My chicken is pale and lethargic

[mightymax]

Please help me find out what is wrong with my RIR Bantam chicken, Tyson. He or she, not sure yet, is about 12 weeks old and sickly. His comb and wattles are pale, perhaps even somewhat cryogenic in color. He stands with his head AND rump pointing downwards. His eyes are dull, feathers fluffed up and has not been observed eating or drinking for 1 1/2 days now. PLEASE give me some suggestions that I can try out on him. He is not vac. for Mareks disease. No other birds are affected as of yet. They coop with fancy pigeons at night if this matters. THaNKS in advance for your help.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Could be a lot of things:
Is he passing waste and, if so, what is the waste like?
Have you inspected him for parasites?
Are you aware of any incident that could have caused injury (specifically internal since you do not note any obvious external signs)?
You mention they coop with the other birds at night - where are they during the day?
Is there discharge of any kind coming from any part of the bird?
Do you hear any unusual sounds associated with the bird's breathing?
If you feel the crop area, does it feel empty (as it should if he has not eaten for a day and a half) or full - soft or hard?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

In the meantime - I would start treatment for Coccidiosis immediately - if it is cocci you have everything to lose by any further delay in treatment and if it isn't there is nothing to lose in having treated for it.

 

[mightymax]

Crop is empty. No discharge or outwardly visible signs of infection. Cannot find any droppings that I know are his, but none of the ones I see look abnormal. The three RIR Bantams that live with my pigeons do so 24/7. (All my other chickens free range during the day and are cooped up at night in their own separate coop and do not tread on any of the ground that the RIR Bantams or pigeons have access to.) I think I've heard about a disease that is transmitted to other poultry via pigeon poop, but I can't recall what that diseases name is...does any body out there know? As for the cocci tx. Yes. I think that's a good idea and I just happen to have some medicine on hand that treats that, so I'm off to medicate right now. Will let you know...

I guess it's not the time to introduce my young turkey poults to the great outdoors yet...
I'd like my spare bedroom back soon!!! LOL!!!

 

[lovetopaint]

I'm 99.9% sure that is Coccidiosis. Treat him and all of your flock with Corrid ASAP!

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be cocci or worms, but I would treat with Corid 2 tsp of liquid per gallon of water for 5 days. Then worm with fenbendazole (SafeGuard liquid or paste or panacur) 1/2 ml by mouth, and repeat in 10 days. He should also have a few days of probiotics and vitamins in his water after the Corid. Check closely for mite/lice infestation also.

 

[mightymax]

So I just came in from treating for cocci. I put the ailing chicken in his own hospital bed with easy access to food and water (medicated now) and I did see him lap down several mouthfuls of water, but no food. Appears to be getting more lethargic, resting on hocks and using wings for balance and he now has his eyes closed or only half open most of the time. Very skeletal to touch. Doesn't resist palpation or manual opening of beak. The strange thing is...is that the only other chicken in the pen with him, his two siblings and the pigeons, is a white bearded silkie that I put in there because my other silkies that free range used to pick on her...and SHE occasionally suffers from what I can refer to as only some sort of 'neurological' disorder that will cause her to not be able to balance well, not walk forward, only backwards and apparently not be able to properly hunt and peck for food or water (wry neck?). Anyway, this happens occasionally and will last a few days to a week or so, but she has always snapped out of it. She is currently demonstrating those weird behaviors right now. The timing coincides with the demise of the RIR. Could Snowy, the silkie, have infected the RIR with something that she is just a carrier of and not a statistic of...(yet)? Or...please...I'm in the bushes with this malady and DO NOT want to lose my whole flock of pet silkies to this....whatever it is...Thank you and I'll be waiting...

 

[mightymax]

Could this be Meraks (sp?) disease? And if so, can my turkeys and geese contract it from the chickens?

 

[BantamLover21]

Could this be Meraks (sp?) disease? And if so, can my turkeys and geese contract it from the chickens?

It does sound like it could be Marek's. Unfortunately, there is no real cure for that. Fortunately, though, the chicken strain of Marek's does not cause disease in turkeys or geese.

 

[mightymax]

UNCOMFORTABLE UPDATE ON MY PALE AND LETHARGIC CHICKEN!!! So I tucked Tyson into his hospital crate late last night with a gentle stroke and a silent prayer. Hoping for the best, but realizing that I may have to face the worst, I went to bed with a heavy heart. Woke this morning an hour early to a lingering and damp chill in the air. Went to check on the sick chick and release the other daily free-rangers and felt a twinge of hope start to emerge from within. As I approached Tyson's quarters I noted the stillness there. That's when it hit me like a blast of icy water. It was TOO still in Tyson's bed. Not a good sign. I slowly removed the coverings to shed dawn's first light into his crate so I could quietly take in the sight that laid before me. There was Tyson. Still as the night. Eyes closed ever so lightly, body resting gently on the bed of straw where I had placed him late the night before. Gone. No signs of terror or physical fits before he passed. Just his body laying so peacefully, it was almost surreal, yet strangely serene. I was deeply saddened that his life here was cut so short and that I, his sole provider, could not help him when he needed me the most. As I laid his lifeless body in a box for the others to see, mourn and eventually accept, I was somewhat comforted by the fact that although short, I knew his life had been full and that he had wanted for nothing while he was here. I had made sure of that. I also thankfully prayed that his had been a relatively quick and hopefully fairly painless demise, just as I hoped our mourning of his passing would be. God Bless You Tyson and Keep You Safe. RIP My Friend and Good Bird and may you always catch the worm of your dreams. March 14, 2014 - June 13, 2014.