Helping a chicken detox

[PicketFarmer]

So we have a sick pullet. It's our first one since we got these chicks, and we got some good advice from the hatchery and mypetchicken, but I wanted to ask for a few tips here, if you guys have any.
This morning, we noticed one of our pullets acting very lethargic. When we offered mustard greens to the flock, the rest of the chickens ran to the treat and ate as voraciously as ever, but this one stayed back and didn't act very interested at all. When I picked her up, she was almost limp and gave no resistance (usually, they flap like mad until I support their feet), and when I put her on my lap, she immediately lay down and started sleeping, and was barely making any noise - I've noticed that the others get pretty quiet when they're roosting on me, but that's another matter. I should also note that, aside from the lethargy and disinterest in food and water, I couldn't find any obvious signs of injury or illness; she doesn't have any diarrhea or bloody stool, no nasal discharge, no impacted vent, and no weakness in the legs or wings. After talking to the people at the hatchery and mypetchicken, they believe she might have gotten into something toxic. She's probably low on the pecking order - a loner who keeps to herself (but not ostracized), gets chased away a lot (but not picked on), and is usually one of the last to eat in the morning - so it's quite likely that she got into something she shouldn't have.
We've isolated her in the chick tractor next to the yard, given her clean water, probiotic water, and some clean feed with oregano as a cure-all. Per another suggestion, we've also given her some scrambled eggs with plain yogurt for extra protein and probiotics; I had to hand feed it to her because she's still somewhat disinterested, but she ate a fair amount. She's also perked up a little since we isolated her - she's foraging a bit in the tractor, she doesn't feel as limp when I pick her up, even though she still doesn't resist when I do, and she's running away when I try to pick her up (which I take as a good sign) - but I just wanted to get some feedback from the experience of others here about nursing a chicken that might be suffering from toxicity.

Oh, I also had one other question, though it's unrelated to the illness (but involves the same chicken): in the mornings, when I open the chicken door and the others flock out, she stays inside and dances around on the top roost, almost like she's scared to jump down (she was also still sleeping this morning when I let them out, which probably should've been the first sign that something was wrong, but that's moot, now). Does anyone have any theories as to why she might be doing that?

 

[chicknmania]

I always think of worms first. To me with your pullet, that's what it sounds like. You don't necessarily SEE worms, especially not capillary worms. If you have a relationship with a vet, you should be able to get them to do a fecal float for you. If they say they don't treat birds, tell them they don't need to, you just need a fecal float, and poop is poop, regardless of the species. A fecal float is not very expensive and will tell you if she has worms or coccidiosis. If you can't get a fecal float done for whatever reason, I would go ahead and deworm her anyway with a broad spectrum dewormer. And the whole flock, too, whether they are showing symptoms or not. Safeguard is good. I get Safeguard suspension from our vet, but you can use Safeguard goat dewormer that you get at the feed store. i don't know the dose for the goat dewormer for a chicken, but you can ask Castcartpony or there are several people on here that should know if you just post that question. Coccidiosis is treated with Corid, also available at feed stores, but I would suspect worms first. In either case, one chicken in a flock can become sick with the parasites, and others may not show symptoms, so it's important that you treat them all.

Also, they don't have to have bloody droppings, diarrhea, or any symptoms typically associated with Cocci or worms. We've had chickens with perfectly normal droppings be sick from worms and/ or cocci.

Honestly, I doubt if it is a toxin, although it could be. You haven't been feeding her white potatoes or potato peels, have you?

 

[PicketFarmer]

After a few hours of isolation and observation, and researching a bit more (mostly on this forum), I now wonder if she had heat exhaustion and was severely dehydrated. When she did excrete, it was very watery and green. According to another thread on this forum, watery green poo is likely due to dehydration and starvation, likely caused by overheating. After being inside the temperature controlled house most of the day, she's started eating a lot more and acting a bit antsy, like she's ready to be back outside with her sisters. I feel like she should stay overnight, just to make sure she's feeling better, but it seems like she's through the worst of it.

Just in case it is worms, though, I've added some diatomaceous earth to the feed, and apple cider vinegar to their water; I probably should have been doing it from the start, but I'm still quite new to raising chickens. And if more chickens start showing symptoms, I'll look at getting a wormer medication for the flock.

Also, no, I haven't given them anything I know they can't have. Since this is my first flock, I'm very cautious and double-check everything I give them for the first time, just to make sure.

 

[chicknmania]

Thats good. But just fyi D.E and a.c.V. will not kill capillary worms. They do help to maintain a healthy gut. Good luck and have fun with your flock!.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Please post photos of her poop and of her.
What are you feeding?
How old is she?
How long have you had her?
Is her crop empty in the morning before she eats/drinks?

She's perking up after being separated and has been able to eat/drink?
You mention she's chased/low in pecking order - you may need to add another food and water station (maybe more depending on how many birds you have).
She may have been dehydrated and undernourished.
I agree, Coccidiosis comes to mind as well.

 

[Murple]

The chicken in my profile pic, Hannah, also does the weird roost bar shuffle. I’ve determined that she just really doesn’t like to open her wings. She will wait up to 5 minutes for me to put the ladder so she can hop down. She’s perfectly happy and healthy, I think she’s just really really lazy.

 

[PicketFarmer]

Please post photos of her poop and of her.
What are you feeding?
How old is she?
How long have you had her?
Is her crop empty in the morning before she eats/drinks?

She's perking up after being separated and has been able to eat/drink?
You mention she's chased/low in pecking order - you may need to add another food and water station (maybe more depending on how many birds you have).
She may have been dehydrated and undernourished.
I agree, Coccidiosis comes to mind as well.

We just switched over to Purina non-medicated crumble feed less than a week ago (were previously feeding medicated feed, also crumbles); according to the hatchery guys, they should still have enough medication left in their systems from the previous feed to protect from bacterial infection and cocci.
They're all 10 weeks as of yesterday, and this is the first issue we've had with any of them (aside from a bout of pasty butt around 10 days).
Her crop was empty this morning, and she immediately jumped off the heat plate (that I put in as a roost) and wolfed down a lot of food and drank some water. She was also much more talkative, and acting more like herself. After I made sure she was eating and drinking, and also checked her droppings, which were more solid and consistent, we reintroduced her to the flock. Now I can't even pick her out of the flock without chasing them down and checking her wings (she has a single white feather tip that makes her stand out), which I take as a good sign because it means she's acting like her usual self again. Comparatively speaking, she's about the same size as the rest of the flock, so while she might be a bit of a loner, she's not underweight or malnouristhed (aside from yesterday).
Below are the requested pics of her poop and her (sorry about the picture quality).

Yesterday afternoon:

this morning:

 

[chicknmania]

That rules out coccidiosis, then. Just fyi we never feed chicks medicated feed if they are healthy. Amprolium is so over used. I don't remember EVER having a young chick with coccidiosis. Very rarely we may have a pullet with it. That's when Corid is called for, of course. Glad she is doing better!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We just switched over to Purina non-medicated crumble feed less than a week ago (were previously feeding medicated feed, also crumbles); according to the hatchery guys, they should still have enough medication left in their systems from the previous feed to protect from bacterial infection and cocci.

I'm glad that she's doing much better. She may have been dehydrated if your temps are hot.
I would keep watch on her for several days and see how it goes.

Most medicated chick starters in the US contain a very small amount of Amprolium which is a Coccidiostat that acts as a B1 (Thiamine) blocker. This helps a little to inhibit an overload, but there are plenty of birds that become ill from Coccidiosis while on medicated chick starter.
Amprolium has no antibiotic properties, so it will not prevent infection.

 

[PicketFarmer]

That rules out coccidiosis, then. Just fyi we never feed chicks medicated feed if they are healthy. Amprolium is so over used. I don't remember EVER having a young chick with coccidiosis.

We never intended to start them on medicated feed, which is why we switched off; we ordered the chicks non-vaccinated, but neglected to ensure that the first bags of feed didn't have any medication. Oh well, lesson learned.

An update on Prudence (I figured she deserved a name since she had to be separated for a night): She's back with her sisters, and is doing much better. She's running and foraging with the flock, runs away from me when I try to pick her up, complains when I catch her, cuddles in my lap when she calms down, and pecks at the other girls when they try to get on my lap, too (she leaves the roo alone, naturally). All in all, she's back to her sweet, slightly skittish self.

Thanks for everyone's advice! This has been a harrowing experience, but I'm glad it wasn't anything too serious, and now I know how to recognize heat exhaustion and what to do about it.