My Chicken is SICK!!!! Please Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MADDY16]

I'm new to the site. Just registered today actually. I'd hate to start on a bad note but my chicken is sick.
We have been having weird weather all day, snow, hail, rain, sun. I was just shooing the girls out of the neighbors yard when I see one of the girls by the compost hunched over with wings dragging, tail down, and head down. I walk over to her until two feet away and she slowly walks away. She doesn't walk normally though instead its more of a wobbly, unbalanced walk. I proceed to walk up to her slowly until I'm right next to her and then I pick her up. This in itself is weird in my flock. All the girls (except one) are very flighty and you can only get a few feet away at most before skirting away. So to be able to pick her up with little problem was a surprise. I bring her in the garage and inspect her but when I set her on the table she sinks to the table in a heap. I look at her eyes and comb wattle feathers the whole bit which looks all normal. When I get to her backside I see her vent and its pale. I also see that clear jelly like stuff is coming out as well. The day before she was fine but we had to clean her backside because of poop build up and in the process pulled out a few feathers (accidentally!) so the spot was a bit bald. After this, I decide to put her in a different cage to keep her safe from being picked on and so the other girls don't get sick. I don't know if she will make it through the night but if she does I need a plan of action. Any advice would be awesome!!!!!!!! Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Whe you first described her, it sounded a bit like she may have Mareks disease or severe dehydration. But the clear jelly droppings could be a broken egg internally. How old is she? Has she been laying? I would probably start giving her some vitamin/electrolyte solution by mouth or by tube feeding if she is too weak to drink. Feel inside her vent with a gloved finger 1-2 inches for any remnants of egg membrane or shell, or for another egg. Was she vaccinated for Mareks?

 

[MADDY16]

Thank you so much for responding!!!!!!!
She is about 9 months old. She didn't lay today. And I don't know if she was vaccinated for Mareks.

 

[MADDY16]

Although she has been laying prior to this.

 

[MADDY16]

Update: She is very lethargic and now has greenish, yellow droppings (defiantly diarrhea) . She is not eating or drinking anything. We have force fed her water, and gatorade. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm sorry that she is worse. You could try giving her Corid or Sulmet for possible coccidiosis. They are cattle medicines from the feed store. Corid is best for cocci, but Sulmet will also treat some other problems, since it is a sulfa antibiotic. She must drink the medicated water, however, and that sounds like it may be a problem. Corid (amprollium) dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid (or 1.5 tsp od the powder) per gallon of water for 5 days. Give her a couple of drops undiluted if she is not drinking. Sulmet dosage is 1 oounce ( 2 tablespoonsful) per gallon of water for 2 days, then half that dosage per gallon for 4 additional days.

 

[LadyoftheCluck]

I'm new as well, but if you saw her new a compost pile, could she possibly have eaten some fermented/rotting compost/food? I've heard it can make a chicken quite sick, and drunk. I've also heard that liver failure can occur from the fermentation. Like heavy alcoholics. Just a thought...

 

[MADDY16]

Thank you so much for getting back to me! I am very excited to try your ideas. To answer your question I have been thinking about the compost factor and it is possible but I am not sure what I should do for it. I was wondering if you had any ideas of what she has. I would love to try out some more treatments for helping her but I don't know what to treat her for. Ask me any questions that haven't been answered and I will be more than willing to answer them to the best of my ability. I really would like to know what she has. I also would like to thank you guys for helping me this far.

 

[MADDY16]

Update: I just cleaned her bottom and tried to feel anything unusual in her vent. I didn't know if I was doing it right or not but I didn't feel anything hard or suspicious. I am going to try the Corid or Sulmet idea from Eggcessive (such a helpful person) tomorrow (if she makes it through the night). I will keep updating you all. Any more advice is appreciated. Also any educated guesses or ideas on what she has feel free to tell me. Thank you guys for helping me! I'm so glad I asked you all about it!

 

[Eggcessive]

LadylftheCluck may have a good point about the compost bed--eating rotted animal or plant remains can cause botulism, which tends to cause paralysis of the legs spreading upward to the wings and neck before death within 12-24 hours. Those that survive for 48 hours with supportive care usually recover. Mareks disease, botulism, and lead poisoning from eating old lead shot or paint chips can all look very similar.