My chicken is dying

[Littledid]

Okay so I had about six two month old polish / frizzle chickens, that is until one of them mysteriously died about two days ago. Although I was sad I didn't think about it too much, because it's been terribly hot here lately and sometimes these things just happen.

But before he died, I came out that morning and he felt very weak and light when I picked him up. I thought maybe he wasn't getting enough so I put him in a different cage from the others so he'd have his own food and water to himself. He drank an insane amount of water, which I found strange. He seemed to be doing better but later when I came to check on him he was dead. It happened so fast.

Moving forward, now another one of my frizzles is showing the same symptoms! She started last night and I brought her in. I thought it might be worms so I put that earthy stuff (I don't know how to spell it) in her feed and apple cider vinegar in her water, but I fear it won't be enough to save her. And of course it had to be my favorite one.

Here's some of her symptoms:
• hunched over.
• lethargic.
• droopy tail and wings, which are also very raggedy.
• her neck keeps spasming.
• very stinky and runny poo.
• very light and skinny.

She seems to be doing better than she was yesterday, I'm honestly surprised she made it through the night, but she's still pitiful. She's been eating and drinking fine. I've went ahead and treated the rest of the flock with the same stuff, but I'm not sure what to do because this is my first time dealing with anything like this really. I'll show you guys pictures of her, my poor girl!
Help of any kind would be greatly appreciated, cause I honestly don't know what to do.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

To set the record straight, DE (diatomaceous earth) and ACV serve no useful purpose as a wormer.
Also, you don't know they have worms or what kind. You need to have a fecal sample read to answer those questions. Then, if they have worms, you need to administer the right anthelmintic to treat that specific parasite - not DE and ACV.
You spoke of cages. Are they in deep shade all day? What is the temperature at the cage? Are they large enough for the birds to have fresh air and free access to cool water?
What is your weather/ where are you located?
Heat is a definite chicken killer. If it is extremely hot, you need to get them somewhere cooler. She looks rough.

 

[kwhites634]

To set the record straight, DE (diatomaceous earth) and ACV serve no useful purpose as a wormer.
Also, you don't know they have worms or what kind. You need to have a fecal sample read to answer those questions. Then, if they have worms, you need to administer the right anthelmintic to treat that specific parasite - not DE and ACV.
You spoke of cages. Are they in the shade? Are they large enough for the birds to have fresh air and free access to cool water?
What is your weather/ where are you located?

You beat me to the punch with the DE

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Like minds. That's the first thing that hit me.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Agree, DE and ACV are both irrelevant for worming birds, and science backs my claim.

Marek's is one possibility... how is the crop feel? I recently faced a young bird hunched with a neck spasm of sorts... we thought trying to gag. Crop was swollen, maybe squishy... dead the next day. Though I had been ill so by the time I identified it I hadn't seen any droppings.

What do you feed including treats and supplements?

I suggest if this one passes that you get a necropsy... https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Sorry you face this.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Yes there is a definite misconception. ACV does improve their overall health when given on regular basis and some people say it helps prevent worms. I don’t know if that’s true but I know what is true is it doesn’t get rid Worms that are already there. As far as DE it also doesn’t get rid of worms that are already there. I was guilty at first of using small amounts in there to help prevent mites but after reading the respiratory effects it can have I do not want it anywhere near my chickens. Much better and easier way to prevent and clear up these issues. Is there blood in her stool?

 

[Littledid]

To set the record straight, DE (diatomaceous earth) and ACV serve no useful purpose as a wormer.
Also, you don't know they have worms or what kind. You need to have a fecal sample read to answer those questions. Then, if they have worms, you need to administer the right anthelmintic to treat that specific parasite - not DE and ACV.
You spoke of cages. Are they in deep shade all day? What is the temperature at the cage? Are they large enough for the birds to have fresh air and free access to cool water?
What is your weather/ where are you located?
Heat is a definite chicken killer. If it is extremely hot, you need to get them somewhere cooler. She looks rough.

To set the record straight, DE (diatomaceous earth) and ACV serve no useful purpose as a wormer.
Also, you don't know they have worms or what kind. You need to have a fecal sample read to answer those questions. Then, if they have worms, you need to administer the right anthelmintic to treat that specific parasite - not DE and ACV.
You spoke of cages. Are they in deep shade all day? What is the temperature at the cage? Are they large enough for the birds to have fresh air and free access to cool water?
What is your weather/ where are you located?
Heat is a definite chicken killer. If it is extremely hot, you need to get them somewhere cooler. She looks rough.

Hi, I currently have them in two wire cages that also have wire flooring. I have a cover on top of the cages. They are on the ground under an oak tree, so they have plenty of shade. The cages are quite small I'll admit, but it's temporary. I always make sure they have water and food and I move them each day. We are working on moving them into a large fenced in yard with a coop. I live in Virginia, and it's been ridiculously hot the past few days.

 

[Littledid]

Agree, DE and ACV are both irrelevant for worming birds, and science backs my claim.

Marek's is one possibility... how is the crop feel? I recently faced a young bird hunched with a neck spasm of sorts... we thought trying to gag. Crop was swollen, maybe squishy... dead the next day. Though I had been ill so by the time I identified it I hadn't seen any droppings.

What do you feed including treats and supplements?

I suggest if this one passes that you get a necropsy... https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Sorry you face this.

I wish I knew that before I gave it to them; on a website I read it was safe. Should've looked into it more. I was just desperate for something to help her.

And oh dear, I looked Meraks up and I sure hope that isn't the case. Her crop feels full, sort of squishy I guess.

She seems to be doing kind of better. She's peeping again and she seems stronger and a tad heavier, but all she really does is stand still and sleep standing up. I really wish there were something I could do. Guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

 

[Littledid]

Yes there is a definite misconception. ACV does improve their overall health when given on regular basis and some people say it helps prevent worms. I don’t know if that’s true but I know what is true is it doesn’t get rid Worms that are already there. As far as DE it also doesn’t get rid of worms that are already there. I was guilty at first of using small amounts in there to help prevent mites but after reading the respiratory effects it can have I do not want it anywhere near my chickens. Much better and easier way to prevent and clear up these issues. Is there blood in her stool?

Thank you for clearing all of that up for me.
As for the blood in stool thing, I haven't seen any.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I understand ridiculous heat, It has been in the mid upper nineties with 80-90% humidity here.
Lethargy in chickens isn't a good sign.
I understand late planning but the chickens don't know what you are planning to do. They only know what their current situation is. 6 month old birds should be out foraging and finding a comfortable place to hang out, not living in a cage.
What is preventing a raccoon from reaching into the cage and pulling parts of the birds through? That's what they do. I left a rooster in a cage on the patio for just about 30 minutes after dusk once. That's all it took for him to be torn to shreds.