Poorly Bantam??? Or just broody??

[PD-Riverman]

I think it was flubenvet

Flubenvet is good for most worms but not tape worms in one dosage. In order to kill tape worms it needs to be repeated 3 times 1 week apart---that's if the chicken is eating the dosage it needs. Tape worms do not show up in the stool like round worms etc. You might not be able to see small sections of a tape worm.

 

[Catt69]

Hi

Just found this post.
Unfortunately it does sound like Marek's. How old is she?
My experience is that as long as they are interested in food and prepared to fight it, I offer good nutrition (Nutri-Drops are good) and supportive care. Once they stop eating, I euthanize. I have had some make full recoveries and some make sufficient recovery to go back to free ranging with the flock but it took months of supportive care and sunshine, grass and the company of another chicken were the key factors in the recovery. Sunshine and grass being 2 options that are difficult to achieve in the UK at the moment.  Unfortunately I have also had others that did not make it and had to be put out of their misery.
I did my own post mortem and based my diagnosis on the tumours I found and that I had several juvenile birds become lame within a week, so I'm afraid I can't really offer advice about professional necropsy here in the UK.... possibly veterinary colleges would be the best bet but Defra could maybe advise on that.
Your chicken hammock looks great but perhaps would be more successful if the box was deeper so that she is fully suspended and may then be less able to turn around etc....A cardboard box is an easy option especially with a bantam as they are so light weight. I use an old t shirt and just staple it to the top edges of the box. It's something you need to fiddle about with until you find what works for you and your hen. It's good that she is keen to eat though. Feed her different treats on different days so that she doesn't get bored and keep her food moist....scrambled egg with soggy bread or fermented pellets, cat food, bit of tuna or sardines, bit of meat(avoid too much salty processed meats but a little bit of ham once in a while is OK If you can put her somewhere like a sunny windowsill where she has some outlook, if you have her in the house or within sight of other chickens if you have her caged outside, that will also help keep her spirits up, but be aware that she needs to be well sheltered from the weather and draughts as she will struggle to maintain body heat whilst fighting the disease.

Good luck with her and keep us posted on her progress.

Regards

Barbara

Hi Barbara.

I tried raising her up, but she struggled even more.
So i tried to put her back in original one, but kept getting it in the wrong position... she's not a happy girl and I'm hoping she's just tired as i haven't been able to get anything into her since.

I'm lost.

I've been checking her poos for the last couple of days and see no untoward issues or tapeworm cysts.

Shall I just let her rest until tomorrow or try to get some fluids into her?

Sort of feel I'm fighting a losing battle zx

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm sure you both are tired. It might be best to leave her near the water, and let her rest for the night. I imagine it is near 10 PM in the UK. I wouldn't worry about tapeworms right now. They are fairly easy to see as white specks in the poo that move, and that probably is not causing her main problem. Rest for both of you, then try more in the morning.

 

[Catt69]

Evening all.

Betty is no better.
Haven't been able to get her to drink.
I can barely get her to move her neck, she just wants to bury her head under her wing.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi
Sorry to hear that she is not cooperating and that my suggestion for a taller hammock didn't work.

Have you tried offering her soggy bread. Hydration is important but if they are taking sloppy food instead of dry, it's not so critical. I've been nursing a cock bird that took a beating in the bachelor pad. He had been top of the pecking order but must have been deposed. He was pretty weak and staggering when I realised that there was a problem. He has a massive comb and wattles (he's a leghorn) which has made drinking quite difficult but he has made a miraculous recovery on just sloppy feed. I kept offering him water but he showed no interest for days, but would wolf down his sloppy feed. Now he is feeling better, he wants dry food and water My advice would be not to worry too much about drinking if you can get her to eat sloppy feed and whilst bread and warm water is not as nutritious as many other things, it is a good starting point for getting them eating again.

Keeping them happy and as stress free as possible is so important with Marek's, if that's what it is. I tried all sorts of remedies in the early days with my sick birds like turmeric and black pepper, but they soon got sick of it and refused to eat I I was getting stressed about getting it into them. Now I give them whatever they will eat and enjoy and that works better. Having companionship and competition for food is an important part of that encouragement to eat though so if you can arrange for her flock mates to eat around her, that will help. I used to put mine in a cage on the lawn and scatter soaked mixed corn in and around the cage so that the flock came and foraged around her. The cage is important to protect from pecking/bullying and ensure they get their share. Alternatively, try introducing a low ranking flock mate to their cage. I've had severely crippled Marek's birds get off their death bed and shockingly fight a flock mate introduced to their cage for pecking order status. Then pall up with that chicken and make a tremendous recovery.

Good luck with her. I hope you can help her turn things around.
Regards

Barbara

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your banty hen. I also use bread crumbs soaked in raw egg, yogurt, and water or buttermilk to get fluids and protein into a sick bird. Here is a link to good information and videos on tube feeding which can be done with a large syringe and a piece of aquarium air tubing softened on one end with a lighter for sharp edges: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

 

[Catt69]

Thank you both

I've just tried what you suggested barbara, with no luck. But will persevere.
She is just not responsive. She keeps her eyes closed and just wont do anything when i try. Got a little water in her, i think. It wasn't because she chose to though.

Its not very easy to get hold of tubes etc. But will have a look to see what i can find.

Thank you for helping.
Will give her another nights sleep and see what tomorrow brings.....xx

 

[Catt69]

Sorry about your banty hen. I also use bread crumbs soaked in raw egg, yogurt, and water or buttermilk to get fluids and protein into a sick bird. Here is a link to good information and videos on tube feeding which can be done with a large syringe and a piece of aquarium air tubing softened on one end with a lighter for sharp edges:  https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

What size tube and syringe would i need for her, do you know?

I've searched but I'm not really finding anything i can understand.

Sorry. X

 

[Catt69]

I wish she'd make up her mind!!!
She's stuffing her face now.... Can't seem to get enough! Lol
Silly bird

 

[rebrascora]

Oh that's such a relief! I was thinking it might be time to start thinking about euthanizing if she had stopped eating. It's the point I call time on my Marek's sufferers.