Lost birds, found birds, sick birds....

[thejaxx]

Xmas eve, six of my adult chickens, vanished in our first snow storm of the season. I figured they were out ranging in the black berry behind the properties and lost their way. One returned by itself a week ago and I found the rest mixed in with a flock of birds about a 1/4 mile away. Mine are banded and hers are not, so was easy picking them out. Plus mine are hand fed tame.

I grabbed them all, noticed they had lost some weight and looked a little rough. Tonight, when I went into the coop to bed them for the night, all five were sneezing with clear discharge from their nostrils. One, a buff Orpington, has one eye closed. If I pick them up, their complaints are rattley.

All are eating, both dried soldier flies and pellet.

I have five juveniles in the coop as well, six and ten weeks, that are healthy at this point.

I’m thinking I should give them some meds, but not sure what. I did start with electrolytes already.

 

[micstrachan]

This is not my area of expertise, but someone will cone with specifics on antibiotics. I am a little concerned for the young ones who are now exposed to this illness. Electrolytes for all is a good idea. I’ll be watching to see what the others say. Good luck! And I’m so glad you found your girls!

 

[Maddison]

basic questions; whats their poo like? ) do they have pale combs/wattles? ) how old are they? ) being mixed in with another flock can definitely bring out diseases, separate your younger ones or put the young ones in the coop after you clean it out and isolate your sick flock.

 

[thejaxx]

I haven’t seen their poo as of yet, it’s been extremely rainy here the past few weeks. But my buff looked like she has dark runny poo since some is stuck to her.

They range anywhere from 8 months to two years.

I know the other lady was out of town for a few months, so her brother in law was coming over to feed. She has 25-30 birds and there are multiple sick ones, there was a dead one in there as well.

As it’s been rainy, they were living in mud with the only dry areas being in the coop.

 

[thejaxx]

And I’m so glad you found your girls!

As am I, my wife said I’ve been moping around the house for the past two weeks. Heh

She won’t admit it, but she missed em too, she loves our cuckoo named mama.

 

[Maddison]

I haven’t seen their poo as of yet, it’s been extremely rainy here the past few weeks. But my buff looked like she has dark runny poo since some is stuck to her.

They range anywhere from 8 months to two years.

I know the other lady was out of town for a few months, so her brother in law was coming over to feed. She has 25-30 birds and there are multiple sick ones, there was a dead one in there as well.

As it’s been rainy, they were living in mud with the only dry areas being in the coop.

that's not good. I've lived next to riddled diseases chickens once when I adopted some %80 of my flock died of mareks and coccidiosis. there isn't much to go on yet, but you said they lost weight yes? weight loss can be a symptom of mareks, also the lady's coop being muddy and wet and can also breed coccidiosis, but then again runny noses can be a respiratory disease, to name one (Bronchitis
This disease causes respiratory symptoms such as sneezing and watering eyes. It usually occurs in pullets and younger birds. If left untreated, the symptoms can be severe especially in hens, affecting their egg laying capabilities.)
again there isn't much to go on with such little symptoms. you should definitly seperate them and watch carefully for any developing symptoms. here's a website on mareks symptoms too https://www.mailorderpoultry.com/mareks-disease-chickens-symptoms-prevention/ coccidiosis is easily noticed by bloody poops and/or ruffled feathers so keep an eye out for that.

 

[thejaxx]

It’s been chilly here and wet, Seattle after all. Feathers are a little ruffled and I put a ceramic heater in, they’ve all taken to huddling under it when in the coop. But I noticed they did come out and eat this morning. The rooster was crowing loudly, etc.

I think the eye on the buff orpi is an injury, there was a little crusted blood.

 

[thejaxx]

So an update after a month.

I tried vetrx and some other over the counter remedies. Nothing seemed to help, but no deaths.

My orpie is still pretty bad, all the hens are snotty, a few with bubbles in the eyes.

As for the poop, took me a bit since it was constantly raining, but the poop from the worst hens is a foamy brownish color and stinks bad.

I just started oxytetracycline a few days ago. Hope to see some improvement.