is this CRD or something else and WHAT?

[hannahransom]

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)? Silver wyandotte, she is much lighter, I think she will die soon, originially a RIR had the same symptoms and died, maybe 1 month ago? The wyandotte is about 5 months
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Lethargic, pecks but doesn't really eat, puffed up a bit and tail down somewhat, poop on butt (only the "pee" coming out), skinny as hell, sounds like her breathing is messed up, which is why is suspect resp.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 3-4 days now
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No, but this is my second one that has done the same thing, the other one was 1 month+ ago
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. NO
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. No idea
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Organic layer, fruits and veggies, access to yard during the day (bugs and greens), organic scratch, some water with molasses (to make sure it wasn't constipation)
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. It's just the "pee" at this point. White.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I tried molasses to see if it was constipationg but it obviously wasn't. No treatment.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Myself, and natural stuff. I will probably kill her but I want to prevent it in the others, this is the most important thing to me!
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. I don't have a picture but if someone needs one I can take it. I think people know what a lethargic skinny chicken looks like, though
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use A coop that has some solid walls but lots of chicken wire for ventilation (almost a run, I live in a warm area) and use grass clippings/weeds as bedding


I really want to know how contagious whatever this is is (I though it wasn't at all since this one took so long from the last I figured I was ok) and how I can prevent future deaths. I also am getting chicks in May and need to know whether I can safely integrate them (if ever).

Any ideas are appreciated. Let me know if you have further questions. They have no vacc. and have been fed only organically, no meds.

 

[fishnet1971]

have they ever been wormed?

 

[hannahransom]

I should mention, her breathing doesn't always sound bad, it's just when she tries to make sounds it's pathetic sounding.

 

[hannahransom]

never been wormed

 

[hannahransom]

The feed they eat has DE in it, though (sorry it's pre-added which is why i forgot to mention it)

 

[dawg53]

If there isnt any sneezing, wheezing, snotty nostrils, facial swelling, bubbly eyes, rattling, gurgling...I doubt it's a respiratory disease. I recommend that you check all of them for lice/mites and worm them. DE is useless as a wormer.

 

[hannahransom]

i did check the first one that had these symptoms for lice/mites and didn't see any signs of them. Is there ANY way to naturally worm? I really don't want to medicate. I have heard black walnut and cucurbit seeds? effective, especially if the rest of the flock is exhibiting no symptoms? Would worms takes that long to get to another bird?

 

[hannahransom]

she seems relatively thristy and is still drinking. I fed her a couple of meal worms and some sweet potato that she ate a bit of.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I would either take a fecal sample to a vet and have it checked for parasites or take the sick bird in and see if you can get a diagnosis. Then you will know for sure what you are dealing with and what you need to do in regards to the rest of the flock. I have a three year old bird with symptoms similar to yours, she was diagnosed with coccidiosis. We keep a very clean coop/run, she does not have bloody or runny stool but the test came back positive for it. I never would have guessed at her age.

My flock did have a respiratory issue over the winter, they all came down with it in turn. Their symptoms were very obviously respiratory with most of the symtoms dawg53 mentioned. If your bird is not showing any of those symptoms it may well be parasites or coccidia rather then respiratory. Both will require medication to save the bird and both can be picked up by the rest of the flock.

If it does come back that it's parasites, I would definitely deworm them with something that will take care of the problem. If these symptoms are caused by internal parasites then the bird/birds are carrying a heavy load and a lot of internal damage has already been done. Natural or homeopathic things "might" be of help on a preventative basis but you will need something that absolutely will get rid of the worms, if that's what is going on.

Good luck, hope you are able to get to the bottom of it.