LindsayB86
In the Brooder
- Jun 21, 2020
- 9
- 37
- 28
Hello all, I am having some serious issues with my chickens and am hoping someone here will have some ideas and/or advice. I have (had) 2 Bantam Cochin chickens (almost 2 yrs old) that are raising chicks for me in a coop and run separate from my larger birds. There is no rooster with the Bantams and chicks. Last weekend, one of the Bantam hens was fluffed up and couldn't extend her neck. It isn't twisted, but her head is just tucked in and she won't allow me to extend her neck either. She was a little off balance, but that has progressed to the point that she is unable to walk without falling forward or sideways. Now, she lies in one spot with legs splayed backwards and one or both wings out. She will eat and drink with assistance or if we set it just under her beak. The stool in the run all seems normal with the exception of one dark pile. No respiratory signs, no ocular or nasal discharge. She doesn't feel abnormally warm or cold to the touch. Crop feels empty. No foul odor to her breath. No egg palpable, vent clean. No mites/lice present. The chicks she hatched are about 6 weeks old, and I have been feeding them all Starter and Scratch grain, along with kitchen scraps and greens. I started adding a top dressing vitamin supplement to the food last weekend, as I read on a few forums that I could be dealing with a B or E deficiency. I have not brought in any new birds, nor have I visited anyone with chickens. No other birds in my flock have any symptoms, but yesterday we found the other adult bantam dead in the coop out of nowhere. She was acting completely normal the day before. I am extremely concerned about Marek's Disease, but am praying that isn't the issue here. At the advice of a friend, I have her separated and inside, attempting nursing care. I have given her layer pellets, scrambled egg and a little gatorade until I can go pick up some proper electrolytes. I also started her on a B complex supplement today. In addition to this mysterious illness with the Bantams, last night we discovered my 1.5 yr old Buff Orpington has a compound fracture of the wing. I believe it was caused by the RIR rooster, who has been relentless with this particular hen the last few weeks. It was originally my intention to move her to the other coop this weekend, but now she is also inside in a large dog kennel. The fracture and wound look to be at least a week old. I cleaned it last night, applied Silvadene and wrapped/stabilized it. My main concern (other than infection and necrotic tissue) is whether it is possible for the skin to heal over the exposed bone. We have considered euthanasia for both birds, but I want to give them a chance if it is reasonable. I have only been keeping chickens for a little over a year and this is my first experience with illness and an injury of this severity. Of course they would have to occur simultaneously. I do have over 15 years experience in the veterinary field, just not with avian medicine. I have added a photo of the lame hen and the broken wing of the other bird. Sorry for the graphic photos
. Thank you in advance to those who make it through this novel. Any input on either situation would be much appreciated!
