1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) Buff Orpington, 4 weeks old. She is lighter in weight than her mate in the brooder, a RIR.
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Since providing Nutri-Drench, behavior is mostly normal. She seemed slower and lethargic prior, especially weeks 1-2, but still ate, drank and pooped normally. Her entire torso seems "off axis." Left side of her body looks flattened, and right side looks rounded. Her breastbone seems tilted to right of midline when I palpate her underside when she is standing. When looking at her face to face, her chest is more broad on the right than the left. Sometimes, I see a wry tail to the left. Sometimes, tail looks normal. Proximal neck seems to rest left of center, on left shoulder, unless it is fully extended. Then, it looks normal. Right wing hangs down quite a bit lower than left. She moves it to preen, but I have yet to see her extend the right wing fully into a stretch. She does stretch left wing fully. She yawns or adjusts her crop more than the other chick. Week 1-2 she was panting off and on, and I think it was a bit too warm for her. That has stopped altogether. Sneezes only occasionally (but more than other chick) and gives her head a brief shake off and on. She preens a lot. Her breathing is noticeably heavier-looking when when lying down. No respiratory sounds or mucus. Eyes are clear, and she focuses well. She is spunky and curious, hungry, thirsty and pooping.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? She had very bad pasty butt the day we took her home from local feed store. Fixed that up with a few dips in warm water and careful loosening with a paper towel. I noticed she seemed "off," panted a lot, breathed heavily and was more lethargic than RIR during the 1st week, so I am really hoping this might rule-out Marek's. By week 2, it was becoming more clear that there was a difference between right and left. Moving into week 3, right leg seemed to splay compared to the left. It seemed she might be developing a tendency to circle, though she was totally able to move across the brooder. Now, week 4, she seems to do well with her legs. She hobbles a bit but walks pretty normally, otherwise. The right leg is more off to the side than the left but not splaying. No further tendency toward circling since starting Nutri-Drench. I put a roost in the brooder today, and she was the first to climb on. A little clumsy but plenty energetic. Her whole body just seems tilted, like her torso is "off center." It is really hard to tell if there is a side that is actually "normal." When she lies down, she leans to the left. Left leg is more underneath her, and right leg is a bit off the side, especially when standing still.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No bleeding or signs of trauma or infection. I looked carefully at first on the right for a wing infection since that side was so prominent compared to the left. I'm guessing there could have been a injury before I got her. Maybe trampled?
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. I hope I didn't injure her while picking up, holding and bathing her pasty butt
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Eats and drinks right along with RIR. Seems to eat and drink heartily. They get well water, first with ACV and, now, Nutri-Drench. Payback Hatch To Hen crumbles. This is what the hatchery apparently fed their chicks, so I bought it on recommendation. Now, I wonder if that was a mistake. Fewer vitamins than regular chick starter? I have given a few sprigs of henbit from the yard. She eagerly scratches in the bedding looking for treats. Gave her some mashed up hard boiled egg today, and she ate it right along with RIR. Was even chasing her buddy down to steal.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. It has looked totally normal. I have been hanging with chicks off and on all day today and have yet to catch her pooping, but vent is clean and clear.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Now 3-4 days of Nutri-Drench in water, changed daily. I think it is helping. I have not yet given any undiluted by beak. Prior to Nutri-Drench, they were getting ACV.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Willing to take her to a vet if it will help, but I'm doubtful. There is a local vet that may see her but is admittedly not comfortable treating. Recently lost a hen, and none would see her that day. Local vets seem to consider chickens "unimportant."
There is an avian vet an hour away. If it may be some type of dislocation or something fixable, I will definitely take her to be seen. The amount she is preening, I wonder if I can treat for mites, parasites, etc., at this age.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
When she lies down and settles, you can really see how off she is It's like she lies on her left side, and left wing pops up.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use "Horse trough" brooder. Straw bedding.
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Since providing Nutri-Drench, behavior is mostly normal. She seemed slower and lethargic prior, especially weeks 1-2, but still ate, drank and pooped normally. Her entire torso seems "off axis." Left side of her body looks flattened, and right side looks rounded. Her breastbone seems tilted to right of midline when I palpate her underside when she is standing. When looking at her face to face, her chest is more broad on the right than the left. Sometimes, I see a wry tail to the left. Sometimes, tail looks normal. Proximal neck seems to rest left of center, on left shoulder, unless it is fully extended. Then, it looks normal. Right wing hangs down quite a bit lower than left. She moves it to preen, but I have yet to see her extend the right wing fully into a stretch. She does stretch left wing fully. She yawns or adjusts her crop more than the other chick. Week 1-2 she was panting off and on, and I think it was a bit too warm for her. That has stopped altogether. Sneezes only occasionally (but more than other chick) and gives her head a brief shake off and on. She preens a lot. Her breathing is noticeably heavier-looking when when lying down. No respiratory sounds or mucus. Eyes are clear, and she focuses well. She is spunky and curious, hungry, thirsty and pooping.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? She had very bad pasty butt the day we took her home from local feed store. Fixed that up with a few dips in warm water and careful loosening with a paper towel. I noticed she seemed "off," panted a lot, breathed heavily and was more lethargic than RIR during the 1st week, so I am really hoping this might rule-out Marek's. By week 2, it was becoming more clear that there was a difference between right and left. Moving into week 3, right leg seemed to splay compared to the left. It seemed she might be developing a tendency to circle, though she was totally able to move across the brooder. Now, week 4, she seems to do well with her legs. She hobbles a bit but walks pretty normally, otherwise. The right leg is more off to the side than the left but not splaying. No further tendency toward circling since starting Nutri-Drench. I put a roost in the brooder today, and she was the first to climb on. A little clumsy but plenty energetic. Her whole body just seems tilted, like her torso is "off center." It is really hard to tell if there is a side that is actually "normal." When she lies down, she leans to the left. Left leg is more underneath her, and right leg is a bit off the side, especially when standing still.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No bleeding or signs of trauma or infection. I looked carefully at first on the right for a wing infection since that side was so prominent compared to the left. I'm guessing there could have been a injury before I got her. Maybe trampled?
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. I hope I didn't injure her while picking up, holding and bathing her pasty butt
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Eats and drinks right along with RIR. Seems to eat and drink heartily. They get well water, first with ACV and, now, Nutri-Drench. Payback Hatch To Hen crumbles. This is what the hatchery apparently fed their chicks, so I bought it on recommendation. Now, I wonder if that was a mistake. Fewer vitamins than regular chick starter? I have given a few sprigs of henbit from the yard. She eagerly scratches in the bedding looking for treats. Gave her some mashed up hard boiled egg today, and she ate it right along with RIR. Was even chasing her buddy down to steal.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. It has looked totally normal. I have been hanging with chicks off and on all day today and have yet to catch her pooping, but vent is clean and clear.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Now 3-4 days of Nutri-Drench in water, changed daily. I think it is helping. I have not yet given any undiluted by beak. Prior to Nutri-Drench, they were getting ACV.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Willing to take her to a vet if it will help, but I'm doubtful. There is a local vet that may see her but is admittedly not comfortable treating. Recently lost a hen, and none would see her that day. Local vets seem to consider chickens "unimportant."
There is an avian vet an hour away. If it may be some type of dislocation or something fixable, I will definitely take her to be seen. The amount she is preening, I wonder if I can treat for mites, parasites, etc., at this age.11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
When she lies down and settles, you can really see how off she is
It's like she lies on her left side, and left wing pops up. 12) Describe the housing/bedding in use "Horse trough" brooder. Straw bedding.
