Hen acting strange help! Pics added

[86121]

Hmm, what should I be looking for mold wise then? Should I clean the coop every week instead of every month? What should I clean with, bleach? And what should I try doing for my yard?
If kiddy or liver damage is the problem, do you think there is anything I can do for her

Yes it really does sound like mycotoxicosis (caused by mold). There are several types and unfortunately it can be hard to detect and hard to cure. Somewhere on BYC forums yesterday I saw a link to a very good article on mycotoxicosis but of course now I can no longer locate it.... grrr. If the feed got wet at some point (whether at your place or the suppliers place or anywhere along the supply line) then it's extremely likely. It's also possible they're picking up something contaminated as they free-range. Mycotoxicosis generally causes liver and/or kidney damage, which is really hard to reverse. Once the symptoms appear, the organ damage is usually pretty severe.

 

[seminolewind]

I think the charcoal that can be used is the kind for aquarium filters. I don't know how to give it.

Most chickens I've had "convulse" in my arms before they die. It's the same nerve reaction as you read about when their heads get cut off.
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I do not want to alarm you. Alot of your description sounds like Marek's. Marek's can be many more descriptions than paralysis-it depends on what nerves are involved--legs, wings, eyes, neck, digestive system, lungs, etc. Any of those, paralysis is most common in chicks under 12 weeks or so , but it does not exclude older chickens getting paralysis, or younger birds not showing it.

Here's why I think it's a possibility. Botulism or poisoning usually kills quick. Mycotoxicosis can be slow.

2 of yours died at 12 weeks, one at 15 weeks, one at 18 weeks, one a year old, one almost a year old. That's a common pattern for Marek's deaths. Also the symptoms. Yours may not have had paralysis, but they had other symptoms that can be for Marek's. There are 6 different strains of Marek's
Deaths may be closer together in very young chicks. With mine, the older they got, the farther time apart they died. Like 8 months to a year-were several months apart.

Your chicks HAD contact with other chicks at a co-op. It only takes one.
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With the babies I hatched (under a Marek's exposed hen I have) 7 had paralysis , 3 just wasted away, at the end, could not aim for the food. I did not know I had it at the time.

The older ones wasted away. They looked like they were eating but were not. They tended to stay in the same place all day away from the flock. They started to poo bright green, usually loose poo.
I was always thinking Mycotoxicosis or encephalitis until those 10 babies died, then I knew. PRIOR to that, The 6 older birds I had were exposed but didn't die till they were older. One 2 yr old silkie was the first one. He became paralyzed, then blind in one eye, then lost control of his neck, then he could not straighten himself up anymore. I had him euthanized at the vet's office. Broke my heart, and the vet did not know why, (not a bird vet.)

It may not be Marek's. The only way to find out is a necropsy done by an animal disease lab. It's cheaper thru the county or state. Look under dept. of agriculture.
There's nothing you can do. But you can still get chicks under certain guidelines to protect them

Again, I don't want to panic you. But Marek's is getting more and more prevalent in backyard flocks. Most people do not know all the possible symptoms a bird can have.

 

[86121]

But i was told they were vaccinated? All of the birds I got I made sure had been vaccinated for it?
Either way i will find out when the vet looks her over, I can make sure to ask about testing to see if she has it somehow. And if she does have it, should I cull my whole flock and start over?
The birds nextdoor dont have any of these issues? And they NEVER vacinate, de-worm, or anything.
And I just hatched six eggs, one of which is from a bird of mine that just randomly went blind and its doing great?

I think the charcoal that can be used is the kind for aquarium filters. I don't know how to give it.

Most chickens I've had "convulse" in my arms before they die. It's the same nerve reaction as you read about when their heads get cut off.
---------------------------------
I do not want to alarm you. Alot of your description sounds like Marek's. Marek's can be many more descriptions than paralysis-it depends on what nerves are involved--legs, wings, eyes, neck, digestive system, lungs, etc. Any of those, paralysis is most common in chicks under 12 weeks or so , but it does not exclude older chickens getting paralysis, or younger birds not showing it.

Here's why I think it's a possibility. Botulism or poisoning usually kills quick. Mycotoxicosis can be slow.

2 of yours died at 12 weeks, one at 15 weeks, one at 18 weeks, one a year old, one almost a year old. That's a common pattern for Marek's deaths. Also the symptoms. Yours may not have had paralysis, but they had other symptoms that can be for Marek's. There are 6 different strains of Marek's
Deaths may be closer together in very young chicks. With mine, the older they got, the farther time apart they died. Like 8 months to a year-were several months apart.

Your chicks HAD contact with other chicks at a co-op. It only takes one.
-----------------------------------
With the babies I hatched (under a Marek's exposed hen I have) 7 had paralysis , 3 just wasted away, at the end, could not aim for the food. I did not know I had it at the time.

The older ones wasted away. They looked like they were eating but were not. They tended to stay in the same place all day away from the flock. They started to poo bright green, usually loose poo.
I was always thinking Mycotoxicosis or encephalitis until those 10 babies died, then I knew. PRIOR to that, The 6 older birds I had were exposed but didn't die till they were older. One 2 yr old silkie was the first one. He became paralyzed, then blind in one eye, then lost control of his neck, then he could not straighten himself up anymore. I had him euthanized at the vet's office. Broke my heart, and the vet did not know why, (not a bird vet.)

It may not be Marek's. The only way to find out is a necropsy done by an animal disease lab. It's cheaper thru the county or state. Look under dept. of agriculture.
There's nothing you can do. But you can still get chicks under certain guidelines to protect them

Again, I don't want to panic you. But Marek's is getting more and more prevalent in backyard flocks. Most people do not know all the possible symptoms a bird can have.

 

[PoultryPedia]

I keep my feed in the garage in mettle bins, and the place that I get the feed from does have it in a side-barn like building. Everything is elivated and kept dry so i can tell...
Should I try getting my feed from another store to rule that out? The only down side with that is a MUCH longer drive.

They all died the exact same. They started off with weak/odd behaviour, then dark green/black poop, then no apatite, then anerexia/diherhia, then weakness and lack of movement, and always ALWAYS some sort of hulusinegetic spassim that causes them to freak out and fling there head everywhere. then they cunvolse and die.
That is everything.
The first ones were my buff orphington chicks, they died at the ages of 12 weeks (two of them) 15 weeks, (one) 18 weeks,(one) and then the last of the same batch at 24 weeks. After that I lost a year old laying buff named Princess, and then an almost year old silke, and now Lady puff is sick.
I raised the babys since, well they were babys. They were not exposed to any other birds except maybe crows.
They died at the ages listed above, and the older birds died about a month apart from each other.
This has been going on since I got the hatchery chicks from the co'op last year. They were the ones that became sick first, and now I have been fighting it since then. The fisrst five to die all came from the same place, the other two came from diferent place, the same goes for lady puff.
Is there anything I can do for internal bleeding? like a food or something that might help her?

Was this before or after the spilled, wet chicken feed?

I would think coal wouldn't work the same as activated charcoal, unfortunately.

If a chicken has ulcers, buttermilk is especially soothing for their guts. Bananas are also very good. Unflavored yogurt can also be helpful.
I'm not sure how helpful or not these are for other types of internal bleeding.

 

[86121]

I want to think this was after. When they first started to die, i noticed the wet feed. However it was hot and muggy so food could spoil easily and quickly.
Dangit...
I don't have molasses like I thought I did, but I do have bananas and yogurt! Its worth a shot if anything else. Thank you!

Was this before or after the spilled, wet chicken feed?

I would think coal wouldn't work the same as activated charcoal, unfortunately.

If a chicken has ulcers, buttermilk is especially soothing for their guts. Bananas are also very good. Unflavored yogurt can also be helpful.
I'm not sure how helpful or not these are for other types of internal bleeding.

 

[seminolewind]

Hi, there's no test, just a necropsy by a lab that knows what to look for.
You don't have to cull your flock. Just hatch chicks in a bator, vaccinate them yourself and quarantine them from the others for 2-8 weeks. Or get vaccinated hatchery chicks and quarantine them.

I can't say whether your chicks were vaccinated or not. Most places that sell chicks do not because it costs more.

Just think these things through. I hope your vet can give you an answer.

My neighbor, too, does nothing, and his chickens are not affected. He has older chickens so maybe they've built resistance to it . I don't know.

If you need more info on Marek's please pm me. I have alot of reference material.

But i was told they were vaccinated? All of the birds I got I made sure had been vaccinated for it?
Either way i will find out when the vet looks her over, I can make sure to ask about testing to see if she has it somehow. And if she does have it, should I cull my whole flock and start over?
The birds nextdoor dont have any of these issues? And they NEVER vacinate, de-worm, or anything.
And I just hatched six eggs, one of which is from a bird of mine that just randomly went blind and its doing great?

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[86121]

Update!!!!
I made a mixture of her food, yogurt, vitimens, and banana!! And she ate it all on her own!!! And she had a brown poop today! Not just black!
Is this a good thing? Should I keep up with the banana mixture???

 

[centrarchid]

I suggest the addition of greens or even cut pieces of apple. This will provide fiber to increase bulk of feces. You should then see within a few hours a change in feces volume.

 

[GhostRider65]

I don't think it would hurt her to keep her on it a day or 2 more.. then try eggs boiled or scrambled ...... I just found this thread and haven't a clue, but sounds like some kind of toxic thing is going on try giving her Benoite clay, natural volcanic ash its suppose to absorb toxins and heavy metals, mixed in her mashed wet feed also give her ACV to help in digestion and blood cleansing, in people I would say red clover, but never have given it to my chickens, maybe check and see if they can have it. if they free range they most likely will eat it naturally during the growing season, so I don't think it would hurt her......Best of luck in curing her, I really will pray for her and you..Kim.

 

[86121]

Ok, just checked the greens in the fridge and even I would not eat it...So! I cut up an apple and put it in with her, so hopefully she will peck at it in the morning. Worst case I mash it up and add it to the mixture. Here is hoping she keeps pooping brown and not black!

I suggest the addition of greens or even cut pieces of apple. This will provide fiber to increase bulk of feces. You should then see within a few hours a change in feces volume.