Sick chicken

[ordermatters]

I need help, please. One of my 4 chickens is sick. I am a " newbie" in the chicken family and have 4 chickens. They're all about 4 1/2 months old. Last week I noticed one of them had diarrhea and the next day she was just sitting by herself with her eyes closed. I right away separated her, put her in a large cage with a heating lamp. And give her a water mix with apple cider vinegar. She is eating ok-ish. But she lost weight. Her poop seems ok now. Yesterday. I tried to re-introduce her back into her flock. OMG, what a disaster that was. They all attacked her. Also, I noticed that she seems to be lame on one leg. She also seems to be much smaller and weaker than the rest now. Even though that she came from the same place at the same time. I don't know what to do anymore. I also gave her some of that garlic/oregano oil into her seeds. This supposed to help with intestinal issues with birds. Please, help me. I would hate to lose her.

 

[Lovem all]

Okay okay okay calm down hoeny I will try to help. First of what color is the diarrhea. Green brown? Second check her crop. It should feel nice and firm not hard like a rock, bumpy, or soft. Just answer those questions first

 

[Lovem all]

Also when it comes to re putting her with the flock there will need to be a see no touch area for about 5 days. and perhaps (when she is better) you could even put the nicest of the four with her and reintroduce half and half

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Please, help me.

Consider coccidiosis as ONE possibility. Are they recent additions to your place by chance if so how long ago.. I mean weather in your location's gotta be dry.. but droppings can get in water and that's the fastest way it can spread, noting coccidia themselves are in every dropping but only a problem when too many have been ingested, and sometimes during times of stress like moves and such.

The attack after being separated is 100% par for the course, unfortunately. Next time you need to separate one, try to allow for in sight separation so they remain a part of the flock.. which has established a new pecking order without her by now. Chicken flock pecking orders are very dynamic. I just noticed your user name, Order totally matters and welcome to BYC!

First question regarding the Lameness you notice.. what are you feeding including treats and supplements on a regular basis? I see you said "added some oil into her seeds". If it isn't a formulated chicken ration then your lameness *may* well be cause by malnutrition.. ie vitamin or mineral/amino acid deficiency.. ONE possibility anyways.

Follow up.. IF malnutrition is ruled out.. How bad is is it.. limping, able to stand up? Any heat or swelling that indicates it could be an injury? Possible stiffness from being confined for treatment? Pain response when touched other than usual annoyed behavior

Third and fourth possibilities.. getting ready to lay an egg and the sciatic nerve is being pressed as the egg passes.. not super common but also not unheard of.

Marek's disease virus is one of the more common causes of lameness.. California is NO stranger to chicken disease and Southern California in 2018/19 faced quarantine and subsequent mandatory euthanasia of thousands of back yard birds in several So Cal counties due to virulent New Castle's disease. Government officials (USDA, FDA, CDFA, ??) also placed a shipping embargo of ALL live poultry to and fro that entire area THROUGH USPS that lifted June of 2019 but has been swept under the rug (or rather became unimportant and business resumed as usual like it always does) due to fear mongering of Sars-Cov2 also known as the novel Corona virus...

In other words, since I know it didn't come out this way despite what I'm trying to express is..

FEAR NOT. Hang in there, do what you can. If her journey in this life does end sooner than later.. you will know that you're better for the time you had together. Sorry you face this.

I hope you find answers and she recovers quickly!

 

[ordermatters]

Ok, I just checked her poop, again. It looks normal. Solid, white, and dark. Her crop seems empty. Hard. I just had to watch a video on Youtube on how to check a crop. I am quite sure I did it correctly. She seems much weaker than she was in the last few days.

 

[Lovem all]

Hmmm why don't you give her my moms special blend for sick girls

Normal chickens feed, apple cider viniger, oil of oregeno, water, cinnamon and ginger. Should smell a bit like an apple crisp. This mix really has helped some of my sick ladies.

 

[ordermatters]

Hmmm why don't you give her my moms special blend for sick girls

Normal chickens feed, apple cider viniger, oil of oregeno, water, cinnamon and ginger. Should smell a bit like an apple crisp. This mix really has helped some of my sick ladies.

The ACV mix and the oregano oil I am giving her already for over a week. It doesn't seem to help.

 

[ordermatters]

Consider coccidiosis as ONE possibility. Are they recent additions to your place by chance if so how long ago.. I mean weather in your location's gotta be dry.. but droppings can get in water and that's the fastest way it can spread, noting coccidia themselves are in every dropping but only a problem when too many have been ingested, and sometimes during times of stress like moves and such.

The attack after being separated is 100% par for the course, unfortunately. Next time you need to separate one, try to allow for in sight separation so they remain a part of the flock.. which has established a new pecking order without her by now. Chicken flock pecking orders are very dynamic. I just noticed your user name, Order totally matters and welcome to BYC!

First question regarding the Lameness you notice.. what are you feeding including treats and supplements on a regular basis? I see you said "added some oil into her seeds". If it isn't a formulated chicken ration then your lameness *may* well be cause by malnutrition.. ie vitamin or mineral/amino acid deficiency.. ONE possibility anyways.

Follow up.. IF malnutrition is ruled out.. How bad is is it.. limping, able to stand up? Any heat or swelling that indicates it could be an injury? Possible stiffness from being confined for treatment? Pain response when touched other than usual annoyed behavior

Third and fourth possibilities.. getting ready to lay an egg and the sciatic nerve is being pressed as the egg passes.. not super common but also not unheard of.

Marek's disease virus is one of the more common causes of lameness.. California is NO stranger to chicken disease and Southern California in 2018/19 faced quarantine and subsequent mandatory euthanasia of thousands of back yard birds in several So Cal counties due to virulent New Castle's disease. Government officials (USDA, FDA, CDFA, ??) also placed a shipping embargo of ALL live poultry to and fro that entire area THROUGH USPS that lifted June of 2019 but has been swept under the rug (or rather became unimportant and business resumed as usual like it always does) due to fear mongering of Sars-Cov2 also known as the novel Corona virus...

In other words, since I know it didn't come out this way despite what I'm trying to express is..

FEAR NOT. Hang in there, do what you can. If her journey in this life does end sooner than later.. you will know that you're better for the time you had together. Sorry you face this.

I hope you find answers and she recovers quickly!

I got them all from one place. in Nov. 2020. Their water is and was always clean and they couldn't get any poop in it since it is in a container where they can't get any dirt into it. I am very picky with this kind of stuff.
Regarding " formulated" chicken ration. It is regular chicken feed. I always buy the best stuff out there. And I bought this oil from some chicken place online. It is supposed to be quite good. ( Elite oregano and garlic oil by Jedds ). I am quite sure my chicken got sick because in the beginning when I got my chickens I fed them too many greens. I posted about this on here. And I was told not to do this. I stopped right away. But I guess this one paid the price for my lack of knowledge and stupidity.
The lameness with her leg seems to get worse. It wasn't that bad first.
Yes, I recall that issue with the chicken disease we had here in SoCal. At that time I wanted to start my chicken hobby and wasn't able to because no one sold chickens at that time.

Well, I do have some experience with birds since I had exotic birds for many years, and one thing I have learned. Once a bird is in such a state. It doesn't look good. But I never had poultry. Somehow I have a bad feeling. She is very thin and also her lameness. I fear the worst. But somehow was hoping to get some hope I can hold on. But I guess I have to face reality and learn from it. Thank you for your honesty and being straightforward.