Cheers2Ya
Songster
I am so disheartened. I researched for nearly two years before getting chickens to make sure I was able to provide all they would need. I finally bought a shed, converted it to a coop, built a large, secure paddocked run, and brought my tiny chicks home. They were from an order from another person that purchased them through a hatchery. Six Light Brahma's and six Buff Orpington's. They were all born May 17 and I brought them home May 23. On July 17, I lost my first chick (she was 8 weeks old). She appeared a bit lethargic, brought her in the house, fed her water and watermelon juice (had to force it), and she was gone in a matter of a couple of hours. I treated the entire flock with Corid in their water until a couple days ago. Today I lost a Light Brahma. Three days ago I noticed she was apart from the rest of the flock. I didn't separate her immediately, she was still moving. The next day she appeared paralyzed. She could move her feet, but could not stand or walk. She was quarantined in a tote in the house and given electrolytes. She was having diarrhea, very liquid and somewhat smelly, but not bloody. That was yesterday. Today she was still hanging in there. I gave her a bath due to the diarrhea clumping to her feathers and trimmed feather from her bottom. I fed her yogurt and more electrolytes. She was making some teeny chirping noises when I'd go in to feed her yesterday and today. She would willingly take the water most of the time, I had to force her to take the yogurt. But she swallowed it. A couple of hours ago, I went to check on her and give her some more water and was shocked to find what I was definitely not prepared for. Her belly area and the whole area surrounding her vent was moving with tons of tiny bugs. Like tiny little worms. Not white maggots. She had no open sores on her earlier, I checked at bath time. Then suddenly, a few hours later, she looks like she is being eaten alive! I have never felt so horrible as an animal keeper! By this time she was soooo lethargic, cold, and barely alive. I knew it was time to end her suffering, poor little girl.
So, I thought the first girl had coccidiosis, from what I read. I saw no worm-like bugs on her at all. This second girl, I would of swore she had botulism, until I saw the bugs eating her alive. And maybe it was both! Neither seem to be Merek's, which I also read about and scares the crap out of me. However, I don't know what is going on, or if the two deaths are related. I've got six more pullets and a RIR rooster that is a few weeks older than these girls. They all came from the same lady. I'm not sure where the rooster came from originally, but I do know she ordered the chicks from a hatchery, I believe McMurray's.
I feel like an awful chicken keeper. I tried to do everything right, but seemed to have missed the mark. I will be checking the remainder of my chicks in the daylight tomorrow for these bugs, but they appear healthy and symptom free otherwise. It was smoldering hot for a few days early last week, but has been back down to 75 to 85 during the day. They have always had water and feed, dry conditions, lots of grass to roam, dirt to dust bathe, lots of fresh fruits, etc...
Edited to add: There have been no respiratory issues or wheezing at all with either pullet and no runny eyes or noses. None of the birds have any signs of mites or lice.
Please advise. I don't want to go through this again.
Thank you all.
So, I thought the first girl had coccidiosis, from what I read. I saw no worm-like bugs on her at all. This second girl, I would of swore she had botulism, until I saw the bugs eating her alive. And maybe it was both! Neither seem to be Merek's, which I also read about and scares the crap out of me. However, I don't know what is going on, or if the two deaths are related. I've got six more pullets and a RIR rooster that is a few weeks older than these girls. They all came from the same lady. I'm not sure where the rooster came from originally, but I do know she ordered the chicks from a hatchery, I believe McMurray's.
I feel like an awful chicken keeper. I tried to do everything right, but seemed to have missed the mark. I will be checking the remainder of my chicks in the daylight tomorrow for these bugs, but they appear healthy and symptom free otherwise. It was smoldering hot for a few days early last week, but has been back down to 75 to 85 during the day. They have always had water and feed, dry conditions, lots of grass to roam, dirt to dust bathe, lots of fresh fruits, etc...
Edited to add: There have been no respiratory issues or wheezing at all with either pullet and no runny eyes or noses. None of the birds have any signs of mites or lice.
Please advise. I don't want to go through this again.
Thank you all.
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