Our Delaware is sick as of this AM.

[Newbie Chicken Wrangler]

Afternoon,

I've been reading up on as much info as I can, but I figured I'd come right to the experts here on this forum. Our 9-10 mo old Delaware has her head tucked up into her chest, and very lethargic. She's just standing under the maple tree hiding with her eyes closed. There's a very thick mucus type of discharge from her beak, but not the nostrils or the eyes.
I read about sour crop, but from my reading am I to understand that I can't really feel/check her crop unless it's morning time? Her comb is slightly whitened and looks like it's dehydrated. She's not eating nor is interested in water. We've separated her from the rest of flock, and she's resting comfortably in a dog crate. I can't tell her poop color/consistency since I can't tell which is her's.

 

[Kiki]

I am sorry your are going though this right now.
It is very important that she stays hydrated.
Does her crop/mouth smell funny when you smell it?
What do you feed her and do you offer grit free choice?

 

[Newbie Chicken Wrangler]

Yes, there's a sour type smell, but I also have noticed she's having issue breathing. So I'm not sure which is the issue; a respiratory infection, or the crop. We went to the feed store, I guess they discontinued selling any kind of antibiotic as of the beginning of the year, so all we were able to get was some electrolytes. I've been trying to syringe it into her beak, which perked her up a couple hours ago and she readily drank about 2 ounces of the mixture. But since then she's unwilling to eat or drink, even if I try to rinse her goopy beak out. I'm unwilling to force it down her throat, since an article I read said one could risk making her aspirate on the water. So I just put it at the edge of her beak and try to rinse her beak out and wet her tongue.

Yes, the girls have a index card box we screwed to the coop full of oyster shell grit, so they can grab it at will. We feed a mix of pellets, oats, chopped corn bits and whatever else I give from the food scraps. And then they have run of our yard to look for bugs, and scratch around.
Although yesterday I did boil up some whole grain spaghetti noodles and some of the corn bits (softening them as a treat) - the BF decided the whole grain were not to his liking, so I thought I'd treat the girls. Now, all the flock ate the same items, so I'm unsure if that's the reason? I just feel so bad for her.
We aren't willing to pay for a vet visit, but if there's ANYTHING I can do that isn't really costly, we'd give it a go. She's my favorite lady. Plus, I'm worried if she's already infected the rest of the girls? And if we did get the antibiotics, would she still be a carrier of the infection? Is that what I read?

 

[Eggcessive]

Feel of her crop now to see if it feels full and hard or full and puffy like a balloon. It should feel empty now if she has not been eating, and it is normally empty in early morning. If you think she has a sour or impacted crop, there are several good threads by TwoCrows and others about crop treatments. Thechickenchick.com also has some good info as well. A respiratory disease should cause gasping or wheezing, a runny nose or watery/foamy eyes. Many respiratory diseases are viruses, and antibiotics won't effect those. With bacterial diseases, they can be useful, and Tylan 50 injectable, used orally or as a shot, to treat them. Other reasons for a puny chicken could be coccidiosis or a reproductive problem, among others. The main thing is to check symptoms, try to get her drinking some water with electrolytes and vitamins (from feed stores) and offer some chopped egg, and mix a small bowl of chicken feed, a lot of water, and a bit of plain yogurt. Don't use any whole grains right now, just chicken feed. If her crop is puffy, give water and massage her crop several times a day.

 

[Newbie Chicken Wrangler]

Where might I obtain Tylan 50? I'll check everyone's crop now so I have something to compare it to.

 

[Newbie Chicken Wrangler]

Well not promising.. Her beak is plastered to her chest from the crud in her beak. And now her eyes are stuck shut from a white coating. She's got one best buddy who's desperately trying to get to her - Since the unsick one is at the bottom of the pecking order, Deli was her wing woman. I called the vet, they won't give out Tylan without a visit (not even one avail til Tues ith their poultry vet). Deli won't be around then, I fear. I got the name of an oncall equine vet from the vet's office. (I'm sure that's expensive, so not trying to go that route). Is it better to just put her out of her misery? I really like her and want to see her get well. I'm back to the watering her beak and wiping out the gunk in her eyes, but IDK what else I can do??

 

[Newbie Chicken Wrangler]

The goop from her beak is crusting around her beak in a dark brown crust. She's weezing badly. I'm really sad. Does she have a chance at recovery?

 

[Newbie Chicken Wrangler]

So, I got the Tylan 50 at the Tractor Store. I'm a bit annoyed with the Country Store for informing me that I could only obtain that from a vet. I gave her an injection of .5 ML. What's the appropriate dosage/frequency? It seemed to perk her up a tad. She's just drank some water with electrolytes and had a bit of plain yogurt. I was so happy to see her eating and drinking on her own.
However, when I went to place her back in the quarantine crate, I noticed blood on the straw. Not a lot, but IDK where it's coming It worries me. Is that normal to see with a respiratory infection?