I have a Barred Rock girl that's 8 months old. I have a total of 3 barred rock girls but only one is acting different. Her name is peep and she has liquid poop, its like pure water. For some reason its only her, shes eating less and doesn't act like her normal crazy energetic self. I don't think its Cocci, none of the others are acting any different and she's not acting like she's in really bad shape just more like she has a tummy ache. I think it may be some kind of worm, I've read garlic and apple cider vinegar in their water would help, Is that true? Another question is if one has worms wouldn't the others? This is my first time dealing with something like this so I'm worried, and because its only one I'm not sure whats wrong. PLEASE HELP!!!
I'm sorry to hear about your bird. Yes, it could definitely be worms. However, garlic and Apple Cider Vinegar won't work to deworm her. I advise purchasing some Safeguard dewormer for goats, or some Valbazen. These two dewormers get all or almost all worms. You might be able to find them at a feed store or livestock supply store, or you can order them online. If she has worms, the other likely have them too. Really, every chicken has at least some worms, unless it has been raised in completely clean conditions or on wire. Worms only become a problem when there are too many of them. Some birds are more susceptible to worms or more immune compromised, so they show symptoms while others don't. I'd also check her for lice and mites. While these won't neccesarily cause the liquid droppings, they could have weakened her so that the worms are more of a problem. Mites often cause birds to become droopy. I wouldn't completely discount Coccidiosis. Some of my older birds have gotten Coccidiosis before and have acted sleepy, droopy, lethargic, and pale. She's rather old to get it, but it isn't impossible. I'd try deworming her and if that doesn't cause any improvement, consider treating for Coccidiosis. I hope this helps!
Yes, thank you for the help. I'm going to get safeguard and treat them for that. I'll work on all of the other stuff and clean for mites, I do treat for that regularly when I clean out the coop so they should be good on that. They all will get treated for worms, lol there too loved to let anything bad happen to them. Thanks for the help, this is my first year with chickens, even though I'm an experienced animal owner/caretaker, I found that chickens are entirely different then other animals. So, Thanks!
Wyandottes 7 makes some good points. Just like Coccidiosis, worms should be dealt with the same. If one bird is showing symptoms, the rest of the flock should be treated. I would dose each bird 3 days in a row with Safe-guard liquid suspension at .5cc orally for each bird. Use a 1 ml syringe without a needle. Each of those days use poultry vitamins and probiotics in the waterer. Make a fresh mixture each day. Observe and make sure all birds are eating and drinking on their own. Then it would not hurt to run a preventative dose of Corid (Amprolium) in the waterers for 5-7 days depending on whether you see improvement or not. A preventative dose would be 1 tsp per gallon of Corid 9.6% liquid or .5 tsp if you are using Corid 20% soluble powder. After the last day of treatment, use vitamins and probiotic powder in water for 3 days again.
