Hen diseased? UPDATE THIS HEN BETTER, OTHER HEN DIED SUDDENLY

[wolfandfinch]

Thanks so much everyone. Fluffy is more active now so I'm going to wait a night and make the decision tomorrow. I'll check out that link to confirm the symptoms. If it's absolute I will cull and start again. So sad, but I think it's the right thing to do considering there are other people with chickens in my life.

 

[wolfandfinch]

It matches MG pretty well. She doesn't have all the symptoms they list (yet) but many.

I guess it's time for me to research how to appropriately clean and sanitize the coop and run so I can safely bring in a new flock.

Ugh. Poor birds!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

sorry

 

[wolfandfinch]

Now Nell is showing signs too, darn it. I was hoping for a fluke, but she's starting to get pus-sy discharge on her beak as well. No foaming in the eyes. Fluffy isn't better but she's no worse. I was actually just going to cull her and wait and see for the others but I think there is just no way around it.

Do you think there needs to be a minimum space between where I bury these diseased hens and the coop?

 

[Eggcessive]

MG and coryza bacteria usually die by 3 days in the environment, so cleaning and disinfection of coop, utensils, shoes, then waiting a couple of weeks to repopulate should be sufficient. Sorry that you are dealing with this. Is there any bad odor around the sick chickens'heads that would indicate coryza? Maintaining a closed flock with no birds going in or out would be possible if it is MG, and to medicate with Tylan to treat symptoms. Using good biosecurity with handwashing, changing clothes, and especially not wearing coop shoes off your property could keep the disease confined only to your property.

 

[wolfandfinch]

No bad smell, so I ruled out Corzya. I hear you about possible treatment, but with so many of our friends with chickens being children I worry that i couldn't control the biosecurity piece enough. This is a backyard flock in the city, so it's not easy to keep them away altogether without eliminating our yard as a play space.

also, I would have to medicate and then we wouldn't get the eggs, which defeats the purpose for having them - although they are great pets their primary purpose is for us to have fresh eggs.

 

[wolfandfinch]

Bump - see edits to original post. Thanks for any advice

 

[Eggcessive]

OK SO I SETTLED ON MG OR MS (SOME SORT OF CRD) AS ALL THE SYMPTOMS FIT, BUT NOW FLUFFY IS PRETTY MUCH ENTIRELY RECOVERED WITH NO MEDICATION AND A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CHICKEN (FROM NEW BATCH) HAS DIED AFTER LESS THAN 24 HOURS OF SHOWING DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS. SHE HAD NO EYE FOAMING OR DISCHARGE ON THE BEAK, GOT LETHARGIC LAST NIGHT, DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AROUND THIS MORNING AND WAS DEAD BY 3PM TODAY.

I didn't see any weird stuff with her legs forwards, is there any reason to be concerned this is Marek's? Could it still be CRD? Somethign totally different? I'm stumped and don't want to cull the other 5 if it's unnecessary...

Since the new hen that died was lethargic and inactive with no symptoms of respiratory symptoms, I would guess that she may have had coccidiosis or some internal organ failure (heart, kidney, liver.) Symptoms of cocci are lethargy, sitting or standing puffed up or hunched, poor appetite, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus,) and ruffled feathers. Treatment is Corid (amprollium) for 5 days at a dose of 2 tsp liquid per gallon of water as the only water source. Corid treatment won't harm them--it's not an antibiotic. These sudden deaths are hard to figure out, but there are many strains of cocci, and getting exposed to a new one can cause an outbreak. I wouldn't be concerned about Mareks at this time.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

thats good news, what about the one that did have symptoms and got better eggsessive? could that be cocci as well?

 

[wolfandfinch]

I wonder, because Nell did get pus oh her beak and fluffy still sounds gurgly. So weird