- Apr 19, 2012
- 7
- 0
- 7
Symptoms:
2-3 days ago she started isolating herself from her 3 other flock-mates. Looking uncomfortable, depressed. At first I thought it might be impacted crop and spent time massaging it (which she seemed to like..?). I isolated her in a dog crate so I could monitor her inputs (food/water) and outputs (poop). Unfortunately she is not taking many inputs from what I can tell and the outputs are diarrhea and some with blood in them.
Bird details:
She is a Buff Orpington whom we purchased as a chick in Jan '12 (named: Chicken Noodle). She has been healthy and growing as expected until this illness. She sleeps in a fairly large coop and has about an acre of fenced yard to free range in most of the day. She has 3 flock mates purchased at the same time, and an additional 8 younger mates, whom were added to the overall flock about 3-4 weeks ago, after about a week of isolation. All have been on Purina ChickStarter (medicated) and I mixed in chick-grit into the feeder. They have ample water through poultry nipples which they all seem to use fine. Her face/eyes/nose are all clear without discharge and no "coughing" or respiratory noises.
Environment details:
I have not used any sort of fertilizer or pesticides in any part of my yard for 8-10 years (gave up on a nice yard long ago). The coop gets it's litter changed about once a week and they mostly sleep on the roosting bars. The feeding area of the coop is on a concrete floor with no litter. I do have two dogs which are indoor/outdoor and use the same backyard. I was thinking she might have gotten too much long fiberous grasses in her crop, but it's not hard, mostly squishy (no foul smell though). There are doves and other wild birds in and about the chicken run area so one of them might be sick perhaps.
Current Actions:
I have started her on Neomycin Oral Solution (purchased at Tractor Supply). I also hand feed her yogurt and added a probiotic powder to her water source. The first dose was just administered.
Research so far:
I went to numerous websites (mostly universities) looking for illnesses and symptoms. There are a scary number of ways a chicken can get sick, but her symptoms sure seem isolated to just one or two things. I also spoke with a country vet who recommended the run to TSC for the Neomycin. He did say "her fate might already be sealed".. *pout*.
I'm not giving up as long as she seems able to stand and accept the treatments.
I have included some pics in case it helps isolate the ailment. I have not ruled out Coccidiosis either, but I would have thought that the chick-starter medicated feed would help with that.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044#
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/101/necrotic-enteritis
http://fowlfacts.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=afflictiondiseaseff&action=display&thread=1213
Thank you in advance for any ideas you might have!
Michael
2-3 days ago she started isolating herself from her 3 other flock-mates. Looking uncomfortable, depressed. At first I thought it might be impacted crop and spent time massaging it (which she seemed to like..?). I isolated her in a dog crate so I could monitor her inputs (food/water) and outputs (poop). Unfortunately she is not taking many inputs from what I can tell and the outputs are diarrhea and some with blood in them.
Bird details:
She is a Buff Orpington whom we purchased as a chick in Jan '12 (named: Chicken Noodle). She has been healthy and growing as expected until this illness. She sleeps in a fairly large coop and has about an acre of fenced yard to free range in most of the day. She has 3 flock mates purchased at the same time, and an additional 8 younger mates, whom were added to the overall flock about 3-4 weeks ago, after about a week of isolation. All have been on Purina ChickStarter (medicated) and I mixed in chick-grit into the feeder. They have ample water through poultry nipples which they all seem to use fine. Her face/eyes/nose are all clear without discharge and no "coughing" or respiratory noises.
Environment details:
I have not used any sort of fertilizer or pesticides in any part of my yard for 8-10 years (gave up on a nice yard long ago). The coop gets it's litter changed about once a week and they mostly sleep on the roosting bars. The feeding area of the coop is on a concrete floor with no litter. I do have two dogs which are indoor/outdoor and use the same backyard. I was thinking she might have gotten too much long fiberous grasses in her crop, but it's not hard, mostly squishy (no foul smell though). There are doves and other wild birds in and about the chicken run area so one of them might be sick perhaps.
Current Actions:
I have started her on Neomycin Oral Solution (purchased at Tractor Supply). I also hand feed her yogurt and added a probiotic powder to her water source. The first dose was just administered.
Research so far:
I went to numerous websites (mostly universities) looking for illnesses and symptoms. There are a scary number of ways a chicken can get sick, but her symptoms sure seem isolated to just one or two things. I also spoke with a country vet who recommended the run to TSC for the Neomycin. He did say "her fate might already be sealed".. *pout*.
I'm not giving up as long as she seems able to stand and accept the treatments.
I have included some pics in case it helps isolate the ailment. I have not ruled out Coccidiosis either, but I would have thought that the chick-starter medicated feed would help with that.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044#
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/101/necrotic-enteritis
http://fowlfacts.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=afflictiondiseaseff&action=display&thread=1213
Thank you in advance for any ideas you might have!
Michael
(I have some spoiled hens! But we love em!)
