No visible symptoms...what is it?

[chicknmania]

I know this is a dumb question, cause it could be a million things. One of our Silkies acted a bit odd two days ago, but was broody, so we didn't pay too much attention. She died last night on the nest. Now one of our Silver Spangled Hamburg hens is acting sick, standing around, not eating. We have been intending to deworm them this month anyway; just haven't gotten around to it yet. We will tomorrow. We dewormed them this past spring with Fenbendazole Safeguard, which is supposed to kill all types of worms except tapeworms, and that is what we will use tomorrow. Could worms cause this? They don't really seem to be losing weight; hard to tell as they run all day anyway and don't carry a lot of weight. We are going to start them on Aviacharge, too. Any other ideas, suggestions, comments?

 

[chicknmania]

Great, well, we just lost the Hamburg, too. We went out to catch her, and she was gone; we looked for her for over an hour, even with the dog. We think a fox got her...since she was acting sick, probably wasn't too alert.

 

[jjthink]

UGH - so awful, all the way around. I'm so sorry for them, and for you. JJ

 

[justusnak]

chicknmania I am so sorry for your losses. I might suggest, if you lose another, to take it and have a necropsy done. At least get a few fecal samples...and take them to a vet to be tested. Just to see what sort of parasite they might have. Hopefully none....but loseing 2...so close together...something is going on there. Good luck, andI hope all the rest are well!

 

[chicknmania]

Well, this afternoon we found Snowflake (the Silver Spangled Hamburg). She is alive. Our dog actually found her, hiding in the woods. She spent the night outside! BUT...she has constant discharge....like pure water...from her nose. It is gross. We have isolated her and given her food, water, antibiotics, and dewormer, but it isn't going to do any good if she won't eat or drink. So far she hasn't. We are cooling some hard boiled eggs to chop up for her now and will try that. She is very lethargic. WHAT IS THIS!!? Also, we have disinfected the waterers she would've used with Oxine, and the feeders, as much as possible. We have never experienced this before...the constant drainage from the nose. Has anyone else? Help!!

 

[chicknmania]

This is REALLY scaring me...I'm afraid it might be some strain of bird flu...not necessarily the kind that affects humans, but there are different strains...or Coryza...it shouldn't be tracheitis as they've been vaccinated against it...oh no...not again...(just venting, sorry...)

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If you don't get a response on this thread soon, you might want to start a new thread, as this is a different chicken and has very definite symptoms. Maybe put nasal discharge in the subject line.

I hope you get some help soon. I don't have any personal experience with poultry disease, but I know there are others here that are quite good with this topic. In the mean time, I think good supportive care is the best you can do. Good luck.

 

[tiffanyh]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=10451

Try the link in this forum. Maybe it could give you some ideas.

 

[chicknmania]

I got a diagnosis from someone I know from the old byc. He thinks it's MG/MS, and I think that's a good guess, after researching the symptoms. So that's what we're going to treat it as, if we get any more sick birds. Snowflake died, too.

 

[wildflower]

What is mg/ms? and how do you treat it? I am baffled at the same symptoms. So sorry about your losses, it really is sad. I am afraid for the other dozen.