Now Queen Bee is lethargic, not eating, not drinking, and panting...

[ValerieJ]

Queen Victoria was sick a couple weeks ago. Treated her with antibiotics first and baby aspirin because she was panting. She was responding to that, but then the float test came back for Coccidiosis, so I changed up the treatment based on the vet's advice. Mind you, not a chicken vet. She only has the float test checked for worms, and it came back "presence of Cocci."

Well, now the whole flock has been treated with Corid for 10 days, ending on Monday, incl. Mon., and towards the end Queen Bee was beginning to not seem herself. Wasn't sure what it was, just a little fluffed up. I've been giving them vitamins and probiotics all week to build them back up and hopefully bring her perky self.

Today, she seemed to be worse, so I brought her in to sick bay. She came without objection. I gave her a direct dose of Nutri-Drench and put vitamins in her water. I wonder if I should be giving her antibiotics and aspirin, like I did Queen V. At this point, I'm not sure it wasn't the antibiotics that helped Queen V, and not necessarily the Corid.

I wish I had more experience with illnesses! I haven't had to deal with them before, and now feel so unprepared. Any advice?

 

[chicknmania]

That's scary. I do know that Coccidia become apparent in larger numbers in sick birds, I believe just because the bird's immune system drops.. I've seen it a few times in sick birds. It is normal for chickens to have SOME coccidia, but when they develop in large numbers in an adult bird, it usually means there's some underlying problem.

I very recently lost a pullet to the same type of thing...panting, fluffed up, lethargic,, but she never really lost her appetite. She too responded to vitamins and antibiotics ( our vet suggested an injectible antibiotic, but I decided to use Baytril since I had it). I administered the antibiotic for a few days after her fecal came back negative for everything. And I gave her aspirin for her panting too (because I remembered it worked for you,) and it did work for my pullet Jemima, too. But then she declined, and eventually developed loss of function in her legs, and I believe she probably had Marek's disease, or something similar.

Point being, sometimes they do respond to medication or treatment for whatever reason, and it's hard to figure out why, when we're just taking a shot in the dark. And sometimes they do recover from whatever it is too and we're not really sure why.

You might want to try to get some Oxine, which is a very powerful disinfectant, it's 10 times more powerful than bleach. It's a little pricey but a little goes a LONG way. You can put a quarter cup in a gallon of water, and then put that in a spray bottle, and spray everything....including misting the birds themselves. You can even put a couple of drops per gallon in their drinking water. Last time I got any, I got it online from 1st State Vet Supply, and I believe he still carries it. Another good product is First Saturday Lime. You can use that in the pen and it will not harm the birds, but it's good to use to help with disinfecting efforts. It's also available online. It's so much better than agricultural lime, which will hurt the birds if you try to use it in the pen with them in there.

I'm sure others will jump in here, but if I were you I'd use the antibiotics and aspirin again, and see if they work a second time. If you just administered Corid for ten days, I wouldn't feel the need to use it again. What antibiotic were you using? Maybe it is something infectious that is floating around. How old are your hens? And does Queen V continue to look and act healthy, now that she's recovered?

 

[ValerieJ]

That's scary. I do know that Coccidia become apparent in larger numbers in sick birds, I believe just because the bird's immune system drops.. I've seen it a few times in sick birds. It is normal for chickens to have SOME coccidia, but when they develop in large numbers in an adult bird, it usually means there's some underlying problem.

I very recently lost a pullet to the same type of thing...panting, fluffed up, lethargic,, but she never really lost her appetite. She too responded to vitamins and antibiotics ( our vet suggested an injectible antibiotic, but I decided to use Baytril since I had it). I administered the antibiotic for a few days after her fecal came back negative for everything. And I gave her aspirin for her panting too (because I remembered it worked for you,) and it did work for my pullet Jemima, too. But then she declined, and eventually developed loss of function in her legs, and I believe she probably had Marek's disease, or something similar.

Point being, sometimes they do respond to medication or treatment for whatever reason, and it's hard to figure out why, when we're just taking a shot in the dark. And sometimes they do recover from whatever it is too and we're not really sure why.

You might want to try to get some Oxine, which is a very powerful disinfectant, it's 10 times more powerful than bleach. It's a little pricey but a little goes a LONG way. You can put a quarter cup in a gallon of water, and then put that in a spray bottle, and spray everything....including misting the birds themselves. You can even put a couple of drops per gallon in their drinking water. Last time I got any, I got it online from 1st State Vet Supply, and I believe he still carries it. Another good product is First Saturday Lime. You can use that in the pen and it will not harm the birds, but it's good to use to help with disinfecting efforts. It's also available online. It's so much better than agricultural lime, which will hurt the birds if you try to use it in the pen with them in there.

I'm sure others will jump in here, but if I were you I'd use the antibiotics and aspirin again, and see if they work a second time. If you just administered Corid for ten days, I wouldn't feel the need to use it again. What antibiotic were you using? Maybe it is something infectious that is floating around. How old are your hens? And does Queen V continue to look and act healthy, now that she's recovered?

Thanks for all your input. Queen Bee does look better tonight. I'll take a look in the morning before deciding to do something new, but I will keep all your advice in mind.

 

[chicknmania]

Also I would get another fecal done unless shes recently been dewormed. What she has might be totally unrelated to what your other hen had.

 

[ValerieJ]

Also I would get another fecal done unless shes recently been dewormed. What she has might be totally unrelated to what your other hen had.

No floats available around here right now.

 

[Deb ekholm]

Queen Victoria was sick a couple weeks ago. Treated her with antibiotics first and baby aspirin because she was panting. She was responding to that, but then the float test came back for Coccidiosis, so I changed up the treatment based on the vet's advice. Mind you, not a chicken vet. She only has the float test checked for worms, and it came back "presence of Cocci."

Well, now the whole flock has been treated with Corid for 10 days, ending on Monday, incl. Mon., and towards the end Queen Bee was beginning to not seem herself. Wasn't sure what it was, just a little fluffed up. I've been giving them vitamins and probiotics all week to build them back up and hopefully bring her perky self.

Today, she seemed to be worse, so I brought her in to sick bay. She came without objection. I gave her a direct dose of Nutri-Drench and put vitamins in her water. I wonder if I should be giving her antibiotics and aspirin, like I did Queen V. At this point, I'm not sure it wasn't the antibiotics that helped Queen V, and not necessarily the Corid.

I wish I had more experience with illnesses! I haven't had to deal with them before, and now feel so unprepared. Any advice?

Yes you should. Keep her hydrated and get vet rx. Its amazing. You actually take a q tip hold it on the roof of there mouth and it comes out their nose and even through there eyes. No adverse reactions after six months of usage. I put it in the steamer and animals love it. We had a stray cat with sniffles and he would come in and stick his nose is steamer first thing. Makes me feel better to. Now i know you have a different diagnosis that isnt respiratory but these things make all the difference. I have never met a chicken no matter how bad they feel who doesnt perk up after a epsom salt soak.. since i have done these things i havent lost a bird and my flock is very old (thanks to our cat body'gaurds) and have been hit with multiple ailments at once. I was afraid of interactions but now i know. Excellent research out there on this disease. I just find differently ways of typing questions and get expert from every where. Luck prayers

 

[chicknmania]

No floats available around here right now.

Deworming her anyway will not hurt her, if you have a good broad spectrum dewormer, I would use it, unless she is really debilitated and not eating.

 

[ValerieJ]

Deworming her anyway will not hurt her, if you have a good broad spectrum dewormer, I would use it, unless she is really debilitated and not eating.

She is actually doing quite well this morning. Back out with the flock and I'll keep an eye on her today. I do not have a dewormer, but they were all treated for Coccidiosis a week ago. Would that also kill worms? Or just that particular worm?

 

[chicknmania]

No it doesnt kill worms. When you can you should get a broad spectrum dewormer to have on hand jic. Valbazen and Panacur (safeguard) are good. So is Levasol.All available on line and we get Panacur suspension from our 4 leg vet.

 

[chicknmania]

No worms showed up in QV,s fecal float so you are probably good there. For the time being.Depends on their environment. We have to deworm every 6 months. Sometimes more. Anyway I'd keep the flock on vitamins for a while longer if I were you.