Hi Everyone,
First and foremost, this forum is the best. I always use it to learn so thank you in advance as this is my first real post.
I purchased about fourteen 1-month old chicks from the same farm at the same time (2 polish, 2 silkie, 2 brahma, 2 cochin, ...). Overall, was super happy as I've been preparing for their arrival for some time. After arriving home, the first one that jumps out and is active is the 1 of the polish (frizzle one). He quickly became my favorite. However after about 2 days, I start noticed his entire demeaner changed. He wasn't as active and he almost seemed to become an outcast. When the entire group would huddle-up together (all 13 of them), he would be 5 feet apart, by himself in the corner of the coop, with his head down. That's when I became worried about him. I'll answer the questions below on what since then has happened and what i've seen or done. Appreciate your collective so thank you in advance.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Polish Frizzle - aged ~approx 4-5 weeks old. He does not seem lighter/thinner. However, due to his/her age and having frizzled feathers, I do see his skin between the feathers.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Not active. Does not really want to walk. He sometimes walks, but definitely does not run. The other chicks are running, flapping their wings, jumping around, chirping...bascially super energetic. He stays to himself and is completely different. He does walk but not that often and it's quite slow. He sits down a bit or stands in the same place. He also turns his head/neck back to scratch under his wings, his back, wherever. Maybe it's preening his feathers. I'm not sure if that is normal or not. The other chicks don't do it as much, but then again, he is the only frizzle so maybe it's unique to frizzles. He also sometimes stretches his neck up high and opens his mouth like a stretch (no noise) - I attached a picture of this. Lastly, he sometimes puts his head in the feeder and just sleeps there (at least that what I think because he isn't making any movements to indicate eating).
In terms of symptoms - I have tried to listen for wheazing or gasping or sneezing or coughing- zero as of now. He also does not have a runny nose. His eyes are not puffy. His legs seem clean and fine. I do not see any signs of trauma. I attached pictures, maybe you will see something.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I've had him for 5 days. On the first day, I did not notice anything odd about him. Only the past 4 days. I will say that the first day may have been unique, because the others were a bit timid but now are having the time of their lives running, jumping, etc...Maybe the polish was like this when I got him, but I remember the first day him being the most outgoing.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No. I also isolated him by creating a mini-chicken coop in the garage that he will hopefully recover in over the next 7-10 days.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No, I have done a physical and visual test. I'm not a doctor/vet, however, I read a few posts and watched some youtube videos on how to get a physical examination of the a chicken and what to look for.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
He has moved to a new place. That is the only major thing that I can think of.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. He is pecking at the feeder all day, almost non-stop. I can't imagine he is eating all of it. However, he is pooping regularly so some of time he is eating. There are other times, that he just puts his head in the feeder and doesn't move (looks like he's sleeping....or like what those cartoon ostriches do when they just stick their head in the ground).
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Looks normal to me
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I have isolated him for 3 days now, plan to do for total of 10 days. I have put vitamin C (oral powder) and enrofloxacin (oral solution) into his water feeder. In addition, I gave him an epson salt bath today for 5 minutes. I also gave him a few drops down his through and rubbed a bit on his body - VetRx. Each day, I bring his little coop outside so he can get fresh air. I also let him walk around the front yard under my supervision on the grass (for about 10 minutes) so he can get sunlight. He does take a few steps but he isn't running around by any means.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? I live in Dubai so there are no vets that treat chickens. So i plan to do it myself and hopefully with some insights from you all on how to best manage this situation as I really want him to get better.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I attached a bunch of pics, from him just standing, to close ups of his face, to him taking a dust bath this morning
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
In the chicken coop - it is dirt.
In his isolation area - large cardboard box, with rubber mat laid out, with allergen-free thin wood shavings on top. I've also put a 75W normal lightbulb about 1 foot off the ground towards 1 side of the box.
Again, appreciate everyone's input and pardon the long post but hopefully it provides enough information for you. Lastly, thank you in advance
First and foremost, this forum is the best. I always use it to learn so thank you in advance as this is my first real post.
I purchased about fourteen 1-month old chicks from the same farm at the same time (2 polish, 2 silkie, 2 brahma, 2 cochin, ...). Overall, was super happy as I've been preparing for their arrival for some time. After arriving home, the first one that jumps out and is active is the 1 of the polish (frizzle one). He quickly became my favorite. However after about 2 days, I start noticed his entire demeaner changed. He wasn't as active and he almost seemed to become an outcast. When the entire group would huddle-up together (all 13 of them), he would be 5 feet apart, by himself in the corner of the coop, with his head down. That's when I became worried about him. I'll answer the questions below on what since then has happened and what i've seen or done. Appreciate your collective so thank you in advance.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Polish Frizzle - aged ~approx 4-5 weeks old. He does not seem lighter/thinner. However, due to his/her age and having frizzled feathers, I do see his skin between the feathers.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Not active. Does not really want to walk. He sometimes walks, but definitely does not run. The other chicks are running, flapping their wings, jumping around, chirping...bascially super energetic. He stays to himself and is completely different. He does walk but not that often and it's quite slow. He sits down a bit or stands in the same place. He also turns his head/neck back to scratch under his wings, his back, wherever. Maybe it's preening his feathers. I'm not sure if that is normal or not. The other chicks don't do it as much, but then again, he is the only frizzle so maybe it's unique to frizzles. He also sometimes stretches his neck up high and opens his mouth like a stretch (no noise) - I attached a picture of this. Lastly, he sometimes puts his head in the feeder and just sleeps there (at least that what I think because he isn't making any movements to indicate eating).
In terms of symptoms - I have tried to listen for wheazing or gasping or sneezing or coughing- zero as of now. He also does not have a runny nose. His eyes are not puffy. His legs seem clean and fine. I do not see any signs of trauma. I attached pictures, maybe you will see something.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I've had him for 5 days. On the first day, I did not notice anything odd about him. Only the past 4 days. I will say that the first day may have been unique, because the others were a bit timid but now are having the time of their lives running, jumping, etc...Maybe the polish was like this when I got him, but I remember the first day him being the most outgoing.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No. I also isolated him by creating a mini-chicken coop in the garage that he will hopefully recover in over the next 7-10 days.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No, I have done a physical and visual test. I'm not a doctor/vet, however, I read a few posts and watched some youtube videos on how to get a physical examination of the a chicken and what to look for.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
He has moved to a new place. That is the only major thing that I can think of.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. He is pecking at the feeder all day, almost non-stop. I can't imagine he is eating all of it. However, he is pooping regularly so some of time he is eating. There are other times, that he just puts his head in the feeder and doesn't move (looks like he's sleeping....or like what those cartoon ostriches do when they just stick their head in the ground).
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Looks normal to me
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I have isolated him for 3 days now, plan to do for total of 10 days. I have put vitamin C (oral powder) and enrofloxacin (oral solution) into his water feeder. In addition, I gave him an epson salt bath today for 5 minutes. I also gave him a few drops down his through and rubbed a bit on his body - VetRx. Each day, I bring his little coop outside so he can get fresh air. I also let him walk around the front yard under my supervision on the grass (for about 10 minutes) so he can get sunlight. He does take a few steps but he isn't running around by any means.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? I live in Dubai so there are no vets that treat chickens. So i plan to do it myself and hopefully with some insights from you all on how to best manage this situation as I really want him to get better.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I attached a bunch of pics, from him just standing, to close ups of his face, to him taking a dust bath this morning
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
In the chicken coop - it is dirt.
In his isolation area - large cardboard box, with rubber mat laid out, with allergen-free thin wood shavings on top. I've also put a 75W normal lightbulb about 1 foot off the ground towards 1 side of the box.
Again, appreciate everyone's input and pardon the long post but hopefully it provides enough information for you. Lastly, thank you in advance
