Lethargic chicken about egg laying age

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about LuLu
If you still have her body, it may be best to send her for testing at your state lab. You may be dealing with a disease like Marek's which can present in so many ways.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[bwaltier]

Thank you for the article. Ugh! Lulu was disposed of but if we loose Alice then that is what we will do. Alice seems to be weaker this AM but it's early. She was on the roost this AM then fought to be the first out of the coop. I was happy until I saw it took most of her energy and now she is sleeping in the pen vrs out in the yard like normal. She had more loose stool last night. One has a dark blob in it. I touched it with a Q-tip then dropped on some peroxide. It didn't react. I assume if it were bloody, it would. I am grasping at straws.

The place I bought my chickens (back in June) is very reputable. They have been around a long time so if there were issues with them in general, it would be on the net. They were vaccinated for a variety of things including Maricks. It seems odd that 2 would get it at the same time but it also seems possible since one is perfectly healthy (a vaccination success). My trusted Vet is out of the country until the 28th. Once he is back, we'll consult with him as well. I plan on calling the place where I bought them to see if they have any ideas. I have gone to a couple of feed stores and sought out chicken people too. So far, "it's just a chicken thing". They admittedly have so many they really don't notice if one is sick until it's too late. My girls are living under the microscope

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What type of food are you feeding?

It's so hard to know without some testing, but you may want to consider treating for Coccidiosis. Symptoms are lethargy, going off feed, loss of balance, having a huddled or puffed up and unkempt appearance and loose dropping with mucous or blood. Not all strains of Coccidiosis present with bloody stool. Corid can be found at most feed stores.

Do your best to keep her hydrated and eating. If she is going off food, you can try wetting the food and giving a little chopped egg to see if she will go for that.

fwiw - the Marek's vaccine only prevents the formation of tumors, it does not prevent infection by the virus.

 

[bwaltier]

Corid: That was my thought as well. I specifically asked the Vet who performed the fecal if they checked for coccidia and they said yes. I don't know this office tho. I have had some bad experienced with dogs and my local vets (yes, plural grrr!) so I am always cautious these days. I figured Corid wouldn't hurt. Will also treat with antibiotics when they arrive. What happens, happens but I want to do everything I can to support her.

Marek's: WOW! I didn't get that from the article(s) but it was a lot of info all at once. Good to know. I am starting to feel like Maricks is a fact of life and a disease to be managed vrs prevented.

This is the suspicious poo from last night

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is she eating at all?
What are you feeding?

 

[bwaltier]

Oh! and food... She is on the same food (crumbles) she has been on since hatching. It's made locally by the farm from which she came. Not on the layer feed yet since she isn't laying. She ranges in the yard - so lots of bugs, nor people food since none of my chickens will eat it. The most unusual thing lately are a few green-gage plums that have fallen off the tree. I am sure they have pecked at those.

I was fermenting some of it (to see if the dog would quit eating their poos). They stopped eating it so I stopped offering. That was a few days before this started. Now I am concerned that it may have gone bad (moldy). Still, a week into this you would think they would start recovering if it were that.

 

[bwaltier]

Yes - she is eating. I wet some food for her (she eats that the best). A little time ranging and pecking but who knows if she gets anything since depth perception is off (eye issue). She will eat the dry crumbles - but like the wet. I am keeping those fresh.

She drinks well so far

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Mine like wet feed too
I don't ferment, but make a fresh batch of wet feed for them daily, they also have dry crumbles available.

It's good that she's eating - I was just making sure - green poop can be an indication of not eating sometimes, but that poop is very concerning - at least to me. Hopefully the Corid will set her straight, but if not, then getting a fecal float and gram stain from the vet would be a good idea when he gets back.

 

[bwaltier]

I started her on Corid and she drank some water. I am dosing liquid 9.6 at 1t/gal. I soaked some food in it as well. Her eye sight is off still. She may be blind in one eye. Or not care that I am waving my hand in front of it. I drove around to some fish stores for Fish Mox but no luck. A friend of mine has some Amoxicillin but she won't be home until tomorrow. I will get it then.

I did call the vet to see if I could get in. They were closing and had no interest in waiting for me. The only other chicken vet is 35 miles away (per their recommendation and my research). After Lulu, I'm thinking I really don't want to stress her out for a 45 min car ride (x2). She is eating and drinking. I'll wait and see.

 

[bwaltier]

Alice isn't doing well. I don't think she will make it through the night. So sad.