Need help-Coccidiosis?

[havenwoodchix9]

Unfortunately, she is no better today. Diarrhea is more watery so it soaks into bedding immediately. Still blood-tinged. I've attached a couple of photos of something I was able to get. It looks like some kind of tissue or worm. I'm clueless. My cat vet is sending it to the lab so hopefully it will shed some light. Do you think I should start her on Corid?

 

[coach723]

As others have said, at 7 years old coccidiosis is less likely. But not impossible. Corid is very safe and it won't hurt her if you want to try and see if it helps. It is not an antibiotic, it just stops coccidia from being able to metabolize thiamine (which is what they feed on) so they die off.
Do you know when she last laid? If you feel her abdomen, below the vent, between the legs, does it feel bloated at all? Either very firm, or water balloon like? How is her body weight, does her keel bone feel well muscled or is the bone very prominent and sharp?
Is your vet running a fecal test for parasites?
At 7, knowing nothing more, I would always consider a reproductive problem possible. That can include various cancers and infections.

 

[MarlaMac]

I know your vet was doing a fecal float. What are the results of that? As Coach723 says, the corid will not hurt her at all. You could start that now and discontinue if the results come back negative.

That looks like some internal lining (?) or a blood leached egg lash egg. This would point to reproductive issues. There is no cure for reproductive issues, but you can provide supportive care that might prolong her life such as antibiotics which might curb infection, but it will return. How quickly depends upon how advanced the issue is. I am so sorry if this is the case.

Was the mass squishy or firm?

If she were my chicken, I would start a round of corid just b/c it will not harm her and it will not affect any further diagnosis/treatment. And, if by some off chance it is coccidiosis you will be ahead of the game.

 

[Eggcessive]

How is your hen acting today? Is she eating and drinking any better? Sometimes a a cecal core from a severe type of coccidiosis (eimeria tenella or necatrix) can cause those cecal sheds, but if she is not in too much distress, it may be reproductive (cancer) in general. It is too bad your vet had to send the fecal float out of the office, since time can be of the essence. Have you started the Corid yet, just in case? Here in this link is a picture of cecal coccidiosis with the bloody cecal core:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...oultry#Clinical-Findings-and-Lesions_v3340078
If she has that type of coccidiosis, they usually require a stronger drug such as sulfa antibiotics or toltrazuril or a combination. If you should lose her I would get a necropsy through your state vet to get a diagnosis. Those are usually done M-F, and the body should be kept cold and taken in or shipped overnight. Here is a list of state vet labs and how to send a chicken and keep the body cold, not frozen:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...4D6oyLMPW4KuPoxTTa_5ErSacMW-hezNKsqNNYhJY7-0H

 

[havenwoodchix9]

Hi All,
Thank you so much for all the information. The fecal float came back negative but I don't really know how much actual fecal material was in it- it looked more like tissue. I started her on Corid just in case and I was so encouraged yesterday because she had an appetite, was much more active (practically ran to the gate when I came out in the morning) and her comb had more color. Her stools were not normal but looked like they were headed in that direction.

Today is a much different story. Again she is very listless, no appetite, comb has paled out again. The photos are what she is expelling. She quit laying about three years ago so I guess that decreases the chances that it's something to do with her reproductive system.

I hate that she is suffering. I can take her to the vet but--and I feel guilty about this--the thought of a huge vet bill isn't good either.

Any other additional thoughts are much appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am sorry that she is having all of this bleeding from her GI tract. We probably won’t know what has caused this, unless a necropsy can be done by the state vet if she dies. Could she have gotten into rat poison or swallowed a mouse that had eaten poison? Sometimes they can eat screws or other hardware, or glass particles found in the yard or coop. I have seen glass come up to the surface of our dirt during winter freezes. Does she seem to be in any pain? The best time to get a necropsy is M-F at the state labs. I would call Monday am to ask about it. You can bring in the body, ship it overnight, or some may offer euthansia before necropsy. What state are you in? Here is a list of state vets to contact.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[coach723]

Have you seen any droppings passed that look like 'regular' droppings, though maybe abnormal? Like yellow or green or watery droppings? Or are all of them like this? Sometimes reproductive problems can have odd or varying symptoms that can be hard to know for sure until necropsy. And they can happen anytime, whether the bird is still young enough to lay, or is older and hasn't laid in a while. Beyond reproductive problems and the possibly ingested foreign object, the most common causes of bleeding are coccidiosis or inflamed cecal pouches from coccidia or cecal worms (which can carry blackhead disease - it is less common for chickens to get very sick from blackhead disease, more common in turkeys, but it does happen).

 

[havenwoodchix9]

I suppose anything is possible but I can't be sure. They are usually in their large chicken yard but I do let them out into our growing area in the fall and winter to peck around so she could have come across something out there. We don't use chemicals.
She doesn't appear to be in pain-she lies in the grass with her eyes closed. Such a change from yesterday when she was on such an upswing. If she does want to eat, I'm thinking I should just stick to feed. Or maybe mashed hard boiled egg?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Today is a much different story. Again she is very listless, no appetite, comb has paled out again. The photos are what she is expelling. She quit laying about three years ago so I guess that decreases the chances that it's something to do with her reproductive system.

Good advice and suggestions from the others.

I'm curious about the material she's expelling. It's tube-like, have you cut any of those open? If so, what's inside?
If possible, can you take photos of them cut open?

 

[havenwoodchix9]

I haven't but I will-