sick chicken "expert" opinion needed at this point....

[kristen2678]

Will she eat and drink when you bring food to her? I had a similar thing happen to two hens. Both made it. I brought them inside - even with the dogs and kids - one of the bathrooms was a hospital for a a couple days. Long story short, after some electrolytes and yogurt they really bounced back. I'm not 100% sure but we feel like the Alpha hen was keeping some of the others from eating and drinking. Once they get a little dehydrated they seem to go down hill fast.

 

[lilmama]

she passed.

we are sending her body to some government program or something for a a free autopsy. our vet is sending the body. (very cool vets)

I am so totally heartbroken and bummed. It looks like another one is going down. This is very hard to handle. I've been dealing with this for about 4 weeks. The vet thinks it's a virus--but we just won't know anything until we get results. 3 days they said. I will report back.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Oh, I'm so sorry!!

 

[chickerdoodle]

I am so sorry you lost your hens.

Keep us posted on the results of the autopsy.

 

[silkiechicken]

No bacteria in feces, but I assume they also checked for worms and protozoa?

 

[lilmama]

sorry, I meant there were no parasites in the feces. I don't know yet about bacteria- hoping that will show up in the autopsy.

I am going to post seperatly about this---but my one that is sick right now (yes, ANOTHER is sick right now, a barred rock, just like the one who passed yesterday) is doing really really weird things. In a nutshell- she is acting heavily "drugged." She is walking around in circles, craning her neck around in really weird ways. It's very disturbing to see. She is under a bush now and won't eat or drink- that we can tell. She was fine this morning.
I can NOT TELL you how upset I am. How disturbing this is. I have to think this is the effects of poisioning somehow since, especially in this hens case, there seems to be neurological damage.... I am racking my brain trying to figure out what is doing this.
ideas?????

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Mareks causes neuro symptoms, though it is usually more specific than this...but the necropsy will pick it up if that's what it is...

 

[lilmama]

crap. that REALLY sounds like it. Mercks.

Oh no. Then my pullets have been exposed too! I guess I won't know for sure until the report comes back. But it REALLY sounds like it. I mentioned to my husband, I thought the one today seemed blind. And there is for sure a weakness in the legs that seems to come and go.
Still, doesn't make sense that one recovered from it. If it is Mercks- what does one do? Take out the whole flock?

 

[M@M@2four]

Sounds like Mareks to me....please keep us posted on the results!

 

[lilmama]

I got these at a feed store. I am calling to see if they vaccinated. I really think this is it.

Please- if someone could tell me the best sites to read up on this, if you know of some?