Newbie needs help! Sick chickens....

[shenderson]

I am a newbie. I never had chickens before May of this year and I need some help. It seems the more I read the more confused I get.

Here's whats going on:

#1
4 week old EE - she is one of six pullets. Just started keeping them outside with some larger chicks (I live in Georgia and the weather has been very warm). They are in the same pen but fenced off separately. Everyone else is doing great but two nights ago this chick was making gurgling noise with very labored breathing. Took her inside immediately. She would shake her head and make a sneeze/cough sound. She also was breathing with her mouth open and seemed very distressed. I thought she might have something caught in her throat but could not see or feel anything and no discharge or blockage of her nostrils. I gave her a few drops of olive oil and left her for the night. I wasn't sure she would make it but the next morning she was doing better. No more head shaking and was breathing much better. Eating and drinking well. If I pick her up I can still hear some raspy congested breaths. Have not given any treatment other than adding ACV to her water. Other than the raspy breathing she seems to be doing fine.


#2
7 week old Welsummer cockerel - Yesterday fine, this morning came out of the coop and laid down (not himself at all). Watch him for about an hour and determined that he was sick and I needed to separate him. When I picked him up I ended up with watery diarrhea down my shirt (not much other than water in it - but smelled awful). Went home for lunch today (husband has been keeping an eye on him) and still very lethargic. Breathing seems fine and he did eat a little. Not sure about his drinking though. No treatment but I also put ACV in water.

#3
15 week old BO pullet - She is in another coop and pasture than the previous two. She is with 3 other BOs, an EE cockerel and 5 BRs. I noticed that she has been the last to come out of the coop for the past several days. Today she has not wanted to leave the coop at all. Have seen no other symptoms other than my husband chased her out of the coop eventually and said she walked around with her head down on her shoulders (she didn't seem to want to stretch out her head and neck) and ended up right back in the coop. I will check her out when this evening when I get home, but I wondered if they start acting funny prior to starting to lay?

Not sure if these are connected as the symptoms are not the same but the timing is very coincidental.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Sandy

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY HAVE CAUGHT A RESPIRATORY DISESE
IF ONE GROUP HAS IT YOU HAVE CARRIED THE GERMS ON YOUR FEET AND CLOTHES TO THE OTHERS
DO YOU HAVE A VET IN THE TOWN WHERE YOU SHOP?
IF SO SEE IF HE WILL SEE THEM

THEY DEFINETLY DO NEED SOME ANTIBIOTICS TO GET THEM OVER THE RESPIRATORY DISEASE

also you didn't say if they had any blood in the droppings?

this if so could be coccidiosis

is the feed your giving them a new sack or has it been opened a long time?

feed over a month old which the tag would have the milling date on it

is generally lacking in vitamins

also you could put Vetrex on the head of all the chickens sick and under the wings and 1/2 tsp down the throat
and 1 tsp per gallon of water
this is a herbal medication that does help with the repiratory disease

you can get it from Smith poultry supply

FOR you TO get this Vetrx


HERE IS THEIR INFROMATION
Smith Poultry & Game Bird Supply Home A family-owned business that offers poultry and game bird books, supplies, vitamins and medication. Located in Kansas, US.
www.poultrysupplies.com/ - Cached - Similar

Smith Poultry & Game Bird Supply

14000 W. 215th St., Bucyrus, KS 66013-9519

Ph. 913-879-2587 - 7:30 A. M. - 3 P. M CST Monday-Friday

24-hour Fax. 913-533-2497

WHILE WAITING FOR THE NEW MEDS DO THIS


do this
now the
natural probiotic recipe is is:
3 tbsp of dry crumbles
4 tbsp of milk, sweet, sour, or buttermilk or a mixture of all or some
1 tbsp of yoguart of non flavored yoguart ( no artificial sweetmer)
mix good
AFTER PUTTING vIT'S IN
PUT 1 TBSP OF APPLE SAUCE FOR THE WET MASH PROBIOTIC

NOW THE IMPORTANT INGRIEDIENT FOR EACH CHICKen FED
and add 1- 400 mg of Vit E by cutting the end off the vit E capsule for each chickEN fed this wet mash
putting it in the wet mash

FOR each chickenNyour treating
so for each chickEN use 2 tBsp of mixture and 1-1000 mg of Vit E

and feed each chicken
2 tBsp full of the wet mash probiotic and what they will clean up in 20-30 minutes
then clean wet feeders and restock dry crumbles

do this twice a day for a week
then quit the Vit E make just the wet mash probiotic
then once a week for life

All the while after mdicating the birds use
do not use ACV with medication

2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar per gallon of the chicken water so their gut flora wil be regulated
they should have this at least 3-5 days a week
then three days aweek after they are over coccidiosis
the vit's are neccessary to clean up the damaged gut problem
take all the electrolytes out of the water

ALSO AFTER THE MEDICATION IS DONE FEED THIS AGAIN as time listed

email me any questions

 

[shenderson]

Glenda - Thanks so much for the advice! I have answered your questions below.

DO YOU HAVE A VET IN THE TOWN WHERE YOU SHOP?
IF SO SEE IF HE WILL SEE THEM -

I will call my farm vet. Not sure if he treats chickens or not.

THEY DEFINETLY DO NEED SOME ANTIBIOTICS TO GET THEM OVER THE RESPIRATORY DISEASE

also you didn't say if they had any blood in the droppings?

No blood, just very watery in the cockerel. Haven't noticed abnormal dropping in either of the others.

this if so could be coccidiosis

is the feed your giving them a new sack or has it been opened a long time?

feed over a month old which the tag would have the milling date on it

The feed might be close to a month old or a little older. We are at the very bottom and will be getting a new bag tonight.

is generally lacking in vitamins

also you could put Vetrex on the head of all the chickens sick and under the wings and 1/2 tsp down the throat
and 1 tsp per gallon of water
this is a herbal medication that does help with the repiratory disease

Since it is Friday, I won't be able to get anything ordered and shipped for this weekend. Is there anything at the feed store (we use Tractor Supply) that would be helpful?

 

[dlhunicorn]

The youngest bird might have gotten some dust in its nostrils and then struggling with that might have aspirated while drinking ... bringing it into the house might have alleviated the dust problems ?

I would give the birds polyvisol enfamil (this is a childrens liquid A-B-D vitamin > get the one without the extra iron) > three drops in beak once a day for a week then taper off the next. Vit A deficiency is very common and this will ensure you have dealt with that.

What are the temps there? If very hot and you notice the birds being lethargic or panting then put electrolytes/vit in their water.

 

[shenderson]

Thanks, dlhunicorn.

I will get the vitamins tomorrow. Quick update:

#1 - Still seems to be doing better but I still hear the rattle (especially in the evening). Eating and drinking and much more willing to have me handle her although I know she is missing her peeps.

#2 - Cockerel seemed to be doing better also. Was up eating and drinking when I got home from work.

#3 - BO was the same. Did not venture out of the coop but doesn't have the "sick" look about her. Her comb and wattles are still very pale (as is the other pullets) when do they start to get red? Also, is there usually any odd behavior right before they start laying? I know she is only 15 weeks so it would be early for that. I am going to check her out better tomorrow.

Luckily, all others seem to be doing just fine! Is it normal for some chickens to have better immunity than others?

Thanks and again ANY advice is appreciated!

Sandy

 

[shenderson]

UPDATE and a couple of questions:

#1 EE chick is still the same. She is eEating, drinking, regular poo but I still hear the rattle when she breaths. Today it sounds more like its coming from one nostril but there is no discharge at all. Should I start her on antibiotic or since she seems to be feeling well should I wait and let her fignt it off without the drugs?

#2 Welsummer cockerel - Acting completely normal today. I still have him isolated which he is not very happy about. Fusses at me everytime I walk by. Can chickens have a 24 hour bug and recover this quickly? Is it OK to put him back in with the others or should I continue to observe him for a couple of days?

#3 BO pullet - Was the first one out of the coop this morning and has been out and about with the others all day. The rooster that is in with her is 17 weeks and has just begun trying to breed the pullets. The first time I saw him try there was a lot of squaking and running and he ended up walking around with a tuft of feathers in his beak. Here is the question: Is it possible that he tried to breed with her and it scared or hurt her so she didn't come out of the coop?

Thanks for the help. I'm learning so much from reading BYC.

Sandy

 

[threehorses]

Along with the recommendations about vitamins, to the other birds I'd also give yogurt daily. The youngest will need it as the sinus secretions will drain into the digestive tract (through the cleft opening in the roof of the beak) and throw off the balance of the digestive tract.
The one that had diarrhea could use it in case he was just 'off'.
The third hen, the pullet, could use it as she's getting near to laying age and is feeling ill.

For the first chick, I would also recommend getting a small (2 ounce) bottle of VetRx. It's around $6. If you can't find it at the feedstore for poultry, try their rabbit version. Or if you can't find that, call the big-chain petstores and ask for Marshall Pet Peter Rabbit Rx (pronounced 'rix') as it's the same formula.

You will mix several drops of very hot water with several drops of VetRx right from the bottle. Mixing elulsifies the oil into the hot water and cools the temp to a safe temperature. Use a new-q-tip end for each spot, and a brand new q-tip for each separate bird when you use this. Swab each of the nostrils with a q-tip dampened (not soaking) with the VetRx emulsion. Use a qet (but not dripping) q-tip to swab the opening in the roof of the mouth, the opening we call the "choana". That opens into the sinuses and will fume them, facilitating airflow and possibly reducing inflammation. It's very useful for birds with any upper respiratory issues to help them breathe.

I'd also hold the bird and feel if he's breathing hard in his lower respiratory system. (Tail bobbing, breathing with his entire body more so than a normal chick - compare them by holding them.) Don't confuse the little silent peeps of contentment with breathing. If he has some labored breathing (even subtle) in the lower respiratory system, then I would treat with an appropriate antibiotic. At this point I personally would wait a day. If you do decide to treat, remember to use the label's recommendations for dosage (no less) for at least the number of days they recommend. You will want to use a probiotic (living bacteria) every day during treatment with antibiotics and every other day for 2 weeks afterwards to replace good bacteria unfortunately killed with the bad. You cannot use yogurt if you use a medicine that contains -cycline or -mycin drugs as an active ingredient (read the label). You can, however, use acidophilis capsules/tablets or Probios powder from the feedstore.

 

[shenderson]

Thanks. I checked our feedstore (TSC) for the VetRx yesterday but they don't carry it. I will try the other pet supply stores in town tomorrow. I would prefer to hold off on the antibiotics if possible but I also don't want to delay treatment if it's inevitable.

My husband is picking up the yogurt tonight. I tried once to get them to eat it but noone seemed interested. Do you have any suggestions?

Also what are your thoughts about moving the cockerel back in with the other chicks? I was going to wait until tomorrow morning and if he still looks good then move him back. Do you think it's safe?

For the BO when do their combs start to get red? I have two pullets and both are very pale, a third pullet (I think) has a slightly larger comb and wattles and it has more color to it. (Not red like the cockerel we gave away but definitely darker than the other two? Do you think that the rooster might have been the cause of her actions yesterday or do you think she might be getting ready to start laying (at 15 weeks, I know that would be early)?

Sorry for all the questions and thank you for your willingness to help.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
The cockerel ... I think that sounds more like a one-off thing. If it wasn't, they're likely more exposed from the other birds anyway. I'd watch him and all others for any signs of something then separate them.

On the VetRx, if worse comes to worse you could just order it - or re-ask the TSC store to look in their rabbit section. Sometimes they go "oh yeah!"

On the BO, usually around 5.5 months for mine. Their wattles and face will redden before, but usually I only see the comb start to grow and get more red usualy no earlier than 5 months. Honestly I use THAT to determine when to start the layer and stop grower since they're both quite similar in composition. I might toss out some oyster shell earlier - at any comb reddening at all. I like to switch foods gradually so comb changes I start ramping up for laying.

On the yogurt, some don't like it - some love it. On those that don't particularly like it, I mix it with some water - and then use that water to dampen some crumbles. Let it sit about 10 minutes to soak in. Mix crumbles til it's damp, not sticky wet. (Some birds are just offended by messiness - mine are slobs hahah). That helps. Use only enough to be eaten in about 15 minutes.

If they absolutely won't eat the yogurt, you can try acidophilis capsules/tablets or probios powder. The former from the grocery or drug store vitamin section, the latter from TSC or other feedstores. The small $8 bottle lasts ages in the fridge at 1/4t a serving. I don't use those in the water. But sometimes you can take just enough ater to make a paste out of the contents of an emptied capsule or crushed tablet or the 1/4t of probios and put that into their beaks. Or mix it with a boiled and mashed egg really well - same for yogurt. Few birds resist egg and, if you're not treating for cocciosis (in which case I'd try something other than egg) you can use that to mask a lot of good stuff.

I'm very glad to be of help. There were many days spent in the barnyard needing help but unable to get any, and no chicken vets in the area. So I vowed to help others when I came about knowledge that I KNOW PERSONALLY in my very own flock and with vet backup would work.