I think Star is dying!! Listless, head tilting backwards and laying on side.....DAY 3 UPDATE WITH E

[Fraunie]

When I opened the coop this morning she was on the ground and one of the last ones out. I checked on them all about 10 mintues later to make sure alls well and noticed she was hanging out by the ffence sitting by herself. I have 7 12wk old chicks and 3 older chickens and one turkey, Star is a Black Langshan.

I noticed her head looked like it had been pecked. One of my other chicks had a bad eye the other day from getting pecked so I though that was it. Her head is scaly and peely and there were a few little patches that were red and missing feathers. Later today I noticed one of her sides seemed a bit droopy, limping a bit and wing hanging down. Just now I found her squeezed in a corner with her head in the dirt. I picked her up and she has one eye closed and her head falls back onto her back.

I'm preparing a hospital box for our bathroom and I do have some electrolites to give her. she ate some tomatoe I gave her earlier. It's been unusually hot here for the past 2 weeks, in the high 90's.

Any idea?? I just read the Marek's thread.....does this sound like it??? I'm going to research more. Only had chickens for 4 months, so new to this!!!

Thank you!!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I'm sorry. I'm new to chickens so can't be of help to you but will bump your thread in the hope that someone else will see it.

Good luck!

 

[Le Coop]

Can you share a picture of her? I am new too, but lost one last night. Mine was not eating or drinking so I think the fact that yours is, is at least someone what of a good sign??

I hope isolating her and sort of caring for her does some good. Share a picture if you can.

 

[Fraunie]

Here is a picture for what its worth. And she isn't eating or drinking now. She was this morning, and even a few hours ago left the coop and walked about 30 ft and hid in a corner. now she's not even moving

 

[Lacy Blues]

She looks like a pullet. How old is she? How do her droppings look?

 

[Fraunie]

She is 12 weeks I think, maybe 13. She was more alert this morning, but it is a lot cooler now too. I got her to drink some electrolytes by cupping some in my hand and sticking her beak in it. She drank quite a bit I think, but kept her eyes closed still for the most part. She hasn't eaten anything. I have some eggs and cheese I'm going to try to feed her.

Not sure on her droppings, I haven't seen any in a day. yesterday I picked some off he feathers that seemed normal. Her legs seem completely limp today, but she did at least resist a tiny bit when I was holding her and trying to get a good look at them. I"ll check in a few and post an update.

Thanks

 

[Fraunie]

Here are a few pictures



Sorry the quality is so bad. She is just not doing anything... I did find her beak in the yogurt but I'm not sure if she actually ate anything. She stood for a minute, rocking on the backs of her feet and then sat back down.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Oh gosh! I don't know. I'm thinking maybe Mareks Disease but I'm not sure? Anyone else have an opinion?

How is her breathing, can you hear her from any distance? If you put your ear on her back, how do her lungs sound? How does her breathe smell?

If your house is cooled by either swamp cooler or air conditioner, you'll need to provide heat for you. A light bulb that is only 25 watts would probably be sufficient, depending on how cold your house is.

Still no droppings to check?

What about her crop? Is it full and hard or empty?

 

[Lacy Blues]

How about mites, have you checked her for mites? All over, not just by her vent.

 

[Fraunie]

I have checked her all over for anything. just the scaly skin on her head with some missing feathers and abrasions like she had been pecked. I just intergrated my flock about 2-3 weeks ago putting the older chickens and turkey in with the chicks in a new coop. A little pecking I was expecting. I haven't seen any mites or lice or anything like a pest or bug. her vent looked fine. The droppings I did find were a little reddish incolor?? but I think the only thing she ate yesterday was some tomato. It's hard to tell bc its just crusted in her rear feathers. It does look like she has peed, or maybe just spitting up the water i fed her?? just judging by the discoloration of the shavings.

I'm worried about Mareks.....

Her breathing is shallow and panting, I can't hear it. I'll check her crop and listen to her lungs.