help! tired, lethargic chicken

[travisloud]

Hey everyone, My wife and I own 7 Barred Rock (Plymouth Rock) backyard chickens (6 hens) and allow them to free range because we have a very large fenced-in backyard. About 3 months ago I lost a chicken with the same symptoms this one is having. We bought them a day old and they are about a month and a half from starting to lay.

The symptoms are that she starts to stop following the others around as much and begins sitting down at every opportunity. This increases until the point where the first one that I lost was not even coming out of the coop. I realized she was sick too late and by the time I took her in the garage to isolate her and work on her, she died that night. They get to the point of not being able to keep the eyes open and bobbing the head seeming to try and stay awake but unable to. The first one was uninterested in eating or drinking by the time we tried to help her.

This one, it seems that we caught it much earlier so she is actually still eating and drinking, so I purchased Wazine from Tractor Supply and put a bit of that in her water, hoping that if the problem is worms, that will help. I checked her the best I could for mites or lice and she seems to be clean.

The first chicken that died did not affect the others in the flock, and the same seems to be the case here too. The others seem to be fine. I have her isolated in our garage coop and providing her with plenty of water and food. This hen is nearly 4 months old (we have 3 hens that are 4 weeks younger than our first few, the first one I lost was from the original batch and this sick hen is one of the younger).

Any ideas as to what this could be and what I can do to save her? I cannot tell if she is getting better or worse. Seems to be staying about the same. She seems to be fighting whatever it is. I was watching her this morning and she drank and ate and was trying to groom herself...was having a little trouble with that though. Seems to be off balance a bit and eyes want to close.

Please help if you have had success treating this issue!

Thanks,
Travis

 

[ten chicks]

Hey everyone, My wife and I own 7 Barred Rock (Plymouth Rock) backyard chickens (6 hens) and allow them to free range because we have a very large fenced-in backyard. About 3 months ago I lost a chicken with the same symptoms this one is having. We bought them a day old and they are about a month and a half from starting to lay.

The symptoms are that she starts to stop following the others around as much and begins sitting down at every opportunity. This increases until the point where the first one that I lost was not even coming out of the coop. I realized she was sick too late and by the time I took her in the garage to isolate her and work on her, she died that night. They get to the point of not being able to keep the eyes open and bobbing the head seeming to try and stay awake but unable to. The first one was uninterested in eating or drinking by the time we tried to help her.

This one, it seems that we caught it much earlier so she is actually still eating and drinking, so I purchased Wazine from Tractor Supply and put a bit of that in her water, hoping that if the problem is worms, that will help. I checked her the best I could for mites or lice and she seems to be clean.

The first chicken that died did not affect the others in the flock, and the same seems to be the case here too. The others seem to be fine. I have her isolated in our garage coop and providing her with plenty of water and food. This hen is nearly 4 months old (we have 3 hens that are 4 weeks younger than our first few, the first one I lost was from the original batch and this sick hen is one of the younger).

Any ideas as to what this could be and what I can do to save her? I cannot tell if she is getting better or worse. Seems to be staying about the same. She seems to be fighting whatever it is. I was watching her this morning and she drank and ate and was trying to groom herself...was having a little trouble with that though. Seems to be off balance a bit and eyes want to close.

Please help if you have had success treating this issue!

Thanks,
Travis

Look up info on Coccidiosis,it is possible this is what they have,older chickens can get cocci also. Possible that a strain your chicks have no immunity to,may have been brought into your area.. Some symptoms are runny/watery poop(may or may not contain blood)fluffed feathers,lethargic. If symptoms match,purchase Corid(amprolium). Dosage for Corid powder is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water, Dosage for Corid liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water. Treat all chicks for 5 days,do not give vitamins during treatment(interferes with medication)give vitamins after treatment. Do not use worming medication with Cocci meds,too hard on their system.

 

[travisloud]

Okay thanks for the advice. Couple of questions for you; If they are drinking the Wazine in the water today, how long until it will be safe to put the Corid in the water?

Also, when you say vitamins, what type of vitamins are you referring to? I have read several threads where people talk about vitamins and was curious as to what people use.

 

[ten chicks]

Okay thanks for the advice. Couple of questions for you; If they are drinking the Wazine in the water today, how long until it will be safe to put the Corid in the water?

Also, when you say vitamins, what type of vitamins are you referring to? I have read several threads where people talk about vitamins and was curious as to what people use.

If you have chicks that are ill,and displaying symptoms of Coccidiosis now,i would stop the Wazine,and give Corid(amprolium) because Cocci can kill very fast. As for vitamins,you can use something like Nutri Drench,just replaces any vitamins lost during treatment. This is not necessary,but advisable.

 

[travisloud]

Okay I will try it out. Tractor Supply carries it and it is powder at 20%. Is the dosage the same for this the same as you originally said?

Is the Cocci contagious to the other birds from the one hen? I know if one has it they should all be treated but should I keep the one isolated or can she root around with the others? She seems to be getting tired of being cooped up.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes she can be with the others, and treat them all. Another thing I would do is check the sick chicken's crop in the morning before she has eaten--it should be empty. If it is full, she might be suffering from an impacted crop. But, I think you should treat them for coccidiosis first. Corid powder 1/2 teaspoonful per gallon of water for 5 days--mix fresh every day.