Msyster illness contagious?

[HudsonXIII]

Evening all,

Just joined BYC as I've just had a bird die yesterday, leading up to her death she didn't involve herself with the others as passed away in the morning not long after being let out of the coop. I found that she was very skinny and hadn't eaten in a little while as her crop was empty, undefinable to the touch. Apart from withdrawing there were no other signs of illness and her quite decline was very quick. Always feels like you've dropped the ball when you loose a hen as you're left feeling that you could have done something, especially something like weight loss. This in mind I've noticed another Hen looking as though she is on a similar decline with the exception of having a paler complexion than expected. (something I'd expect from a serious mite infestation but my setup is clean and clear). I've just come inside the house from putting them away for the night where my girls feed up, and go to bed with proud crops with exception to my ill bird who was empty, much alike the bird I found dead the day before. If she's still with me come tomorrow I'll check in on her and make note of when/if she has a good meal throughout the day. (yet again, I'm aware a lot of animals are reluctant of eating at all when seriously ill)
I understand this a vague situation that could be diagnosed with 1001 solutions, especially without having anyone to look into my garden but if this rigs true with anyone, any help to save this wee girl and stop this potential bug hit the others, I'd love the input.

South England: Weather - 20/24 degrees celsius moderate cloud cover
mixed flock of 6 (excluding dead 7th hen)
Dead bird: Silkie (dark skin) age-2yr Ill Bird: Legbar age-1yr
Issues: sleepy docile demeanor from an otherwise active agile bird, pale complexion not as bright as the rest of the flock, pronounced breast bone from weight loss empty crop

Nga Mhi,
Kieran

 

[Rietta]

I am not well versed in illnesses.. I do know that you can't blame yourself for the loss. It happens to everyone, my first loss was awful.. I found two of my girls on the coop having died from heat exhaustion. I felt like I should have checked on them more but I was not at home. So I correct the as best I could and move forward, that being said I hope someone will have an answer for you! Best of luck

 

[HudsonXIII]

I am not well versed in illnesses.. I do know that you can't blame yourself for the loss. It happens to everyone, my first loss was awful.. I found two of my girls on the coop having died from heat exhaustion. I felt like I should have checked on them more but I was not at home. So I correct the as best I could and move forward, that being said I hope someone will have an answer for you! Best of luck

Aw, thank you for the kind words, I've lost count of birds I've lost over the years, I've always seen the frustration and upset as a sign of care and will to better for the birds. Funny enough you mention heat, a months ago I came home and this very same bird was sat with her head spinning, I took her in, cooled her down and soon enough she woke from her stupor. A very close call and I don't recon these events are linked but the more info' I give the more likely an informed person will piece it together.

 

[Wezdin]

Welcome To BYC! Have you seen any of the chickens poop? this sounds like an internal parasite. If you still have the body of the dead chicken you could send it in for a necropsy to tell the cause of death.

 

[HudsonXIII]

Welcome To BYC! Have you seen any of the chickens poop? this sounds like an internal parasite. If you still have the body of the dead chicken you could send it in for a necropsy to tell the cause of death.

Ooooh, now that you mention. I leave my back door open to let the air pass through my furnace of a house which means the birds will always pop in. Someone defecated in the house, I don't know which one of the 6 did it but it wasn't normal, its was like broth, very watery with scattered isles of solids. The body is gone.

 

[Wezdin]

I am thinking a parasite for sure then. It might seem odd but can you try to post a picture of the sick chickens poop? This will tell us what kind of dewormer to recommend.

 

[NanaKat]

Or it might be coccidosis. It is treatable and can be contagious. The symptoms include a gut that no longer processes food correctly and the appetite drops causing slow starvation/wasting away.

 

[HudsonXIII]

Thank you, I'll post a photo in the morning as its 10pm here atm. I'll sit with them in the morning and make sure I get whatever she's producing.

 

[Wezdin]

Or it might be coccidosis. It is treatable and can be contagious. The symptoms include a gut that no longer processes food correctly and the appetite drops causing slow starvation/wasting away.

Yes, you will also see blood in the poop from coccidosis, but it is still a parasite

 

[NanaKat]

If you type in coccidosis in the search line at the top of the page and scroll down the list of threads, there is a thread based on the UK about an alternative for Corid used in the US to treat it.