On the mend, but still questions: UPDATE, 20 week old banty wormy as heck,

[aoxa]

Sue, I agree with Justine that it probably isn't gapeworm - especially with the pumpkin eating just prior. Am hoping you don't see it on a repetitiv basis, because then I would get worried.

I did try Mrs Murphy with liver and heart from the butchered roos, no dice.
I'm thinking I will take some beef liver and put it in the blender with a little water, and take away her water and see if she will drink the watery liver soup as a substitute.

Hard to know what is really happening here. Weakened and not eating and then worm overload? In which case I haven't dealt with whatever the underlying problem is. If I can't get her to eat more, she is not going to make it and culling would be a kindness.

Her droppings are starting to go to more bright green, a sign that she isn't getting nutrients?

Her instincts are all that are making her eat. She will eat a tiny bit if it falls on the floor, or is scattered.

At least I am home today and can get her to eat a teeny tiny bit every 15 minutes!

What is your time line for her? If she doesn't show improvement before _______ you will cull her. I think setting a time line is important now that you've wormed her.. No sense in her suffering, however hard it may be to do. I've tried to nurse many along, and very rarely do I have a good outcome. Margaret was my exception. Her death was very fast in the end, which was a blessing in disguise I think.

My first cull was a SLW named Dott. I tried to nurse her along until the flock saw her as the weakest link and almost killed her. I brought her inside, tried to nurse her - but after two days I could see it wasn't getting any better.. I culled her and it was the hardest cull I have ever done.

 

[Eggcessive]

She might have a case of coccidiosis that has weakened her along with the worm infestation. To Leah's Mom: I doubt if she has gapeworm or she would do it non-stop. I have watched my chickens occasionally gape, and I think it is adjusting their crops. Here is a good video of what gapeworm looks like for those who haven't seen it, along with treatment recommendations: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831466/hen-breathing-very-heavily-advice-video-included

 

[aoxa]

She might have a case of coccidiosis that has weakened her along with the worm infestation. To Leah's Mom: I doubt if she has gapeworm or she would do it non-stop. I have watched my chickens occasionally gape, and I think it is adjusting their crops. Here is a good video of what gapeworm looks like for those who haven't seen it, along with treatment recommendations: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831466/hen-breathing-very-heavily-advice-video-included

So hard to watch...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes..I could only watch a tiny bit then quit. Definitely not doing that. I was out a bit just a minute or 2 ago and doesn't appear to be doing it at all. I picked her/him up (had to be stealthy...theses kids are broody raised and a bit wild) and she screamed like I was killing her non-stop. Seemed to have some good lung capacity!

 

[aoxa]

Yes..I could only watch a tiny bit then quit. Definitely not doing that. I was out a bit just a minute or 2 ago and doesn't appear to be doing it at all. I picked her/him up (had to be stealthy...theses kids are broody raised and a bit wild) and she screamed like I was killing her non-stop. Seemed to have some good lung capacity!

The ones that scream like this are awesome. That's their prey instincts. I have quite a few like this. Hurts the ears!

 

[Leahs Mom]

They are all still quite jittery after the hawk. Even the kids that small.

I would imagine that they have seen hawks around even if I haven't...and even when they're still in jail.

If we have some time this weekend we may do some fish line stringing over the open area they have to run through to get to the woods. I've avoided that since it's a pretty large area but I think it could be done..if the hawks don't just fly right under it which I'd think they could figure out pretty easily to be honest.

We'll have to do an assessment but I'm thinking something like a dog tie-out swivel thingie that you pound into the ground and having the strings going up from there to the trees rather than just going from one high point to another. I think that might make it less likely for them to fly under. Keep worrying about it breaking and having the birds get tangled up in it, however.

 

[lalaland]

She might have a case of coccidiosis that has weakened her along with the worm infestation. To Leah's Mom: I doubt if she has gapeworm or she would do it non-stop. I have watched my chickens occasionally gape, and I think it is adjusting their crops. Here is a good video of what gapeworm looks like for those who haven't seen it, along with treatment recommendations: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831466/hen-breathing-very-heavily-advice-video-included

yeah, if she has cocci, I'm thinking it is her weakened condition that let it get out of control. there is no flesh on her what so ever, just skin and bones. I'm having a hard time thinking worms could make her that skinny. I'm going to have to start handling the young pullets at least weekly so I can catch something like this way way way earlier.

I think that is why it is so hard to cull her because I feel very guilty about having let her get to this point without notice. SHe looked ok but under the feathers - there's nothing.

I just got a tablesppon of minced beef liver into her. will repeat in an hour or two.

 

[lalaland]

What is your time line for her? If she doesn't show improvement before _______ you will cull her. I think setting a time line is important now that you've wormed her.. No sense in her suffering, however hard it may be to do. I've tried to nurse many along, and very rarely do I have a good outcome. Margaret was my exception. Her death was very fast in the end, which was a blessing in disguise I think.

My first cull was a SLW named Dott. I tried to nurse her along until the flock saw her as the weakest link and almost killed her. I brought her inside, tried to nurse her - but after two days I could see it wasn't getting any better.. I culled her and it was the hardest cull I have ever done.

I know, I've only had a good outcome once out of multiple times with illnesses. Much better with things like hawk injuries.

I talked to an avian vet friend today, she said if the bird is that emaciated she might be too far gone, but if she is going to improve it will be very very slowly. I think by Sunday, if it doesn't seem like she is improving I will try to bring myself to cull her. If she takes any turns to the worse, I'll cull her that day.

I noticed today she isn't drinking continuously as she was before, not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. After noticing, I just now took her water away and replaced with watered milk.

 

[Eggcessive]

The gapeworm video is hard to watch, but each day people write in on the emergency thread thinking their bird has gapeworm. Some chickens are normal, and some clearly have a respiratory disease. Gapeworm is very rare, and this video is a good tool to use I think. Yes it is hard to watch, but hopefully the person has got it under control now. A small packet of Corid (amprollium) is a nice thing to keep around to treat coccidiosis if it happens. I like to be as natural as possible, but I would probably get some and treat one of my pets. It's only 1 1/2 tsp of powder (or 2 tsp of the liquid) per gallon of water--smaller portions would be good since it needs new solution every day. It is a thiamine inhibitor, not an antibiotic, and will do her no harm, despite the opinions of a few. People use it everyday on this forum with good results.

 

[aoxa]

The gapeworm video is hard to watch, but each day people write in on the emergency thread thinking their bird has gapeworm. Some chickens are normal, and some clearly have a respiratory disease. Gapeworm is very rare, and this video is a good tool to use I think. Yes it is hard to watch, but hopefully the person has got it under control now. A small packet of Corid (amprollium) is a nice thing to keep around to treat coccidiosis if it happens. I like to be as natural as possible, but I would probably get some and treat one of my pets. It's only 1 1/2 tsp of powder (or 2 tsp of the liquid) per gallon of water--smaller portions would be good since it needs new solution every day. It is a thiamine inhibitor, not an antibiotic, and will do her no harm, despite the opinions of a few. People use it everyday on this forum with good results.

It definitely is a good training tool, albeit sad.

I won't mess with cocci. I treat. I lost almost 20 chicks to it this summer.. It is FAST.