Lost one hen, another ill! Please Read ANY help appreciated!

[Morgan7782]

I lost a 11 month old Dark Brahma last week to unknown causes. She went downhill very quickly and hadn't been eating or drinking by herself.

I now have a second hen showing similar symptoms.

Butternut is a 9 month old Wyandotte, fed all purpose/finisher crumbles with oyster shell suppliment. Her bedding is pine shavings. Symptoms are: Acting lathargic, green/yellow liquid poop, and recently started panting. No runny nose, eyes, no sneezing, no coughing. Her crop is empty. Her eyes are bright, but they have been closed a lot recently. Started showing symptoms on Sunday.

I isolated Butternut and offered her scrambled eggs which she didn't touch. I am also giving vitamin/electrolyte water with a syringe because she will not drink on her own.

When I lost my Brahma she had just come out of a molt. Butternut is not molting and was totally fine and robust before this. She is inside right now as well. No other birds are showing symptoms. There have not been any moves or big changes lately.

I intend to treat myself as best I can, but just basically looking for ANY experience of anybody else with something like this. I am so scared to lose this sweet girl in the way I lost my Brahma, and I am equally scared for the rest of my girls.. No blood in any poop either.

Any help is appreciated. If you have ANY further questions PLEASE ask I will answer asap!

Edited To Add: I just checked in on her and she shook her head vigorously a few times. They have all been dusted and checked for mites/lice. But the head shaking reminded my of a dog with a foxtail in its ear.

 

[PepsNick]

As you know I love your birds, so here's a bump.

 

[HHandbasket]

I hope that when you get up in the morning and read this, Butternut has made a turn and is doing better.

 

[AZBootsie]

coccidiosis?? worms??

 

[PepsNick]

Quote:
Yes, kalie is she wormed? I think that I you pick a bird up and it drools glue like stuff that means it could be cocci or a respiratory infection... But if it was cocci the poop would have blood in it. How is she??

 

[M@M@2four]

I would first treat her for worms and mites--make sure she is completely parasite free.

I have had birds die during a molt--cold weather and molting can be horrible together! I would bring her in--get her warm first. Give her a little sugar water--this helps, "wake" them up! Then make her a wet mash. Cook her some eggs or rice. I would also get her some yogurt with probiotics. I love Chobani yogurt. It is one of the best yogurts for you! Please keep us posted!!! Good luck!!!

 

[HHandbasket]

The bird she has ill right now is not molting. The one that died a couple of weeks ago was just coming out of molt. Butternut (the one that is sick now) is a gorgeous bird that has been healthy as all get-out until a couple of days ago. She started with her head twitching and twisting all the time... shaking it, like a dog does when they have ear mites. We've checked her thoroughly for everything (I'm a friend of Kalie's). We treated the hen that died two weeks ago with Wazine in case it was worms, but n'ary a worm came out. There has been no signs of worms in the poop, perfectly healthy until a few days ago. The one that died a couple of weeks ago, her only health problem was being in molt. She had no signs, either. Just suddenly got sick, lethargic, started head-twitching, then died.

Anybody??? I'm heartbroken right along with her and it's not even my bird!

I need to get in touch with her and see how she's doing this morning. Hopefully there is good news.

 

[Morgan7782]

Well I woke up this morning fully expecting Butternut to have passed. She was acting the same as my Brahma did the night she died. But this morning Butternut was alive and well enough to jump out of her quarantine "brooder" tub and look out the big bay window. She is still panting like her nose is stuffed up or something, but there is NO sign of mucus or sounds of wheezing or trouble breathing. I held her side to my ear to make sure. I am not able to get food into her, even by forcing, so I am just focused on keeping her hydrated.

I am hoping she pulls through. My Brahma had been molting but this girl Butternut is NOT molting thank goodness. I think it really comprimises their immune systems. I called a large animal vet close by and will be bringing Butternut in at 3pm. I just want to know what is wrong and what to expect for the rest of my girls. If she passes before the appt I am bringing her body in for a necropsy to find out what happened so I can get a handle on it.

I am having a real hard time watching this sweet girl suffer. I have wormed them ALL, and dusted them ALL for mites and such. There have been no signs of worms or anything in any poops. I actually did get a picture of Butternut's poop this morning.

The stuff that looks black I think was green vegetation or something. When I cleaned it up it was green in the paper towel.

No sign of blood at all.

 

[Miss Lydia]

sorry your going through this with Butternut, hopefully you'll have some answers this afternoon and she'll be able to get some help.. will be waiting to hear.

 

[M@M@2four]

If she's shaking her head like your friend said, it could be gape worms...wazine will not do the trick. You need a stronger wormer. Here's a link to some wormers that others have used: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=445916
Good luck!!!