My babies are dropping weeks apart with the same symptoms, Help me identify the disease!!

[mandymcg05]

@Eggcessive Good Morning! I wanted to update you after our last check in. Mav went right back to barely walking the next day. I stopped the electrolyte water today and started adding the vitamins to the water. He’s lapping it up. What would cause him to do a complete 180 like that? Still merek’s? Or maybe a vitamin issue?

Also would like to add I found a 2mth old pullet dead yesterday evening. 3 days ago during the night she got her toes caught in a crate in the coop and I found her that way the following morning. She was a steady decline ever since. I pulled her from the big coop and put her in with my babies in the brooder because she was limping but has no obvious injuries and getting pecked by the big ones. I just thought she was sore maybe. And she ate and drink the same but kept her head in her neck and her tail down. I don’t think they are related. But man, death is everywhere. And it’s bringing me down!

 

[ChickenMamaLissa]

So sorry to hear things are in decline. It feels like your current situation is the ultimate summary of chicken ownership; when it’s good, it’s great, but when it starts to go poorly, it goes downhill fast with little moments of hope peppered in to destroy your spirit. That’s not to say you should give up, just know that it’s not your fault.

 

[Eggcessive]

@Eggcessive Good Morning! I wanted to update you after our last check in. Mav went right back to barely walking the next day. I stopped the electrolyte water today and started adding the vitamins to the water. He’s lapping it up. What would cause him to do a complete 180 like that? Still merek’s? Or maybe a vitamin issue?

Also would like to add I found a 2mth old pullet dead yesterday evening. 3 days ago during the night she got her toes caught in a crate in the coop and I found her that way the following morning. She was a steady decline ever since. I pulled her from the big coop and put her in with my babies in the brooder because she was limping but has no obvious injuries and getting pecked by the big ones. I just thought she was sore maybe. And she ate and drink the same but kept her head in her neck and her tail down. I don’t think they are related. But man, death is everywhere. And it’s bringing me down!

Sorry about the rooster doing a little worse. That can be Mareks, but only time will tell. Sorry about losing the 2 month old. Getting stuck can cause dehydration, and they can injure themselves as well. A necropsy on that chick might have been a good move to get some answers if she might have had Mareks as well. We are not vets, just chicken owners as you are. Sometimes we can help, but it is hard to know if it is a vitamin deficiency or something else.

 

[mandymcg05]

Sorry about the rooster doing a little worse. That can be Mareks, but only time will tell. Sorry about losing the 2 month old. Getting stuck can cause dehydration, and they can injure themselves as well. A necropsy on that chick might have been a good move to get some answers if she might have had Mareks as well. We are not vets, just chicken owners as you are. Sometimes we can help, but it is hard to know if it is a vitamin deficiency or something else.

I put her in the fridge outside to send her off since they’ll do three for $80. Could I put him out of his misery and still send him? I just hate watching him suffer like this.

 

[mandymcg05]

Have you checked for insect and parasites , ticks, skeeters , lice, mites, . They carry all kinds of diseases . The first thing I check is just that and the food and water . Also check the eye pupils with a flash light if they are fluttering this can be caused by some types of shock like cold shock. Anaphylactic shock which is an overreaction caused by the immune system . It may be time for the vet .

I haven’t checked for anything like that. I will do that tonight and when the vet opens tomorrow, if he’s still with us, I’ll see what I can do to get him in there.

 

[aart]

Could I put him out of his misery and still send him? I just hate watching him suffer like this.

You sure could.

 

[mandymcg05]

You sure could.

That probably what I’ll do. I just can’t watch him like this anymore.

 

[aart]

That probably what I’ll do. I just can’t watch him like this anymore.

BTDT.
Do you know how to do the broomstick method of cervical dislocation?
Or do you have another plan for euthanization?

 

[mandymcg05]

BTDT.
Do you know how to do the broomstick method of cervical dislocation?
Or do you have another plan for euthanization?

We have another form of snapping the neck. makes me sick thinking about it. What’s the broomstick method?

 

[aart]

What’s the broomstick method?

Cervical Dislocation is shown in this video at about 1:00,
Click the 'Watch this video on YouTube'

it's the only CD video I've found that doesn't remove the head.
-Notice the slight divot in the ground under the stick and neck, this will keep the bird from being choked.
-Notice that she slowly stretches out the neck and legs before giving the short sharp jerk that breaks the neck close to the skull, this is key to success IMO.
I've found this technique to be very effective.