Possible Metabolic Alkalosis?? (LONG)

[jaimedes]

I have a French Black Copper Maran pullet about 4 months old. I have had her a little over 2 months. She is in with 2 laying hens and I have been feeding them layer crumble, offering oyster shell and grit on the side. They are able to come inside to their coop in the barn or go out into a fenced run at will. I knew something was wrong Thursday night when she was just laying outside pecking at mouthfuls of the dirt she was laying on. The next day she was very light, wouldn't eat or drink, wouldn't walk much. Saturday I syringed water with Quik Chick electrolytes into her mouth and a couple hours later was convinced she would die overnight, she wouldn't move or even lift her head. Sunday (yesterday) I was convinced she would be dead, but she wasn't. I offered her watermelon (I held it for her) and she ate a lot of it. I gave her grower/finisher (no more layer crumble) mixed with some of the electrolyte water and she ate some of that. I did this a few times yesterday and added cantaloupe and today dark leafy greens. Today she is up walking a bit and still eating some, actually looks better, but still wobbly and not great.
I lost an Olive Egger a few weeks ago who I got at the same time (and from same local breeder) as the Maran. The OE was a little older. She had very similar symptoms after I had her for about 2 months but also showed leg paralysis. I took her to the vet who did x rays that showed nothing and she was dead 3 days later.
I am trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. I have one EE that I got with the Maran and the OE but she was slightly older and has been laying for about a month. I also have 4 hens about a year old who are all doing great. After doing some research I am afraid I killed the OE and am killing the Maran by feeding them layer feed when they weren't laying. I know this is a touchy subject, but I have since found a lot of things online saying that too much calcium in without laying eggs to get it out, can cause Metabolic Alkalosis. I fed the Maran finisher for a while before I put her with the older hens, about a month ago. I fed the first 4 the appropriate stage food strictly based on their age and this is the only difference for the OE I lost and this Maran.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is there anything you know of I can try with the Maran that I REALLY don't want to lose?

 

[Kiki]

I doubt your problem is related to the feed, although it could be.
Sounds more like you are bringing sick birds home to me.
The best thing to do it have the vet test their poop for Cocci and worms.

 

[jaimedes]

KikisGirls. Thank you for your response...

But would it take 2 to 2.5 months for them to show signs if they had cocci or worms when they came to me?
Also, could that be the problem for those two birds and not affect the others that are housed with them?

 

[Kiki]

You won't know for sure if it is Cocci unless you gather some fresh poop and bring it to a vet to have it tested.
But the short answer is yes...they could of had a different strain of cocci at their other house...and you could have a different strain at your house..
read this:
Cocci Facts

 

[jaimedes]

KikisGirls, thank you again. I called my vet to see if I could drop a fecal off. I am a bit upset that he saw my Olive Egger in his office and sedated and x rayed her (to the tune of $300) but never mentioned this or checked for it. Now, if that is what is going on with the Maran it could have been totally prevented. Is it safe to treat her for this now that she is unwell, even in the off chance that it may not be cocci? I only ask in case they won't do the fecal test without an office visit, or they don't call me back for who knows how long.

 

[jaimedes]

KikisGirls - Update, she was positive for Cocci and was hospitalized for 8 days. She spiked a fever again right when I was picking her up. New question - Does Baytril teat coccidia? That is what the vet gave her, and has me giving her ciprofloxacin at home (I think this is the technical term for Baytril). I do have Corid at home now for my other birds, just want to be certain that an antibiotic will help Cocci?? It doesn't seem like it would but I do think he is a good vet! (And a farm animal vet)

 

[Kiki]

I am so sorry I am just now seeing your reply.
I am not sure about Baytril treating Coccidiosis.

How is everyone doing today?

 

[Kiki]

If she was keep in the hospital for 8 days he probably treated her there for the Coccidiosis, treatment is usually only 5 to 7 days for it.

 

[jaimedes]

If she was keep in the hospital for 8 days he probably treated her there for the Coccidiosis, treatment is usually only 5 to 7 days for it.

He did treat her there with sulfas for the cocci. She was home a week and stopped eating so I took her back to the vet who treated her again and suggested she may have Marek's due to the symptoms and the fact that nothing was working. After another week she came back home, had good days and bad days. Walked like she was intoxicated, dragged her wing, and kinked her neck. She just passed away last weekend after 2 more weeks of nursing her at home. I did not have a necropsy done but I am accepting the fact that I probably have MD. The Olive Egger who had leg x rays and passed a month before her also had classic MD signs. Thank you for checking in on us.

 

[rebrascora]

Just reading through this now and I would agree from the symptoms you describe and the age of the birds suffering them and the timescale from getting the birds to them showing symptoms is all pretty strongly pointing to MD. I'm sorry you had to go through all that huge expense only to lose both birds. you obviously did everything you could to save them.