HELP!!!! MY 5 WEEK OLD CHICK IS SICK!!!

[Bejammie]

I added 4 new birds a week ago. I guess one was sick :'( the others have been around each other their whole lives.....

 

[Bejammie]

Ok guys so other than tylan what do I do to save my birds? I have the perfect flock I dont want them to die!!

 

[mirandaleecon]

Ok guys so other than tylan what do I do to save my birds? I have the perfect flock I dont want them to die!!

Have you segregated them? If I were you, I would separate them in three groups, sick birds, new birds, and original healthy birds. There's a good chance they all have been exposed but just in case, that is your best bet to keep it from spreading further.
Do a good cleaning of perches/coops/brooders, making sure that you change clothes/shoes and wash your hands when going from one group of birds to the next. Add ACV to all of their waters, feed them probiotic foods such as plain yogurt and the appropriate feed for their ages.
If any more show symptoms, immediately move them to the group of sick birds and reclean the area the healthy birds are in.
Hopefully this will help stop the spread of whatever it is. In the future, it is best to quarantine new birds for at least a month, even if they don't show signs of illness, they could be carriers of something.

 

[Bejammie]

Is there a chance my big red hen is egg bound? How do I tell? She is lethargic and not eating or drinking, eyes closed.

 

[Bejammie]

I will go get yogurt and acv asap, thank you. Omg im so sad. I love these birds!!

 

[Bejammie]

Reba....my big red hen...still has a red comb, this is a good sign right??

 

[mirandaleecon]

Is there a chance my big red hen is egg bound? How do I tell? She is lethargic and not eating or drinking, eyes closed.

Was she exposed to the sick or new birds? If so, I don't think it is a coincidence. My guess is she has whatever the chicks had...

I will go get yogurt and acv asap, thank you. Omg im so sad. I love these birds!!

I'm sorry, I know it's never easy to see your beloved animals suffering. I hope they make a full recovery and no one else gets sick!

 

[mirandaleecon]

Reba....my big red hen...still has a red comb, this is a good sign right??

I believe that pale combs are usually indicative of a more long term issue, like poor nutrition or anemia. I don't think that the color would change overnight from acute illness but I could be wrong.
It is good though, because if it's bright red, she was healthy before she caught this bug and hopefully that means she has a good immune system to fight it off.

 

[mirandaleecon]

Oh, I just realize no one has suggested this yet; You should contact a local college that does bird necropsies, if you search on this site you will be able to find a list of them and just call the closest one. Find out how to ship the bird to them, and next time one of yours passes, send it to them. The turnaround time is usually a day or so and should tell you what they died of. That way, you can treat them more specifically instead of just throwing medications at them until something works.

 

[mirandaleecon]

Here is a thread that talks about sending birds for necropsies; https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures