New Flock, New Owner, RIR Hen is lethargic, tips please!

[Shallon]

Today sickie chickie is still doing very poorly. I've seen her sip water but she's hardly touched her food. She's been standing in the same spot. Should I email the lady I bought her from? What should I say? I feel like it was very irresponsible for her to sell her chickens when she suspected they were sick. I think the move brought too much on the stressed chicken.

 

[dawg53]

Now are you going to worm them? It may be too late for your RIR.

 

[Shallon]

I started treating them with Corid for Coccidiosis yesterday.

 

[Shallon]

She passed this morning. Her crop was super swollen, I felt it last night and thought it odd it felt so full when she hadn't been eating. It was much bigger this morning. The other chickens still have mushy poo (normal green and white color) but are all doing fine. Do you guys think it's still Coccidiosis and I should continue giving the others the Corid for the recommended five days?

 

[Wynette]

I don't personally feel like this is Cocci at all; they sure don't sound like they have cocci. Usually, that presents with lethargy. It sounds like your RIR had crop stasis, which means the crop was not working properly...food/water will get backed up in the crop, and eventually will begin to rot, basically, which causes gas, and bloats out the crop as you described. It's difficult to know for sure, though. We're trying to give good feedback based on what is described, and that's not the best way to provide advice. Very sorry you lost her!

Do you have electrolytes yet? If they have runny poop all the time, this is VERY important - they'll become dehydrated if they continue having diarreha. The electrolytes will help with that. I'd abstain from throwing any more medicine at them, once you are through with the Corid regimen. Don't stop it now, it's never a good idea to stop once started. But, DO get some electrolytes into them, and yogurt...that will provide beneficial bacteria to their gut, which is also extremely important as the Corid will kill off the bad AND the good bacteria.

As far as contacting the woman...that's up to you, but playing devil's advocate...she may not have even known that she had something going on. If you do contact her, let her know that you're disappointed the birds were sick (and it DOES sound like she knew that, since she mentioned she thought they needed to be wormed) and ler her know that you've lost one and are currently treating the rest. Stick to the facts, but also, be respectful. If she has something going on with her poultry, we want her to deal with it, not stick her head in the sand.

 

[Shallon]

Thanks.
Do I add the electrolytes to the water along with the Corid?

 

[Wynette]

How many dates are you dosing with the Corid, how many days left? Best to probably wait until after...in my personal opinion. I hate to throw too awfully much at a sick bird. In other words, if they are eating, drinking, and generally seem well, just wait until the Corid is over.

 

[Shallon]

I started dosing with Corid Saturday afternoon, so this is day 3. The flock is eating, drinking, good energy, etc. They only thing they have are mush poo, but it's a normal greenish brown color. There are six of them and they are going through a gallon of water in just over a day. I bleached out the kennel and dishes the sick hen used. I want to change out the coop bedding for everyone and disenfect but not sure when the best timing is to do that.

Also, I wanted to add another rooster and rehome the silkie roosters I have. I need a rooster with full vision because my flock is going to be free ranged, and I want the chance for any potential offspring to have a father of a good egg laying breed. But not sure what the best timing would be for this as far as biosecurity goes. I don't want to stick another flock with weird bacteria issues!

 

[dawg53]

I'm sorry you lost her. I wish you the best.

 

[Shallon]

Another question: I want to move my chick brooder to the shed where the coop is eventually. So they'd be next door to, sharing the same air space, with the adult chickens. Is it dangerous for them to be sharing the air space with the older chickens? How long should I wait to move the chicks?