Help with lethargic chicken with diarrhea, please

[McKennA]

I have a 4 year old Appenzeller Spitzhauben hen. Brought her in the house a week ago Sunday, She had stopped laying about a week prior, brought her in when I noticed her standing alone most of the day. Initially thought she was just struggling with the cold, since she is not cold hearty. Next morning noticed she had diarrhea, and can't even stand on her own. She has lost some weight, she is currently 3.5 lbs, normal weight is 4.5. Started her on fish zole, 1/2 tab twice daily. Wormed her with Safeguard, started her on corrid. No change after three days. Took stool to vet, to at least rule out worms, coccidiosis. Vet says stool is clean, prescribes Doxycycline, 1/2 tab once daily. Start to see improvement in stool on third day of Doxy, standing, walking tentatively, more alert, seems to be on the right track though still hardly eating, not interested in egg, crumble, rice, bread, will only eat dried meal worms, and some blueberries. Still won't drink on her own, have to syringe every few hours. Sunday stool goes back to watery, lethargic again, just wants to sleep. Started her on baytril Monday, .16 ml, and still giving Doxy as well. Went back to putting Corid in water this morning, because I just feel like I am getting behind the eight ball again, and maybe the fecal was not accurate? I feel like it's c. perfringens, and just haven't treated with the right antibiotics? Also, Mareks is a concern, although she was vaccinated. Any thoughts as to why the Doxy seemed to be helping and then she regressed? Also, do you think coccidiosis could be missed in a fecal, especially if I had started treating her prior to the fecal float? I don't know, sorry this is so long, but this has been going on a week and a half. Since she has now been on different antibiotics for a week and a half, should I give her yogurt, or will that contradict the antibiotics or corrid? Would you worm again? I worm the whole flock twice a year alternating with Safeguard/Valbazen. No others are ill. Thanks in advance, this has been a tough one.

 

[Eggcessive]

@casportpony, do you want to chime in? I would give the probiotics because it won’t hurt either with the Corid or the antibiotics. Hopefully you will get some more help.

 

[dawg53]

I think you've done all you can do with her since you've thrown everything at her including the kitchen sink. There is something internally wrong with her beyond your control. It's a failure to thrive. It might be best to cull her.