Lethargic pullet, sick, depressed, what?

[Lnzsmith]

She seemed to be better again this morning. Both eyes open (one just a slit, the other fully). No discharge, no nasty smell. We're giving her the drops of Corid and then also water and moistened feed with it. Her comb has regained color, though it's still really pale, though I have no idea what color a baby's comb should be. It's so tiny! Her droppings are fully formed and she's having plenty. We are keeping her quiet in a crate in the laundry room. Is it possible to recover from a bad coccidiosis infection? What would an upward trend in health look like?

 

[Eggcessive]

Baby chicks can have pale combs, and depending on the breed, very small. Some chicks can be poorly and susceptible to common illnesses that healthy chicks with better immunity may be able to shake off. Hopefully she has just kept her eyes closed because she has been weak. It sounds like she is doing better today. Hopefully, she will continue to become stronger each day. Giving just a tiny bit (about 1/2 tsp) of plain yogurt every other day mixed with feed can help give her probiotics, which can help her gut bacteria get back to normal.

 

[Lnzsmith]

Eggcessive thank you so much for your responsiveness! We just checked on her again tonight (and gave another dose of Corid).

About the yogurt--can I add that during the Corid treatment days? Anything else? I read that I should give baby vitamins after she finishes the Corid treatment?

She's been eating really well, and has had lots of stools, which have always been well formed, but today for the first time I saw what I would consider blood. So I think she is definitely suffering from coccidiosis. I know blood in the stool is considered an end stage sign but on the other hand, she is acting a lot better and more lively. I also think she was kind of starving because the big chickens were keeping her from food? Her eye opens now and then when she rubs it on her wing, I think we might try the neomycin ointment tomorrow.

I think you are right, weakened immune system and the change in environment just exacerbated her condition. Thank you!

 

[Lnzsmith]

Now I notice she has an injury on her back. I am wondering if the eye and the back injury are all from being with the adults (which did not last long, but I guess they can be vicious quickly, or she was maybe injured when we got her).
Can/should I supplement her feed with anything? I see recommendations of egg or tuna for energy? But I know her feed has all she needs...

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like she was injured and kept from food by the older ones. Make sure that she is getting plenty of the Corid medicated water. As long as she is eating her chick or all flock feed well, she doesn’t need anything else. Egg, tuna, or salmon can be used to tempt them to eat or as a small treat. The yogurt or probiotics are fine to use in the feed while on Corid, and vitamins can be used after Corid.

 

[Lnzsmith]

I just examined her, I don't see any injury but her feathers definitely don't look great and she literally has no feathers under her wings. Is that normal? I can't figure out how old she is but she is a bare chicken under her wings. She isn't eating as well today. Her eye looks really swollen. I am wondering about syringing the Corid water down her, though I don't feel confident that I won't flood her. We have been putting the undiluted drops on her beak twice a day, this is day three for that...

 

[Eggcessive]

Chicks feather out at different rates. Do her eyes have any bubbles or pus in them, or are they watery at this time—(I know that you said they were not earlier?) You may want to get some injectable Tylan 50 and some syringes with needles (22 gauge needles.) It can be used orally 1/4 ml per pound 2-3 times a day to treat mycoplasma, a respiratory disease. Here is a good link to read about giving medicine to a bird safely:
https://unitedpeafowlassociation.org/articles/oral-medication-dosing-of-peafowl/

 

[Lnzsmith]

One eye looks fine still, one eye is more? open today but looks swollen and red. Maybe some watering? No bubbles or pus. Where would I get tylan?
Thank you thank you thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Check your feed store. TSC sometimes sells Tylan 200, but Tylan 50 is cheaper and more for chickens. You can use the 200, but the dosage is 1/4 that of the 50. Do you have Rural King or Southern States or other feed stores? A vet could sell you oral Tylan for the water.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

Pix?