I did not feel an egg.
Second- gave a 15 min epsom salt warm soak. Checked clean feet for bumblefoot (no signs)
Third- gave syringe with crushed tums mixed with water. About half a Tum.
Fourth- she is quarantined in a crate in our garage. Cool and dark, her own water and food.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I can take her to a vet if needed but not until most are open on Monday, so self treatment would be best.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Photos and descriptions below!
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
We have a large enclosed run and coop.
Pine shavings are used in the coop, wood chips in the run.
Additional thoughts
-I checked for mites, bugs etc and saw no signs
-her comb is red and still looks healthu
-tail is up
-she had a bald patch up high on her breast, near her neck. Bonnie has the same bald patch so I have been working on the assumption that I have an over aggressive groomer (Rosie)
-Ginny has always had an unclean ass area, poop sticks to it
- skin where the feathers are missing looks not irritated
- I feed all flock feed with oyster on the side and their own eggshells crushed up. Treats are every couple of days, blueberries bananas and greens. On top of that treat they get a handful of mealworms every 5-7 days or so. It’s not many for 7 birds.
My next thought was maybe plucking and eating feathers due to low protein?
After bath with wet feathers:
Vent area:
