First post and it's a long one.
This chick was hatched with a group that all hatched April 14th/15th. At 4.5 weeks old we had a severe coccidiosis outbreak among the chicks. Out of 21, 8 were really sick and 4 passed away. This chick was one of the very sick ones that managed to survive. It's little comb was shriveled up, but its beak was fine. It was severely dehydrated. It couldn't stand or even lift its head. I thought it had passed multiple times because its breathing was so shallow. After a few days it got up and started eating/drinking on it's own.
Now it is 9 weeks old and looks like this (photo with red comb and free-ranging). It has not had any physical injuries. I did not open its mouth when syringe feeding because I didn't want to aspirate it. I only squirted tiny amounts of water containing Corid and egg yolks on the side of its beak, so no injuries from that. It's not growing at the rate of the others, now has cross beak, and looks like its whole face is crooked. Its head and neck are so tiny compared to the others. I've read about permanent damage to the bowel with very severe cases that lead to absorption issues. I've also read that cross beak that happens after 4 weeks is due to injury or malnutrition. Am I safe to assume its poor growth and cross beak are due to malnutrition because it isn't absorbing nutrients from the feed? Would things like that happen that quickly? It's the only conclusion I've came to, but I could be completely wrong. I've never seen any bullying or anything that could have caused a physical injury. I've read fermenting the feed helps with digestion. If it is malnutrition from poor absorption, are there any other ways to help it get proper nutrition in addition to fermenting the feed? Is there anything else I need to know about his future care or impacts to his quality of life? I have read about helping to trim the beak if it gets overgrown.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Ameraucana x Silver Laced Wyandotte, 9 weeks old, unsure on exact weight, but definitely smaller and lighter than the others.
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Poor growth and new cross beak
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? I've noticed the progression of these things over the past few weeks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. It all started after severe coccidiosis. I have not seen any other behaviors or incidents that would lead me to believe there was a physical injury.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Water, Dumor 20% Chick Starter, and anything he picks up free ranging. They don't venture far from their coop, so they're just in the yard.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. He's in with others, so idk which is his, but it all looks like normal chicken droppings.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I treated the coccidiosis with Corid and am looking for guidance on how to help if this is malnutrition from bowel damage and guidance on future care.
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 don't believe a vet is necessary. Just insight on how to care for it moving forward.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Pictures attached.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
They are in a grow out coop/run. Multiple roost bars, pine bedding in bottom of coop. The run is a triangular run made of wood and hardware cloth. Coop is off the ground attached to the triangular run. Their previous accommodations were two big pet exercise pens put together to make a brooder with pine shavings in the bottom.
*Photos of him sick showing normal beak are him laying on the ground (cleaning and replacing bedding) and him in my lap (getting water via syringe). Photo of his face and him free-ranging with his hatch mates were two days ago.
This chick was hatched with a group that all hatched April 14th/15th. At 4.5 weeks old we had a severe coccidiosis outbreak among the chicks. Out of 21, 8 were really sick and 4 passed away. This chick was one of the very sick ones that managed to survive. It's little comb was shriveled up, but its beak was fine. It was severely dehydrated. It couldn't stand or even lift its head. I thought it had passed multiple times because its breathing was so shallow. After a few days it got up and started eating/drinking on it's own.
Now it is 9 weeks old and looks like this (photo with red comb and free-ranging). It has not had any physical injuries. I did not open its mouth when syringe feeding because I didn't want to aspirate it. I only squirted tiny amounts of water containing Corid and egg yolks on the side of its beak, so no injuries from that. It's not growing at the rate of the others, now has cross beak, and looks like its whole face is crooked. Its head and neck are so tiny compared to the others. I've read about permanent damage to the bowel with very severe cases that lead to absorption issues. I've also read that cross beak that happens after 4 weeks is due to injury or malnutrition. Am I safe to assume its poor growth and cross beak are due to malnutrition because it isn't absorbing nutrients from the feed? Would things like that happen that quickly? It's the only conclusion I've came to, but I could be completely wrong. I've never seen any bullying or anything that could have caused a physical injury. I've read fermenting the feed helps with digestion. If it is malnutrition from poor absorption, are there any other ways to help it get proper nutrition in addition to fermenting the feed? Is there anything else I need to know about his future care or impacts to his quality of life? I have read about helping to trim the beak if it gets overgrown.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Ameraucana x Silver Laced Wyandotte, 9 weeks old, unsure on exact weight, but definitely smaller and lighter than the others.
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Poor growth and new cross beak
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? I've noticed the progression of these things over the past few weeks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. It all started after severe coccidiosis. I have not seen any other behaviors or incidents that would lead me to believe there was a physical injury.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Water, Dumor 20% Chick Starter, and anything he picks up free ranging. They don't venture far from their coop, so they're just in the yard.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. He's in with others, so idk which is his, but it all looks like normal chicken droppings.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I treated the coccidiosis with Corid and am looking for guidance on how to help if this is malnutrition from bowel damage and guidance on future care.
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 don't believe a vet is necessary. Just insight on how to care for it moving forward.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Pictures attached.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
They are in a grow out coop/run. Multiple roost bars, pine bedding in bottom of coop. The run is a triangular run made of wood and hardware cloth. Coop is off the ground attached to the triangular run. Their previous accommodations were two big pet exercise pens put together to make a brooder with pine shavings in the bottom.
*Photos of him sick showing normal beak are him laying on the ground (cleaning and replacing bedding) and him in my lap (getting water via syringe). Photo of his face and him free-ranging with his hatch mates were two days ago.
