Ill Chicken..Help Wanted!!! FINAL UPDATE :(

[dlhunicorn]

I dont intend anything other than to provide helpful information but to advise ACV as a substitute for a proper electrolyte > and by "electrolyte I mean not an isolated ingredient from but the general electrolyte formulation of several ingredients in a specific ratio to each other to correct electroyte imbalance in dehydration, stress or disease. Giving an isolated component of an electrolyte solution will not address dehydration/electrolyte imblance issues.
When a commercial electrolyte product is mixed according to directions it will not pose a salt toxicity. You should not give electrolytes unless indicated.

ACV is not a "safe electrolyte substitute" when electrolytes are indicated for dehydration, electrolyte imbalance in shock or stress situations.

 

[threehorses]

I generally agree that a truly dehydrated or electrolyte imbalanced bird can receive properly given electrolyte packages (of good design, for poultry or other avian species) if it's indicated. It's very hard to tell when it's truly indicated, but so are most things with poultry.

I don't see in my post where I said "don't give a packaged electrolyte to this bird because it will harm it". Nor do I see "don't do what this person is saying". In fact, I don't see where a true electrolyte package came up at all.

Did I miss something? Because I seem to have offended someone, haven't I? I'm very sorry for that.

In the context of THIS conversation, I said that the oacv can be of benefit to this bird later clarifying that the potassium does provide benefits in a non-energetic bird.

I stand by that statement fully with nearly 40 years of experience with not only exotics but also poultry.

Incidentally, birds should ideally be provided both electrolyte and non-saline water in cases where there's any chance of them drinking great amounts. "Poultry can tolerate high dietary levels of sodium chloride, provided they have access to *ample* non-saline drinking water." Robert Blair; Nutrition and Feeding of Organic Poultry. I'm not in the same building as this chicken, so I have to assume it's possible that she could overdo it. So I tend towards the conservative practical approach.

Again sometimes practical outweights technical.

 

[caralouise1974]

How is she after her vet appointment toby96? Antibiotics? Anti-inflammatories? Lice/mite treatment? What did the vet suggest?

I really hope she's got a diagnosis now and is on the road to recovery.

 

[NancyBrew]

On the electrolytes: ACV would be better for flora and the gut by raising acidity of the gut, most definitely. Something like pedialye would work as electrolytes, though with that chicken I worry more about infection and louse infestation. Also tomotos and even V8 juice have a good balance of those salts. Sodium and potassium chloride. But I would give Pedilyte instead were it my birds. Less dangerous sodium levels. Can you give them raw tomatoes? They might eat those. Tomatoes have good levels of potassium as do bananas.

Also a trick to get my girls to learn to eat egg yolks was mixing crushed yolks into a thick paste with unflavored yogurt. Now that absolutely love the stuff and eat each separately too.

How is that wound, that looks pretty bad, did it clean up ok? It looks like a huge retracted scab of something.

For worming is there a good time(s) of year for worming them? I presume sometime in the spring/summer if louse and mites are like fleas? I will have to go get some to do my girls. So pretty much like Advantage for fleas, I would definitely rather do that than worry about them aspirating.

There are some advantages to living in sagebrush and rocks I guess. No fleas, few ticks, but lots of bigger things. I definitely want to prevent anything before it happens though!

Nancy

 

[threehorses]

I never really knew about tomatoes. That's interesting! I do know that tomatoes don't seem to survive around free range chickens.

I'm curious how things went, too. I'm really curious about the part under the wings. I think this is one of those times when we all wish we could see it in person, though it was a well done picture of it. Nothing beats being able to poke about, check things out. Sometimes it just takes a fresh set of eyes to figure out a problem.

'Hoping all went well at the vet!

 

[HenPen]

I wonder how she is doing?

 

[Toby96]

UPDATE

So at appointment we went through her and found so many louse! Interesting news for you all, the 'scab' isn't a scab at all, it's all the waste and gunk the louse have created! He cut it out anyway, he also gave them a heavy dose of ivermectin, drops over the body and he gave her some it drink and gave it to her, she should be on the road to recovery now!

The other two also got the drops of ivermectin, none of them have worms as I have checked their poos all the time.

So maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel?

If you want to know any more about her feel free to ask, will update with pictures after I notice a difference!

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
WOW, that would explain why they were on both sides (unusual if it were a wound - matching wounds?). Well good heavens.

Good on the ivermectin! Nice.

By the way, visual examination of the poop doesn't necessarily mean birds don't have worms. The only real way to tell that is by a fecal egg count, but that' requires a vet check (or someone who knows how to do the fecal.) That's why I just worm once or preferably twice yearly with ivermectin (after I do my first traditional worming with wazine).

Well this is oddly good news. Not good news that there were lots of lice, but good news that they're treated.

Incidentally, you must treat the roosts, nests, bedding, etc, as well. You might want to call the vet back and ask his recommendations on that to go with the ones you've received here. Also ask him what to do in the followint weeks as things hatch out. The eggs won't be killed by ivermectin.

 

[Toby96]

I have replaced and treated the bedding and roosts, well he gave them so ivermectin in her mouth so that should worm them right?
Yh it doesn't work on eggs so when should I reapply the ivermectin, I think I read 14 days? Anyone?

 

[Toby96]

Just went outside to check on them (they free range) and found the young one collapsed/resting? On the grass, it isn't a nest or anything and she was half in a puddle of water, she is still obviously so weak so bringing her indoors for the second night, lots of water, feed and fruits, she doesn't seem to eat the yogurts!