Lots of symptoms - can't narrow down what's wrong

[virgkeeley]

I found a vet who will do a fecal float tomorrow morning. Until then I feel like I'm in limbo. I also have no idea what antibiotics to use if I go that route and where to get them from. I'm headed to the feed store now to at least get something an eye dropper? to try and get her to drink.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I found a vet who will do a fecal float tomorrow morning. Until then I feel like I'm in limbo. I also have no idea what antibiotics to use if I go that route and where to get them from. I'm headed to the feed store now to at least get something an eye dropper? to try and get her to drink.

I use my finger and drop water on the beak below the nostrils and they will gobble it when it rolls around into the mouth.

I have never used antibiotics, so I am unsure of that.

I know a lot of people talk about using a product called Tylan 50. But I have no clue, sorry.

But it would tell you about worm load which is not treated by antibiotics.

I would get the Poultry nutridrench, maybe while at the feed store. (my post is kinda late)

 

[Eggcessive]

You really don't have to use antibiotics since she may be too far along, but in early stages they can sometimes help. Unfortunately, one of those that may help is Baytirl (enrofloxacin) which is banned for chickens in th US, but can fight E.coli and other bacteria associated with egg yolk peritonitis. Some vets will prescribe it if you swear to not ever eat the eggs or the meat. You can also buy it online here and I can help with dosage:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959119/baytril-enrofloxacin-sources
I wouldn't bother with any feed store antibiotics. The injectable ones like Tylan and oxytet are for respiratory diseases, and won't touch E.coli. But you can worm her with SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or equine paste, which feed stores sell. The dosage is 1/4 ml per pound of weight given orally, and repeated in 10 days for common chicken worms. For the less common ones you can use it 5 consequtive days.

 

[virgkeeley]

I had the fecal flotation done today. No evidence of parasites or worms. She was eating and drinking only when I held the food and water up to her mouth, and there was very little meat on her. She went from walking slowly two days ago to not being able to even take one step without falling froom lack of strength? I felt like by taking care of her, feeding her and making her drink (she was sleeping in my bedroom) I was just keeping her alive and prolonging her suffering. So I had the vet euthanize her. On the positive side I know now a chicken friendly vet locally who does a fecal test for very cheap ($16) and who will euthanize for free. That's good for me, because I just can't do it myself, and the only other chicken I have had die kept getting dug up by raccoons and that was out of my comfort zone to get up to a chicken carcass every morning.

Anyway, thanks for your help, I will be looking at poops more carefully from now on, and hopefully will catch these things early. Although it seems with EYP that there is not much you can do to save them if it happens.

Of course I am worried now, 2 of my other girls have not layed an egg in over a year and are about 2-3 years old. I believe my chickens have a healthy stress free life and they look and feel healthy. I hope that is the case.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am so sorry that you lost her. I was just reading some posts today by Speckledhen, who has lost quite a few hens to egg yolk peritonitis and internal laying. It is probably the most common cause of death in older hens. I have lost a few to what I suspected was internal laying, and have a few other with reproductive disorders. Loss of weight in the breast area, combined sometimes with a full lower belly, runny poops with a lot of watery mucus and some whites and bits of dark droppings are a sign. They tend to stay off to themselves and have poor appetites as well.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So sorry for your loss.

I believe you made the right choice. It's a difficult decision to determine if we truly are just prolonging their suffering in our hopes they will indeed get better. And that would definitely be unnerving to wake up to one of my pet pals dug up everyday.

I wonder if you ask that vet about a necropsy for future purposes if you have another death. Maybe find out if they are able to do it and how much. It doesn't sound like illness that could be contagious is your issue. Maybe the internal laying, though... If they all are the same breed that are having this issue, I might not try them in the future flock.

It's good that you had the fecal done... now you know that is probably not the cause of the others not laying as well.

Also, so glad you found a vet to work with! Having lousy local support makes situations even worse. But having someone you can trust who you don't feel is just trying to take your $ can make a big difference.

Sorry again.