Pullet will close eyes, drop head and sway it back and forth

[honbon74]

Hi there, I have run into so many complications since I started what I thought was going to be a pleasant experience about a year ago with a backyard flock. I have had numerous losses, which I believe I have now chalked up to mycoplasma. But my most recent is Penelope, which I just can not figure out. I found her with one eye closed about a week ago, brought her in and then she started dropping her head and it’ll sway back and forth. Then she’ll perk up, eat and go back down again. I have tried eye meds, eye drops for conjunctivitis, Tylan, been syringe feeding baby bird critical care and supplementing vitamins. I am at a loss. She’ll perk up and act normal and eat and then goes back into a trance. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Trying to upload video, but keeps giving an error code.

 

[azygous]

If a chicken is behaving sickly, and doesn't respond to antibiotics, perhaps the cause of illness is not bacteria but a parasite called coccidia.

You can at least rule it out by treating it. If you live in the US the medicine is amprolium sold under the label Corid. Mixed into the drinking water at 2 teaspoons to one gallon of water, you give it as the only source of drinking water for five days and treat the entire flock. A week after, repeat another round, and the chickens will then be resistant to that particular coccidia in their area, and the sick pullet should recover if coccidiosis was her problem.

 

[honbon74]

If a chicken is behaving sickly, and doesn't respond to antibiotics, perhaps the cause of illness is not bacteria but a parasite called coccidia.

You can at least rule it out by treating it. If you live in the US the medicine is amprolium sold under the label Corid. Mixed into the drinking water at 2 teaspoons to one gallon of water, you give it as the only source of drinking water for five days and treat the entire flock. A week after, repeat another round, and the chickens will then be resistant to that particular coccidia in their area, and the sick pullet should recover if coccidiosis was her problem.

Hadn’t thought about coccidia since they were little. I do ck poop daily...wouldn’t there be signs of cocci? I have corrid and can’t certainly try...but would that show the symptoms she’s having?

 

[azygous]

You can't see coccidia with the naked eye, and only the eggs get expelled in the poop. The parasites live out their life cycle in the intestines, then die, usually when the host does. It hurts nothing to treat for it even if you aren't certain about them being there.