Lethargic with closed eyes???

[Buffygirl]

My little Feather, seen in this post https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/699313/feather-the-odd-cochin , is not feeling well. She has been this way since Friday and I am really worried.

She is somewhere around 15 weeks old. She is lethargic, and her eyes are closed almost always. Before I isolated her she stood in the corner of the chicken run with her eyes closed, and I know she wasn't sleeping. Sometimes when her eyes are closed she will peck around in the air, as if she is eating imaginary floating food.

I at first though sour crop, so I treated for that, but she didn't get better.
Her crop isn't ruptured because when she eats and drinks, her crop holds the food.
I have checked her droppings for worms under the microscope, and there weren't any.
Because of her age, she can't be eggbound. Or can she?

So here's the question:
What IS wrong with my Feather?

 

[chickenzoo]

I would treat her with Corid for coccidia. It is the most common problem in young chickens. Symptoms are closed eyes, sleepiness, sitting or standing while puffed up, no energy, weight loss, sometimes blood in poo. You would need to treat all chicks very soon.

 

[Buffygirl]

If you use that stuff what is the withdrawl time? It breaks my heart to throw away eggs.


And also she has been eating Start and Grow for her whole life so far, and I get the medicated kind which prevents cocci.

 

[chickenzoo]

Don't know with the Corid.... but if she's dead then you won't have to worry about eggs. :/ I would also worm them with safeguard liquid goat wormer.

 

[Buffygirl]

Why goat wormer, just curious?





And like I said with the medicated Start and Grow........
Which confuses me on how she got it, with that medicine in her.

 

[chickenzoo]

Safeguard is a broad spectrum wormer but is fairly easy on them and is hard to over dose. It is also fairly inexpensive . You can give 3 ccs to a gallon of water. Do it for five days then repeat in 14. I would give her 1/4 cc down the throat to make sure she got a good dose.
Corid is a much stronger strength then what is in medicated starter.....many peoples chicks still get it even with medicated feed.

 

[dawg53]

There is no egg withdrawal period after using corid.

 

[chickenzoo]

I didn't think so.....

 

[Buffygirl]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

But I still have yet another question...
Should I always give Corid to chicks before I introduce them to my flock?

 

[chickenzoo]

That is a tuff call. I personally dose my chicks with Corid. Others do not.....it is a personal judgement. I do not know the risk of resistance it may cause to keep treating with Corid. If you keep having problems then yes. Also keep everything very clean, keep them near sunlight and know the symptoms to look for.