Just lost another :'(

[d.k]

* Treat them with the Sulmet as the o.p. said, Andora. It's doing the most damage at the moment, it kills fast, but the Sulmet is supposed to work fast as well. I would also consider feeding them some spinach, for vit. k and iron. Vit. K is very important to slow bleeding. Use a couple little jars of baby food spinach perhaps. Also, a very small amt. of PLAIN clay kitty litter may help dry up the diarrhea. No more than 1-1/2 to 2 Tbsp. to a lb. of feed, roughly. You could crush it to a powder to mix; while at the store, grab some plain yogurt for them, to help re-build their digestive systems after all this trauma (and spare your breast milk.)

 

[Andora]

They can eat kitty litter? I guess it's like rocks. Their diarrhea seems to be better, at least in the pullets. I gave the hens Sulmet this afternoon too, so hopefully the black hen will be better tomorrow. I have plenty of breast milk, haha. I put some in a dish with some of their crumble in it and they went wild! They really seemed to perk up after that too. We have a lot of keifir at our house, it's like a super form of yogurt. I'll offer them that tomorrow and I'll go get some spinach. Do you think it's important to give them baby food, or can they just eat the leaves? They all love to eat weeds and will take them from my hands, so they might eat spinach leaves in the same way.

All the pullets looked good tonight, even the Brahma pullet who was acting strange earlier. I have my fingers crossed that they'll be fine in the morning. I'm still so upset over losing the buff laced polish, she was the sweetest and most tame of all the birds.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[kinnip]

How are things this morning?
Son't give 'em a clue as to the source of that milk, you may have a problem on your..er...hands.

 

[Andora]

Everyone is still alive today! I've been over analyzing all their behavior...since these are the first chickens I've owned, I can't tell what's normal and what isn't!

Two of the pullets have normal poop, the other two have poo covered tail feathers, but they are all up and peeping. They're all running back and forth and drinking and eating. I think the wings on the two with diarrhea look funny, but maybe it's just because I've been staring at them for so long.

My hens are both having abnormal poop today too. The black faverolle has diarrhea with blood, and the other hen (Big Momma) has normal shaped and colored poop, but it's always in a bright brown puddle, like the color of Georgia dirt. Does the Sulmet cause odd colored poop or is it from Cocci? Big Momma also did something so odd...she was eating some spilled food in the sand of the run, and she suddenly opened her beak and shot liquid out. She did it again, three or four times in a row, then kept opening her beak really wide for a few minutes afterwards. Is that normal?? None of the others have shot liquid out of their faces.

 

[kinnip]

I'm guessing that the smelly, runny poos you're seeing are cecal poo. Chickens have two small, pointless, probably vestigial loops in their digestive system. Two to three times a day they expel the contents of these loops, called ceca (plural) or cecum (singular). The resulting poo is beyond nasty. It's smelly, it's ugly and it's unbelievably sticky. It's also, unfortunately, quite normal.
The vomiting is not normal. I can't find any reference in Damerow's Chicken Health Handbook. I have some other books, however, so I'll keep looking and get back to you if I find anything. Did the liquid smell bad? Can you feel a lump in her front, right breast, just under the neck? Is she still eating and drinking?

 

[Andora]

The vomiting hasn't happened again...I couldn't ever get close enough to her to see if she has a lump, I would lose an eye. LOL. My husband can catch her and hang her upside down by the feet for me to touch her really quick if I have to though. Big Momma has a lot of attitude!

Could it have happened because she'd just had way too much to drink? I had just filled their waterer with fresh cold water and Sulmet, and Big Momma ran over and drank for like 10 mintues. Then I tossed in some grains and she ran to eat those, and she spewed when she bent over. She seems fine today, full of attitude as usual and normal poop, marching all over the yard like she owns it. Everyone out there seems good today, no more bloody diarrhea!!

 

[kinnip]

If she seems fine otherwise, I'd just keep an eye out and hope it's a fluke. It sounds like her crop may have been too full. Unless she becomes lethargic, or stops eating and drinking, I'd assume that it's corrected itself. Of course, it could just be that she doesn't care for the delicate flavour of Sulmet.

Be careful not to hang her upside down right after she's eaten. It can cause choking.
Sounds like you have a whole lot of healthy going on.