Sick Chick...

[wjallen05]

I have a 16-18 (?) week old cockerel (or possibly pullet... still don't know for sure...) who is tiny and hasn't seemed to grow at all since getting him. I got another pullet at the same time from the same people, and she died suddenly shortly after getting her (I have no idea how or why). Anyhow, aside from the fact that this little guy is very small, he's also not that pretty to look at, and he's always made this very strange sound like he's moaning almost. Today I noticed that one of his eyes is squnity and runny, and he is taking long deep breaths. He is also acting adnormally calm. I don't know what's wrong with him or how to fix him, and I really hope whatever he has isn't something that can or will be transmitted to the rest of my flock. I just seperated him from the rest of the flock.

Help please!

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Did you ever get a reply from one of the BYC members on this. Did you repost and maybe get one. You seem to have fallen through the cracks, hope not. Please let us know.

 

[silkiechicken]

Hmmm... not really sure what to suggest here, other than your case is a good reason for needing to quarantine any new birds. Sounds like they had something, and it's likely to be a combination of viral and low immune system so antibiotics will likely be useless. Keep them apart and keep a close eye on your flock.

With stunted rooster, may want to take a fecal sample to the vet for a fecal float test to see if he has worms or cocci. Best of luck!

 

[wjallen05]

Thanks for the reponses. I took the sick roo to the Poultry Lab last Thursday. The vet called me on Friday and told me they did 4 tests on him and they all came back negative (Newcastle, Infectious Bronchitus, and Coryza, and something else) and they sent off for 2 other tests and are supposed to be giving me a call yesterday or today on that but I haven't heard anything, might give them a call here in a little bit. He did tell me that he had a viral infection with staff in his lungs. All my other birds and just fine, everyone that caught it seem to be fine now. *shrug*
Oh, and that vet told me to get an antibiotic and to treat my entire flock with that but I didn't do it. I am sort of anti-anti-biotic. I ONLY use it if absolutly neccesary and I didn't feel that it would benefit my birds.

 

[silkiechicken]

I agree with not using antibiotcs. If your birds area healthy, and have not had an issue, unlikly they will. What would be worse is antibioitcs that kill off the good bacteria which is now there and allows the bad ones to take hold.

I'll have to just think that the birds you got weren't as healthy as they should have been off the bat, and change in environment was the final straw to their sickness. Best of luck.