HELP PLEASE

[girtengirl]

I have a rather large flock of 66 and all free range. 12 of my flock are very wild so to speak, they have no contact with myself or my husband other than running past us when we open the hen house door in the morning and the run door and off to the woods they go. We do not get the opportunity to observe them as we do the rest of our flock. Their hatch date is April 13 and I purchased this group from a local feed store that I have purchased from previous. We have a pullet that is limping, lethargic and seems to be gasping for air. This morning before I opened the run door to let everyone out I caught her with a net. She was running but you can tell she is sick. I have her quarantined in a small dog kennel in my mud room. None of my flock are vaccinated as we only use our birds for egg production and of course my pets. I have never lost any of my flock to illness. Any suggestions on what to do or what this could be. These chickens are my babies and a huge part of my life. Please help.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your hen is having trouble.
I presume you are unable to tell if she is laying or she is still too young? Is she eating and drinking? Have you seen her poo? How long have you noticed the gasping for air and the limping? What breed? Is she puffed up looking?

Don't know anything about it, but check out the possibility of gape worm.

Good luck!

 

[girtengirl]

She does appear to be puffed up. Has been presenting symptoms since last night. She isn't making noise, when she tries it doesn't come out. She is not laying. Haven't been able to observe much as we are experiencing bad thunderstorms right now. Thank you for welcoming me I love the folks here at BYC the knowledge and kindness is priceless.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Are you using medicated feed?

Sometimes standing puffed up is a sign of coccidiosis. Usually accompanied by lethargy and usually a thin bloody poo (not every single one in my experience). Can you check your coop for bloody or black (dried bloody) poos when you get a chance, and of course your separated ones enclosure. And often in the case of chicks about that age.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I guess I also want to ask what you are feeding your flock in general? Layer pellets are not good if you a have mixed age or gender flock. Too much calcium can cause kidney trouble in chicks and roosters. I feed an "all flock" or "flock raiser" and provide oyster shell on the side for the layers. Starter feed will not hurt the rest of your flock.

 

[girtengirl]

I feed cracked corn layer crumbles oyster shell and occasionally scratch. Always give treats to my the remainder of my flock but not these 12 as their interest in us is null.

 

[girtengirl]

I just checked her, breathing is not labored however she still does this strange thing like drawning her head and neck back.Still haven't had the opportunity to spend time observing her.Heading to store for dewormer.

 

[girtengirl]

From the poo in the enclosure looks normal from what I see. I just added some medicated crumbles to cracked corn and offered to her. Is that ok?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What is dewormer going to do for you? Are you putting your oyster shell on the side, nor mixing it in?

Medicated feed has amprolium which starves out cocci basically reducing it's growth so the chickens can build an immunity. It will not hurt her. But if you decide that's what it is, all your flock should be treated. You can have a stool sample float tested at the vet to verify, mine costed $25.

Yogurt or a scrambled egg would be good fro her.

When you say putting her head back, you mean like looking at the ceiling?

 

[girtengirl]

Yes like looking at the ceiling.