Lethargic pullet, won’t eat/drink.

[GermanKennhuhn]

Hi folks,
I have a leghorn pullet that’s lethargic. She’s seemed ‘off’ for the past two days, but today she is unsteady, and will not eat or drink. I’ve offered her feed, wet feed, and egg. She won’t eat anything. I tried dripping a little electrolyte water on her beak, but she won’t drink it.
Is coccidiosis a possibility? My flock has had it before.
She’s very skinny, even for a leghorn. Her weight was fine a few days ago.
None of my other chickens are lethargic.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? Is her crop enlarged, hard or puffy? What do her poops look like? Can you hold a lid or scoop of water up to her beak and offer it? Electrolytes may be helpful. Sugar 1/2 tsp per 16 ounces, pedialyte, or gatorade can be substituted. If you have Corid you can safely give that. Vitamins should not be given with Corid. Your local vet can rule out coccidiosis and worms with a fecal float on some collected droppings in a ziploc bag.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I would seperate her if you can. Just so you can monitor her a bit better, what her poop looks like, provide a little heat to help her out. When my girls were sick and wouldnt eat I had to feed them. I got the food a bit wet and put some in their mouth a little at a time. I also used a syring to give them water.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

How old is she? Is her crop enlarged, hard or puffy? What do her poops look like? Can you hold a lid or scoop of water up to her beak and offer it? Electrolytes may be helpful. Sugar 1/2 tsp per 16 ounces, pedialyte, or gatorade can be substituted. If you have Corid you can safely give that. Vitamins should not be given with Corid. Your local vet can rule out coccidiosis and worms with a fecal float on some collected droppings in a ziploc bag.

Thanks for the reply.
Crop is normal, but pretty empty.
She’s about 10 months old.
I haven’t seen any of her droppings. She’s with the rest of the flock. None seem abnormal.
I tried offering her water, but she won’t drink. She only got a few drops.
I did try the sugar water. Getting her to drink is the hard part.
I don’t have Corid at the moment, but I plan on going to TSC tomorrow. I’ll get some then.
I’ve never brought my chickens to the vet. I’ll have to see if there’s an avian vet near me.
I just don’t understand how she got so skinny. There’s practically no meat on her breastbone.
Thanks for your advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that she is not being kept from water and food as some low pecking order chickens may be. It might help to separate her overnight in a dog crate or pen with her own food/water, and on a pad or towel to gather some droppings. Does she lay eggs? Coccidiosis is normally a disease of young ones, but it can occur in chickens with immunity problems. Worming her might be helpful, but if she won’t eat or drink, she won’t make it.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I would seperate her if you can. Just so you can monitor her a bit better, what her poop looks like, provide a little heat to help her out. When my girls were sick and wouldnt eat I had to feed them. I got the food a bit wet and put some in their mouth a little at a time. I also used a syring to give them water.

Thanks for the reply! I may consider separating her tomorrow; it depends on how she’s doing.
Good ideas, I’ll try that! Thanks!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Make sure that she is not being kept from water and food as some low pecking order chickens may be. It might help to separate her overnight in a dog crate or pen with her own food/water, and on a pad or towel to gather some droppings. Does she lay eggs? Coccidiosis is normally a disease of young ones, but it can occur in chickens with immunity problems. Worming her might be helpful, but if she won’t eat or drink, she won’t make it.

I have multiple feeders/waterers, and she’s not particularly low on the pecking order, but I’ll keep an eye on it. Thanks for the suggestion.
I might separate her tomorrow, depending on how she’s doing.
She does usually lay, but I have multiple of the same breed, so I cant be sure she’s been laying for the last few days.
She did perk up a bit before dark. She went to roost on her own, and ate some feed and egg yolk. I’ll let you know how she’s doing tomorrow.
Thanks for all your help!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

She’s doing better today! She drank some pedialyte, and ate some wet feed and eggs. She’s active enough to free range with the flock. Still acting off, but better than yesterday.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Good news! She’s doing great. Her comb is back to its normal color, and she acts completely normal. Her appetite is back.
All I’ve been doing differently is giving her feed/water separate from the flock (along with electrolytes).
Thank you all for your help!

 

[babybop11]

Good news! She’s doing great. Her comb is back to its normal color, and she acts completely normal. Her appetite is back.
All I’ve been doing differently is giving her feed/water separate from the flock (along with electrolytes).
Thank you all for your help!

Hi! I currently have a young pullet with the same symptoms. I know this was a few years ago, but about how much food we’re you giving her and how we’re you administering it, if you can remember?