- Oct 27, 2009
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I have a 1 year old Rhode Island Red who has been listless and mostly uninterested in eating and drinking.
I noticed that she was sitting down and napping during the day yesterday, which my birds never do alone. Today she appears weaker and she doesn't kick me as she usually does when I pick her up. She still walks around and pecks at things, but it looks like she tires easily and hasn't been eating or drinking with her usual regularity. I've given her some of her favorite foods (shelled sunflower seeds and scrambled eggs) she'll eat a little, and certainly not with her usual alacrity.
This afternoon she had some yellow diarrhea, later her poop was green, but more solid. She's one of those chickens who usually has a little poop on her butt, but today there was quite a bit caked on. I gave her a warm bath and toweled her off. Normally she would have fought hard before going in the bath tub, but today she stood there and looked at me without a noise.
I checked her crop and it's empty. I also don't feel any blocked eggs. She doesn't look like she's in pain and doesn't appear to be straining. No injuries.
I've read through a few dozen threads and I'm not really sure what's wrong, though a worm infestation does sound like a strong possibility. I feel stupid for waiting until after spring molt to de-worm my chickens. I'll be adding liquid de-wormer to everyone's water tomorrow. I tried to give her drops directly, but her beak is clamped shut and she shakes he head if I try to give her anything via nostril. I did see her drink a little this evening, so it's possible that I can dose her tomorrow.
I feel pretty clueless. Is there any treatment I can do myself other than dosing with liquid piperazine? Prayer?
I have a number for an avian vet a few towns away. I'll give them a call if I'm equally clueless by morning.
I noticed that she was sitting down and napping during the day yesterday, which my birds never do alone. Today she appears weaker and she doesn't kick me as she usually does when I pick her up. She still walks around and pecks at things, but it looks like she tires easily and hasn't been eating or drinking with her usual regularity. I've given her some of her favorite foods (shelled sunflower seeds and scrambled eggs) she'll eat a little, and certainly not with her usual alacrity.
This afternoon she had some yellow diarrhea, later her poop was green, but more solid. She's one of those chickens who usually has a little poop on her butt, but today there was quite a bit caked on. I gave her a warm bath and toweled her off. Normally she would have fought hard before going in the bath tub, but today she stood there and looked at me without a noise.
I checked her crop and it's empty. I also don't feel any blocked eggs. She doesn't look like she's in pain and doesn't appear to be straining. No injuries.
I've read through a few dozen threads and I'm not really sure what's wrong, though a worm infestation does sound like a strong possibility. I feel stupid for waiting until after spring molt to de-worm my chickens. I'll be adding liquid de-wormer to everyone's water tomorrow. I tried to give her drops directly, but her beak is clamped shut and she shakes he head if I try to give her anything via nostril. I did see her drink a little this evening, so it's possible that I can dose her tomorrow.
I feel pretty clueless. Is there any treatment I can do myself other than dosing with liquid piperazine? Prayer?
I have a number for an avian vet a few towns away. I'll give them a call if I'm equally clueless by morning.
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