Possible sick bird with mouth open half the time...

[FirewifeJess]

I am desperately trying to figure out what is wrong with my new pullet. She didn't transition well here and even though I am 100% certain she came from a good, healthy home, she came down with Cocci and I'm treating her with Corid. Then she began mouth breathing a lot of the time so I started antibiotics (Duramycin-10). I have had her only 5 days and the whole time I've been worried about her. Well the crazy amounts of intestinal lining mixed with just a little blood have stopped and her poops seem normal albeit there is extra water coming out too (but it's hot for this area, today was 75 and very humid, which is truly hot for Pacific Northwestern chickens). I'm wondering if she's a little dehydrated? I have been keeping her half in a dog crate with adequate medicated water and food, and half the time in the run just to have a break outside. When she was at her worst and didn't seem like she'd make it, I slept in the guest room with her and syringed her water and fed her scrambled egg all that night! She mostly seems ok now, with the exception of the open mouth breathing that isn't getting any better. None of my other birds are doing this, which leads me to believe it's not because she's too warm. I tried very hard to get a good look down her throat for gapeworms and didn't see anything, and they aren't prevalent in this area anyway. I guess I'm just trying my hardest to make this bird well again and stop worrying about her. She wants to join the flock and free-range and I just can't let her knowing she is sick. She is 11 weeks tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[Lacrystol]

I am desperately trying to figure out what is wrong with my new pullet. She didn't transition well here and even though I am 100% certain she came from a good, healthy home, she came down with Cocci and I'm treating her with Corid. Then she began mouth breathing a lot of the time so I started antibiotics (Duramycin-10). I have had her only 5 days and the whole time I've been worried about her. Well the crazy amounts of intestinal lining mixed with just a little blood have stopped and her poops seem normal albeit there is extra water coming out too (but it's hot for this area, today was 75 and very humid, which is truly hot for Pacific Northwestern chickens). I'm wondering if she's a little dehydrated? I have been keeping her half in a dog crate with adequate medicated water and food, and half the time in the run just to have a break outside. When she was at her worst and didn't seem like she'd make it, I slept in the guest room with her and syringed her water and fed her scrambled egg all that night! She mostly seems ok now, with the exception of the open mouth breathing that isn't getting any better. None of my other birds are doing this, which leads me to believe it's not because she's too warm. I tried very hard to get a good look down her throat for gapeworms and didn't see anything, and they aren't prevalent in this area anyway. I guess I'm just trying my hardest to make this bird well again and stop worrying about her. She wants to join the flock and free-range and I just can't let her knowing she is sick. She is 11 weeks tomorrow. Thanks!

I take it you allowed her to join your group without keeping her separated for at least a month? Well some byc members will tell you it's mereks, I'm wonder why your treating her for Cocci? What makes you think she has Cocci?

 

[FirewifeJess]

I take it you allowed her to join your group without keeping her separated for at least a month? Well some byc members will tell you it's mereks, I'm wonder why your treating her for Cocci? What makes you think she has Cocci?

You are correct, I did not quarantine. I took a calculated and well thought out risk based on my own knowledge of the previous owner and the health of both our flocks. None of either of our birds has ever been sick. I began treating her for cocci because she was droopy, huddling, and while I didn't see BLOOD, I did see many poops of hers with excess amounts of intestinal lining. It was logical for me to treat as such after inquiring all over BYC. I'm just trying to figure out how to get this bird healthy. I will take yet another look into The Chicken Health Handbook for Marek's symptoms. Thank you!

 

[Lacrystol]

I would start her on some vitamin supplements right now. Stress from moving from one home to another, will provoke any sickness that maybe in remission. If you think it's Cocci, You could treat her with Sulfadimethoxine Liquid followed by Ampril...

 

[Lacrystol]

The signs of cocci that I have seen are:
lethargic
won't eat or drink
feathers fluffed up, huddled in a corner
closes eyes a lot
may or may not have bloody poo


Does she have these signs??? I wonder if she has an upper respiratory infection? Have you had a lot of rain lately?

Perhaps she has gapeworm??? have you tried to worm her? Ivemectin works great for Gapeworms among other parasites.... Check for Mites/Lice too...

 

[FirewifeJess]

Seems some of the Cocci and Marek's symptoms overlap, which is where it gets confusing in a diagnosis and proper treatment of this poor girl! Yes, she was lethargic and had some wing droopage, huddled in a corner, wouldn't eat or drink (probably from being too weak, from not eating and drinking), some bloody poops/diarrhea but really nothing too concerning, mouth gaping approximately 1/3 of the time I observe her. When I syringe her fluids, she does perk up. She has been on the meds for about 2 days (see first post) and today she was walking around and eating on her own, but then still her mouth was open an awful lot! I haven't q-tipped her throat to check for gapeworms but I looked and didn't see anything so far. I have checked for mites and lice and she's clean; I'm checking her vent and under her wings daily. Tomorrow I will check her pupils to see if they're abnormally reacting, as that's a sign of neural Marek's. I'm going to go ahead and keep her on the meds she's currently on to see if by day 3 she has improved substantially or not.

We have had a lot of rain lately; we live near Seattle

and it rained almost a week straight until yesterday morning.

 

[Lacrystol]

are you giving her any vitamins?

 

[FirewifeJess]

are you giving her any vitamins?

No, but if I can add them to the already medicated water I will!

 

[Lacrystol]

If I was in your situation, I would definitely start on it.....

 

[FirewifeJess]

If I was in your situation, I would definitely start on it.....

Thank you! I have talked to someone who had almost the exact same situation; moved a bird and immediately the open mouth breathing and diarrhea started, lots of shed intestinal lining, etc. I think what I have is just a severe case of stress, but not a "sick" bird, per se. I'm going to keep her on antibiotics but not the Cocci med, and add in the vitamins/electrolytes today to everyone's water for a week or so and see how she does. She *does* seem a little better today with less open mouth breathing, and she's in the run with everyone sitting by herself on a roost. Today is rainy so they're stuck in the coop and run area, but they don't seem to be bothering her as much. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions!