sick chicken & I don't know what to do

[rford]

I have a hen that is about 1 year old - I went in the chicken house the other day & she was laying down with her beak in the dirt - I picked her up to see if she had any injuries - NONE - I put her in a coup by herself got her fresh food & water & she is still not acting normal - I talked to a guy at the feed store and he thinks it is cochsidia - I have put sulmet in her water but she is still not acting right.

 

[Wynette]

SHe's a little old for Cocci. It usually presents as lethargy, though, and blood in their poop. And it's caused by moisture. It's really important to have a very dry environment for them.

Any other symptoms? Is she breathing okay, labored, do you hear rattling from her chest? If she's kept with others, you should separate her, in case she has something that is contagious to the others...

 

[Mrs.Puff]

She could have any number of diseases..... Listlessness is a symptom of LOTS of different trouble, not just coccidiosis. I think older birds (one year is considered full-grown) are not very likely to get cocci due to the medicated feed they get when they're chicks. Sometimes birds just get sick. If you've got a lot of them, one sick one is not a bad ratio. If she doesn't get better in a few days, you should probably cull that one.

 

[jjthink]

Please provide info re: the below questions (posted toward the top of of the emergencies section) so folks can better help you. Add to this any info about egg laying (when was the last one, was it normal, how often does she usually lay etc.) and literally absolutely anything else that could provide clues. @What is her diet? Any new coop mates? Etc.

I had a hen go lethargic like this last fall and with the right meds (antibiotic, antiinflammatory) she was better very quickly but lethargy can mean many things. Without prompt attention I am certain my hen would have died. They will hide their troubles as long as they can - by the time they present like you describe, it is an EMERGENCY. And you say she saw her like this the other day - a lot of time has passed in chicken-time.

Unfortunately I won't be on this site much until late tomorrow (it often stays minimized on my screen when I am not around) so keep providing info and updates so others can see your posts and help.

1) What type of bird , age and weight.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
8 ) 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?
9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use

JJ

 

[rford]

she is about a year old americana - I don't know when the last time she laid an egg (my chickens have a 12 bin layer they all use) - she is in a very dry climate - she can not walk a straight line (like she is drunk) - she keeps dropping her head with her beak in the dirt - i don't think her breathing is labored - he feathers are kind of fluffed out - I put a tablespoon of sulmet in her waterer - she is eating crack corn & hen scratch & laying pellets - I have separated her from my other chickens - they would peck at her if I didn't - I have not seen any bloody poo - all of the poo seems to be normal

 

[Wynette]

Are you sure she is eating and drinking? It's really important that she stays hydrated and gets good nutrition. The laying of her head on the ground could be a sign of weakness, but it could also be neurological.

I'm wondering if we can rule our Marek's or not?

 

[rford]

Yes, I have seen her eating & drinking. I went to website "Common Poultry Diseases" & the best I can come up with is encephalitis. I will cull her tonight when I get home. Thanks for all of the help & suggestions.

 

[Wynette]

Gosh, I personaly wouldn't be so quick to dispatch her, especially if she is eating and drinking. But, you know best, of course! I'm sorry you're going through this.

 

[jjthink]

She may have something perfectly treatable.
Let folks here know today's updates including any info on all the questions asked and see what suggestions arise. Any possibility of a visit to an avian vet?

She might have eaten somthing bad, or have a transient infection that could pass with great supportive care and/or meds. I would keep her very comfortable in a safe quiet environment with cushy pine shavings, food and water and oyster shell very close by. Some place she can rest calmly.

JJ

 

[Wynette]

I agree with jjthink, except for the oyster shell....I would personally opt to get her on a flock raiser type feed and not a layer feed, because you want her putting all her energy into getting well, not laying eggs, which really zaps their energy. JMO!

Do you have any probioitic? It could be that it would help her over the hump, so to speak, which whatever she has, and it would be easier on her than putting her through a round of antibiotics....just a thought.