Pullet rapidly deteriorating, drooping head, no poop over 24 hours, not eating and only dropper feeding

[2 Acres]

3 days ago noticed 7 month old was walking sluggishly and didn't come to me for treats. 2 days ago found her sitting isolated under coop when everyone else was foraging so isolated her in garage and began dropper feeding her Recover 911 in water with a little bokashi and tiny bit of wet chick starter and B complex (pellets seemed too large).

She had no poop for 24 hours then one solid yellow one (only poop in 48 hours plus).

Crop feels empty. She feels very bony so not sure how long she didn't eat or drink. Comb and wattle normal for her. She was about at the point she should have started laying but don't feel anything like an egg just bony.

She is rapidly deteriorating becoming more lethargic, head dropping, toes curling (was standing fine earlier and last night), even looks lopsided when sitting down.

We have no poultry vets here and have lost numerous chickens in 1.5 years of keeping chickens (last one maybe 5 months ago) so am wondering whether this could be a contagious coop/run issue.

Tried to get photo of eye, also can see ruffled feather last night, worsening ones are from now.

Thank you for reading!

Mareks maybe? From my understanding it gets in the soil. Kinda like Coccidia.

Was there another coop near by?

 

[knownothinghomesteader]

I'm sorry she's not improving

I'm not sure what's going on with her. I'd try to work on hydration. Consider deworming and treating for Coccidiosis.

It may be something like Marek's that is affecting her, but that can be hard to know unless you lose her and have testing through your State Lab.

I suspected Marek's with some of our other losses (we've had probably 5-7 pullets and cockerels die in a year and a half of keeping chickens) with pretty rapid deterioration nothing apparently wrong but loss of neck or leg function and then rapid death.

This one is hanging in longer than others, though. Need to find necropsy info still. No one locally on FB knew. I am on Big Island.

She is going on day 11 of dropper feeds every couple hours and no better today. Her poop even looks worst.

Thanks for responding!

 

[knownothinghomesteader]

Mareks maybe? From my understanding it gets in the soil. Kinda like Coccidia.

Was there another coop near by?

Thanks, I have wondered this since our earlier losses. We live in Ag zone so lots of chickens. Apparently previous owners at our place kept chickens and would also just lose them mysteriously so this does sound consistent with a contagious, perhaps viral thing. It just sucks qhen you can't help them recover.

 

[knownothinghomesteader]

This is just FYI. Poultry vets can be hard to find. What I look for are avian vets, or exotic animal vets. I have lived in various states and have never failed to find a vet who is classified as avian or exotic that would not treat chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guineafowl. Also, another resource to find a vet is the American Association of Avian Vets. I googled avian vets in Hawaii (which is where i think you said you lived), and found 5 listed. Hope your hen gets better!

Thank you, this is helpful info! Will see if there are any on our island!

 

[2 Acres]

Thanks, I have wondered this since our earlier losses. We live in Ag zone so lots of chickens. Apparently previous owners at our place kept chickens and would also just lose them mysteriously so this does sound consistent with a contagious, perhaps viral thing. It just sucks qhen you can't help them recover.

Could you have the soil tested by local ag extension???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

To know if it's Marek's or not, you'd need to have testing/necropsy through your state lab. You can try contacting this lab to see if they provide those services.
https://dab.hawaii.gov/ai/vlab/

A local Avian Vet should also be able to hopefully point you in the right direction. Depending on your location, a Vet may be required to send samples in instead of you dealing directly with your lab. Every city/state/country is different.

 

[2 Acres]

To know if it's Marek's or not, you'd need to have testing/necropsy through your state lab. You can try contacting this lab to see if they provide those services.
https://dab.hawaii.gov/ai/vlab/

A local Avian Vet should also be able to hopefully point you in the right direction. Depending on your location, a Vet may be required to send samples in instead of you dealing directly with your lab. Every city/state/country is different.

And that includes "zombie deer" (a form of deer encephalitis). After the deer is culled, the frozen head is sent off to be checked for the disease.