Lethargic, Puffed up Pullet?? HELP *UPDATE FOUND A DEAD PULLET TODAY!*

[snowhorse]

On the medicated feed-Like you said its a good insurance policy. I like that the best

She was looking about the same this afternoon. Still pecking somewhat at the food, and I didn't see her drink tonight when I changed the water. Just kind of very dis interested in eveything really. I put a friend from the older flock in with her in the younger flock because she was just hanging out by herself and I felt bad, but I want to leave her on that side with the heat lamp in case she needs it. Its late July and Im still using heat lamps...this is crazy...

I did notice I have bricks to keep a couple waterers off the ground and when I picked one up today it had some smelly mildew/mold on it. I picked it up I swear 3 days ago and they didn't have that on them. It has been so wet and humid here that everything inside and outside smells like mold. Its insane. I forget what the statistic was but we have had like 10 or 15 sunny days in the past 45 days. So I brushed and scraped it all off, but I think tomorrow I may throw them in a bucket of bleach to kill whatever is on them.

Do you worm your chickens at all? I really am completely new to the raising chickens thing, I had some years ago when I was alot younger and really thinking back with all the information I have access to now, its a miracle they lived as long as they did lol, because I had no idea about anything. They were free range back then, but I have to have them enclosed this time, Mum doesnt like the poop on the porch haha. I keep them at my parent house, as the neighbor hood I live in doesnt allow them.

Have to go online tomorrow to get some supplements for 2 horses that I have issues with chronic diarrhea. Ration Plus is what my vet recommended which has probiotics in it

So while I am on there, get some Probios, and get some stuff for my old man.

Sleepy is my lovey, sweetest thing in the world, still desperatly wants to go for a ride, but his breathing is so bad he is permanently retired. I would love to find him something that would give him a little pick me up, he could use it as he seems to be slowing down a little bit lately. He is in excellent shape for his age, we had to take him to the emergency vet a few years ago and they had no idea he was then 23, they had aged him from sight around 8 or 9. But his teeth are terrible, he is missing a bunch and is starting to "cigar" his hay, so I have him on 8 quarts of senior a day to keep a good weight on him. I gave him a couple big hugs tonight

 

[threehorses]

Ohhh very interesting about the stuff under the bricks. Definitely those (and the kind of weather you're having to cause them) can be part of the issue. As does the smell - if it smells like mold, then chances are they're being effected by it way more than the humans are. They're very susceptible. If they eat it, that can also be an issue.

That also means that the environment is also ripe for cocci.


On the worming, yes - I worm twice a year. If I do them young, and they haven't been on ground long (five months, maybe a month on ground) I will start with ivermectin drops. Otherwise I use Wazine and then wait til they're about five months old and worm THEN with ivermectin.

The reason I choose ivermectin is that it doesn't only kill worms in the digestive tract, and not only adults but also larvae. But if the birds are either a) not wormed in over 6 months, b) of a questionable worming history, or c) shedding worms or seriously suspected of worms I use Wazine 17 (piperazine 17%) first in their water as labeled as the sole source of water for a day. Then in 2-4 weeks (or 5 months of age) I go back and worm with ivermectin, or recommend fenbendazole or levamisole.

Then in between I use more natural things like DE or, now, cayenne. That way I don't have to worm more often.

Alternately, you could take your chicken to the vet (or a very very fresh fecal sample - dropped, immediately bagged, immediately taken to the vet) for a "fecal egg count". While birds don't shed worms very often (even if they are highly infected), if they ARE infected they will more often shed the worms. That's why I don't rely on fecal worm checks for worming - but would count on an egg count if I didn't worm so regularly.

And yeah - there were years when my birds received no wormings and I wondered why they were unthrifty. /sigh You keep on learning, even after a lifetime with them. It's more fun that way!

Now the poop on the porch - that never changes. ha!

By the way, Ration Plus is awesome! Note however that it's the fermentation byproducts of live bacteria and doesn't actually contain it. When I had an older gelding who wasn't doing well because of having no teeth, I had him on probiotics (Microvet) and actually was considering the Ration Plus because I figured maybe he still didn't have enough bacteria in there to make those by products on his own. I'd try the vet's recommendation and, if that doesn't work alone, use Probios as well. The ingredients in Ration Plus actually encourage the bacteria to grow.

SUCH a great product. Here's the exact ingredient list:
http://www.rationplus.com/abouth.htm If looking for live bacteria, the product must have a CFU quantification - literally counting the "colony forming units" which means that colony forming = live. Fermentation products means they used the products from live bacteria but only if it contains CFU in labeling does it have viable bacteria.

Will you please let me know how you personally like it?

Awww poor sleepy. They really just get perfect in disposition at 20 don't they? lol Unfortunately the bodies don't always follow along. You must be taking exceptionally good care of him for him to look so young!! We ended up feeding beet pulp to my oldest gelding (soaked well - an hour or so before hand) when he was cigaring and quidding his hay. It helped a good bit, and he loved to make an absolute MESS with it. I just dumped his senior on top of what was left of it. But Senior is a complete feed, too - if you feed enough of it. Because of beet pulp there, too, i think!

If you ever need alternatives to hay, PM or email me. I had to try just about everything for Leo when he was 27. He really made me work.

Lots of hugs!

 

[snowhorse]

Sorry I didn't get chance to get on yesterday.

Im on my phone so I won't make it long. Takes me too long haha

Im a little concerned that I found some bright green poop in the coop this morning. Not alot I think it is from the little miss that's not feeling good. I gave her some yogurt last night. The only thing I can think of is the water melon I fed them last weekend. Would that make sense?

 

[rancher hicks]

Now once again I didn't read all the posts BUT. What's the first thing you should do when you find a sick bird? QUARANTINE. Also it would help if when you post for help to begin by posting like this.
1. breed:
2. symptoms: lethargic, puffed up
3. trauma/injury : none
etc.etc. answering the questions given by the moderators.
Of course I'm no expert and you are free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Watermelon usually causes runniness near the same day. Worms could cause green diarrhea, but then again a few things could, too. Cocci could cause diarrhea in earlier stages as well. So the yogurt was a good move until treatment or something else comes up.

 

[snowhorse]

I am thinking I need a calender just for my chickens, to keep track of when I need to do these maintence things. Do you have a list or a way of keeping track of what you do for yours? Im having trouble keeping up!

I found some more green poop. And it is quite literally neon green, but they look normal other than the color, have some white and the shape and cosistancy look healthy, not runny, foamy, frothy or anything. I have looked around on other threads and seen such things as liver failure. Which would really stink, but it looks like it was from not eating. But I did see her eating the yogurt last night.

She is still looking down, my BF though she was looking a little better today, but I don't think so, and she does look thin and feel thin to me. I am on day 4 tx wise with the Sulmet. Also I want to make sure I am using this right, it says not to give more then what they will intake in a day and to monitor to make sure they are intaking the proper amount. I do the proper amount for a gallon waterer in the coop side she is in with 6 other birds.... I think thats really the best I can do?

Do you think I should wait on worming her until I am through the full 6 days with the Sulmet?

I also have been thinking of anything possibly it would be. I have had some Sparrows that keep getting into the coop. I put wire up on the coop windows but they still get in. I know they carry parasites and all kind of bad stuff. I am working on a smaller wire for the windows so they can't get in, but they are brutally persistant on getting into the coop.

 

[snowhorse]

Quote:
I went to that post and my posts answer really all of those questions. Am I missing something?

 

[snowhorse]

Here is a picture of her. This is what she has been doing or standing all crunched up like that.

 

[threehorses]

Honestly a calendar is a great idea. I really need something similar. I'm about to start a journal for the chickens - a notebook. Maybe I'll stick a calendar up at the front of that. Journaling things like molts, worming, when weird things happen - that's so helpful for looking back and figuring
out little pieces of the puzzle of illnesses like this.

Mostly I just do it from habit and the times of year. Fall and spring worming because of the lack of laying (sometimes) and lack of extreme weather. Then I am pretty good at keeping animal things together in my head. Forget it regarding my bills - I have to autopay them because I'm a ditz when it comes to stuff like that. If bills had anything remotely to do with animals, I'd probably be brilliant with them.

Ohhh neon green is a bit odd. Again typical of chickens, that could be worms, or diet. I'd expect more yellow in liver issues. But probably from not eating.

On the sulmet, yes - you watch to make sure they're drinking. You can give them some in the beak if you feel she's not drinking. HOw much are you using per gallon?

And the wire - smaller wire - good idea. They really do bring mites. If you have a smaller coop, the smaller wire is awesome. We can't do that at my place because of the chicken room is our horse barn. The new coops I'm building - I think I'll do that for them. I've never had sparrow nests (oddly) but I know that since sparrows line their nests with chicken feathers, they're a good source of all sorts of fun nastiness.

And I refuse to trap or kill them. (I have a pet sparrow and it's too close to home.)

You have what - one more day of Sulmet then? It doesn't seem to really be doing anything really major - so that's no coccidiosis, and likely not E coli.

Were you able to give her any probiotics or yogurt? She really is a cute little thing.

 

[snowhorse]

I gave her some yogurt the night before last, Going to give her some more today. She is looking much better today though. Perked up and walking around the coop more, very anxious to get in with her flock, so I let her. I saw her eating and drinking as well.

On the Sulmet I used 2 tablespoons per gallon for the first 2 days, and then 1 tablespoon for the next 4. Im on day 5 treatment tonight, so tomorrow night will be the last.

I'm going to just finish the treatment even though at this point it's not looking like cocci, but maybe it was and that's why she is feeling better today. Who knows I guess. Could have been the yogurt that fixed her up, I may never know.

And as fas as the green poop I really didn't find anymore of it today. I put her on the other side, so if she still is pooping that color I should be able to find out.

It has been really hot and muggy, so Im going to give them some gatorade today, I saw a couple panting so I know its too hot, I have the windows open and there is a nice breeze now so that may feel better to everyone now too.

I ordered some probios last night so hopefully that will come in next week and I ll put it on everyone's feed.

Do you think I should worm everyone or just the older group? They are 6 and 7 weeks, and I have another batch that are 4 and 5 weeks, and another batch at 2 and 3 weeks. Or do you wait until a certain age to first worm?