Pullet won't eat...? (sad update)

[TammyTX]

Quote:
No worms, I've checked her poo. Not cocci (no blood in droppings, no other birds infected, death is usually within a week). The only other symptom was her eye which is better now.

I've never heard of the starter fluid....that stuff is strong, I understand why. Does it have ether? A looooong time ago when I was in high school I killed a mouse with too much ether in Physiology class. He just went to sleep.

 

[chickenlady]

In the case of worms, you wont always see worms in feces. In the case of cocci, you wont always see blood. My friend had, what seemed like an extremely healthy flock. Ate, drank, pooped all normal. One day a hen died, then the next day another died, then a week later another died. She had that one necropsied. Came up cocci. She treated the entire flock and did not lose another one. Her birds never even showed one symptom of cocci but they had it. Anyway, your right, starter fluid just makes them go to sleep, very quickly. Just use a small container. Best wishes.

 

[purpletree23]

Starter fluid is cruel. The smell would be suffocating until the toxic fumed kill. She won't go to sleep peacefully. Most vets will but down an animal for a few bucks. You owe that much to her.

If you want to save her there are many people here who are very knowledgeable and will help. You doctored her eye but not her body.

Start from the beginning.

Has she ever been wormed?
Is her crop normal?
What are you feeding her?
Stop feeding insects.
Does she have any sores on her comb or in her mouth?

Start by giving her foods that will stimulate her appetite. Try cooled scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, chopped strawberries (not too many will cause diarrhea) cooked oatmeal, canned pumpkin, chopped greens.

Make sure she is drinking and give her 3 drops Poly Vi Sol vitamins in the morning and again at night. Drop the vitamins on the top/side of her beak so the drops will roll into her mouth and she will swallow then and not get them into her lungs.
If you force the vitamin or liquids and she gets them in her lungs she will die.

Has she been checked for mites and lice? Ever been wormed? Worm her with Ivermectin Pour On for Cattle. It is a blue liquid and can be found at most feed stores. Because of her weight I would place 3 drops on her skin
on her back between the shoulders. Make sure the liquid is on her skin and not feathers. If it soaks into the feathers it will not do a darn thing.
Ivermectin should take care of internal worms and external parasites.

Give her another chance.

 

[TammyTX]

Quote:
I appreciate your concern, but you should have read my first post.

The bird won't eat unless I force her beak open. NO other symptoms. NO worms.

There is something wrong with her. I thought maybe tetanus? But I can't find much on symptoms in poultry. Tetanus causes lockjaw and maybe that's why she won't/can't eat on her own...?

It is best for my whole flock if she is put down; it's been two weeks now with no improvement except for the eye.

I don't know much about starter fluid but I do know that ether puts animals and people to sleep very quickly and gently. Ether was used to put ME to sleep when I had my tonsils out in the late '60's.

It's not easy but it is also something I should be able to do without so much drama. I'm very disappointed in myself.