Recovery time?

[feather13]

One of our chicks, a Sebright, has had what appears to be a respiratory issue for over a week. I've tried nearly every remedy I've found on BYC forums and while its condition has stabilized, it's not getting better. It eats and drinks, but is lethargic, opens and closes its beak in an odd way (sorry not to be more specific, but it seems to be gasping for air), and its feathers look ruffled and scruffy. Last week the other Sebright had to be culled because of Marek's symptoms. This one doesn't have the same set of symptoms and isn't paralyzed. My question is: how long do you let your chickens recover before culling them? Thanks for any advice! A friend can cull it tonight, but won't be back in town for at least a week.

 

[Kiki]

Unfortunately if your other one had Marek's this one probably does too and just may not recover at all.

 

[Kiki]

Are you able to get a necropsy done if you choose to cull her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It eats and drinks, but is lethargic, opens and closes its beak in an odd way....its feathers look ruffled and scruffy....Last week the other Sebright had to be culled because of Marek's symptoms. This one doesn't have the same set of symptoms and isn't paralyzed.

Were you able to send the other chick for testing?
Can you post photos or a video of the chick that is sick now?
How old is your chick?
What does the poop look like - can you take a poop sample to your vet for testing of Coccidiosis, worms and bacterial infection?
Any mucous from the nostrils, watery bubbly eyes, coughing or sneezing?

I'm sorry you're having trouble. What remedies have you tried?
It's so hard to know what's going on, if symptoms are not the same, then you may want to try a different approach. Have you treated for Coccidiosis- some symptoms include ruffled/unkempt feathers with a hunched up appearance, lethargy, loss of balance and loose stools with mucous or blood.

Do the best you can to keep her hydrated - for the time being add poultry vitamins to her water and see that she is eating well. If you have vet care available that would be best.

 

[feather13]

Are you able to get a necropsy done if you choose to cull her?

I can and will. I didn't think to do it with the others. I think you or someone else posted a list of places to send bodies for necropsies and one is close to me. Thanks!

 

[Kiki]

It might have been this one.
http://cahfs.ucdavis.edu just in case you can't find it again.

 

[feather13]

Were you able to send the other chick for testing?
Can you post photos or a video of the chick that is sick now?
How old is your chick?
What does the poop look like - can you take a poop sample to your vet for testing of Coccidiosis, worms and bacterial infection?
Any mucous from the nostrils, watery bubbly eyes, coughing or sneezing?

I'm sorry you're having trouble. What remedies have you tried?
It's so hard to know what's going on, if symptoms are not the same, then you may want to try a different approach. Have you treated for Coccidiosis- some symptoms include ruffled/unkempt feathers with a hunched up appearance, lethargy, loss of balance and loose stools with mucous or blood.

Do the best you can to keep her hydrated - for the time being add poultry vitamins to her water and see that she is eating well. If you have vet care available that would be best.

Thank you so much for your reply! I took a video of the chick and am going to try to attach it to this message. I haven't treated for Coccidiosis, but looking on some threads, it would appear that the chick has ALL of the symptoms except for bloody stools. We've never had Coccidiosis that I know of in the flock.

I was just thinking it was Marek's because of the first chick had Marek's symptoms. I didn't know about the possibility of necropsy until after the chick was culled. Both of the sick birds are Sebrights and both seemed small and weak when we got them (my daughters chose them). I don't know if they are more prone to illness than other breeds. So far, none of the other standard and bantam chicks seem sick, so crossing my fingers.

I had been giving electrolyte solution, vitamins and VetRx, but have now started Corid. Since so much time has passed, I don't know if it will help. I'm using the liquid form--one small dropper full each hour. The chicks are kept in a coop with plenty of ventilation, medicated food, fermented food, clean water, and areas of sunlight and shade. We're in southern California, so the soil is very dusty (although easy to clean since I rake it out and pick up all the feces once per day) and I've been using pet-grade wood shavings for their bedding. I'm switching over to bedding pellets though in case this is dust-related. There isn't an exotic or agricultural vet nearby.

Thanks again for your advice! I'll try Corid for a few days to see if the chick improves before culling it, although I might have waited to long.

 

[Kiki]

You will need to upload the video to a site like youtube, then post the link to the video here.

 

[Kiki]

Stop using the vitamins if you are going to try Corid.

 

[Kiki]

STOP...
That is way too much Corid.