New Member with concern of botulism

[Meherrin]

Hello All. I have a Americana pullet who is coming into egg bearing age. She started showing (current) problems at least 2 weeks ago. I noticed she walked around with her wings hanging down and a change in her voice (raspy). This chicken has a history of coryza which she appeared to have recovered from 2 months ago (with Tylan 50 injections twice a day for 5 days). Not long after noticing the wings drooping I also noticed she stopped getting up on the roost of the portable pen she and 2 other chickens stay in. They free range out of the pen daily and the pen is moved every few days. Then she started having problems getting to her feet. I could stand her up, she would go about her day grazing and spending time with the other 2 chickens. I've determined she is not egg bound. Her crop was full and I gave her dried meal worms coated with olive oil. Her bowels are functioning and her appetite is present. Daily I've searched threads and on-line sources to figure out what is going on with her. I had not seen any writings on drooping wings. This morning I read about botulism poisoning and recalled how this pullet would return to areas the pen had been and pecked through remnants of spilt feed (Dumor 16 % Layer Pellets Calcium fortified). I now believe she was exposed to botulism by eating this spilt feed which have noticed tending to mold in some area where the pen had been placed. So far I have read that chickens which survive 48 hours tend to recover without treatment. Though she is well beyond the 48 hours she still has the drooping wings and is not able to right herself into a position to stand. I read about molasses flushes but had just a little molasses on hand and went ahead and gave her some dried meal worms coated with watered down molasses. Other than the raspy voice (there are no respiratory symptoms observed) which could be the result of a part of paralysis (no problems eating or drinking).

I'm asking if anyone here has successfully treated fowl for botulism poisoning. If so what was the course of treatment and the recovery time. Thanks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you take her or some of her droppings to a vet for testing?

Any photos or video of her actions and poop?

imho - 2weeks is a long time to be suffering from Botulism. It's not unheard of, but looking at other causes of not being able to stand up (paralysis?) would be in order as well. Your description sounds like she may have something like Marek's, but there are so many things that look and act like this disease, it's just hard to know.

If you don't have vet care, you can try one of the flushes below to see if any of those help, of course, you would be doing so at your own risk. If you do flush her, provide plenty of water and offer poultry vitamins afterward. Getting and keeping her hydrated is very important. After she is hydrated give her normal feed, some chopped egg or tuna to see if she will eat. You may want to cage or isolate her so you can monitor her more closely.

If you do lose her, then it would be a good idea to send her body to your state lab for testing. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

MAREK'S:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
FLUSHES:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal
BOTULISM:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism/
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/botulism/overview-of-botulism-in-poultry
COCCIDIOSIS:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/coccidiosis/overview-of-coccidiosis-in-poultry

I forgot to add - We're glad you're here.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Hello All. I have a Americana pullet who is coming into egg bearing age. She started showing (current) problems at least 2 weeks ago. I noticed she walked around with her wings hanging down and a change in her voice (raspy). This chicken has a history of coryza which she appeared to have recovered from 2 months ago (with Tylan 50 injections twice a day for 5 days). Not long after noticing the wings drooping I also noticed she stopped getting up on the roost of the portable pen she and 2 other chickens stay in. They free range out of the pen daily and the pen is moved every few days. Then she started having problems getting to her feet. I could stand her up, she would go about her day grazing and spending time with the other 2 chickens. I've determined she is not egg bound. Her crop was full and I gave her dried meal worms coated with olive oil. Her bowels are functioning and her appetite is present. Daily I've searched threads and on-line sources to figure out what is going on with her. I had not seen any writings on drooping wings. This morning I read about botulism poisoning and recalled how this pullet would return to areas the pen had been and pecked through remnants of spilt feed (Dumor 16 % Layer Pellets Calcium fortified). I now believe she was exposed to botulism by eating this spilt feed which have noticed tending to mold in some area where the pen had been placed. So far I have read that chickens which survive 48 hours tend to recover without treatment. Though she is well beyond the 48 hours she still has the drooping wings and is not able to right herself into a position to stand. I read about molasses flushes but had just a little molasses on hand and went ahead and gave her some dried meal worms coated with watered down molasses. Other than the raspy voice (there are no respiratory symptoms observed) which could be the result of a part of paralysis (no problems eating or drinking).

I'm asking if anyone here has successfully treated fowl for botulism poisoning. If so what was the course of treatment and the recovery time. Thanks.

I'm so sorry to hear about your hen. I'm not familiar with botulism and Wyorp has already given good advice. I'll be following.

I just wanted to say that your description of your hen, her symptoms and any other pertinent information was fantastic! Very nice job! That helps a lot.

 

[artsyrobin]

there are alot of possibilities to consider besides mereks, so i try to rule those out first, botulism kills fast, total paralysis- so here are some possibilities, worms and vitamin deficiencies are the first things to consider, also toxics- lead poisoning etc - this info is from nambroth's article

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
-----------------
Similiar to mereks- rule other things out when working with symptoms

Vitamin Deficiencies
Avian Lymphoid Leukosis
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Botulism
Egg Binding
Parasites
Ear infections
Avian Encephalomyelitis
Viral tenosynovitis
Mycoplasma synoviae
Mycoplasma gallisepticum
Aspergillosis
Head Trauma
Erysipelas
Pasteurellosis

 

[Meherrin]

Here is a pic as requested of over night stool. I'm trying to post a video. To clarify: if she is laying on her side she can not right herself over her legs to stand. Assistance to that position she can independently stand and from there freely ambulated at will. Her appetite is excellent and she takes fluid without encouragement or prompting.

 

[Meherrin]

I did give DE yesterday incase she had worms.

 

[Meherrin]

I couldn't get a clip to load so here is a pic to show her wings droop which is the same on both sides.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

DE won't take care of a worm infestation. If you suspect worms, then treat with a de-wormer like Valbazen 1/2 ml orally and then repeat in 10 days for each chicken or Fenbendazole (Safeguard, Panacur) at 1/4 ml per pound for 5 days in a row.

Botulism would look more like paralysis, usually they can't hold up their neck either (limberneck). With Botulism a chicken would be so sick they would not eat or drink normally.

Do you have a rooster?

 

[artsyrobin]

i'd not depend on DE to take care of worms, i'd go with either valbazen or Safeguard. Could treat for vitamin deficiency too -i use poultrycell for that- @casportpony would have the dosages for wormers, i go with .25 cc valbazen for bantam and .50 cc for standard and repeat in ten days

 

[Meherrin]

She (Ethel) is housed with a male Americana (Fred). They were bought together and have been inseparable. Out of need and after monitoring for conflict I've housed Festus with them. Fetus is part of a Product Red flock who injured his leg and had to be pulled from that flock. After 3 weeks in the basement with a splint he still has a limp but able to run and bear full weight on his leg but would suffer if reintroduced into the Production Red flock. Outside of occasional posturing between the to male there has been no violence.