Sick chicken

[stephc31806]

My chicken is sick and I’m not sure what to do. Two weeks ago I noticed she started isolating herself from the others, pale comb and wouldn’t move after the roosters did their thing. I instantly separated her. She was infested with mites, I dusted her in DE, I bathed her the next day in pet safe shampoo to get the liquid poop off of her, I sprayed her with permethrin and killed all the mites. I started her on Corid in her water for two days she stopped drinking it so i syringed for 5 days. She started acting worse. I got nutri drench started her on that and she started eating and drinking (normal water) on her own she is still having bad liquid poop, now she can’t move her right leg. She can’t stand. I googled golden comet and it says life span is 4-5 years and she is 4 in a half. Is this her giving up to die from age or is she sick? I feel bad because she is eating and drinking because I put her food by her head. She moves her head back and forth to water and food then sleeps then wakes up and does it again. What should I do?

 

[PopoMyers]

Sounds like you are doing all you can. If she's had a mite infestation for a long time, she could have gotten anemic. Golden comets I've had died around 3 years old.
Has she still been laying? If not, feed her some higher protein food instead of layer feed.
I had an anemic girl from coop mites feeding on her for several months until I finally permethrined the coop. She was lethargic quite a lot, and stopped in the middle of her molt. After treatments and higher protein food, she was recovering, and then died short of finishing her molt.
Hoping your girl can recover. If she doesn't, you have given her a great life and loving home. Don't beat yourself up. This is the hard part of chicken tending.

 

[stephc31806]

Sounds like you are doing all you can. If she's had a mite infestation for a long time, she could have gotten anemic. Golden comets I've had died around 3 years old.
Has she still been laying? If not, feed her some higher protein food instead of layer feed.
I had an anemic girl from coop mites feeding on her for several months until I finally permethrined the coop. She was lethargic quite a lot, and stopped in the middle of her molt. After treatments and higher protein food, she was recovering, and then died short of finishing her molt.
Hoping your girl can recover. If she doesn't, you have given her a great life and loving home. Don't beat yourself up. This is the hard part of chicken tending.

She was laying until about 3 months ago. I live in Florida and for some reason when it gets very rainy and mucky they all slow down laying. They also get mites bad, they refuse to dust bath in the area I have for them. They only like the yard. I let them free range as well. I put DE all in their run and coop and spray the coop walls with permethrin. I just hope she isn’t in pain. It’s odd that only one leg works. I don’t know if that is normal for EOL or what it is. Her comb went from almost white to red again after the vitamins.

 

[PopoMyers]

She was laying until about 3 months ago. I live in Florida and for some reason when it gets very rainy and mucky they all slow down laying. They also get mites bad, they refuse to dust bath in the area I have for them. They only like the yard. I let them free range as well. I put DE all in their run and coop and spray the coop walls with permethrin. I just hope she isn’t in pain. It’s odd that only one leg works. I don’t know if that is normal for EOL or what it is. Her comb went from almost white to red again after the vitamins.

DE does nothing for bugs, despite the fact that many people use it. The dust is also bad for them. Good sign that her comb turned red. I would keep up the vitamins, high protein feed, make sure she is hydrated enough. Treat every bird for mites. Stay on top of that issue. Permethrin was the only thing that worked for me. Sounds like she could be anemic like my gal. Could she have gotten her leg injured somehow? If she stays isolated, can she still see her flockmates?

 

[stephc31806]

DE does nothing for bugs, despite the fact that many people use it. The dust is also bad for them. Good sign that her comb turned red. I would keep up the vitamins, high protein feed, make sure she is hydrated enough. Treat every bird for mites. Stay on top of that issue. Permethrin was the only thing that worked for me. Sounds like she could be anemic like my gal. Could she have gotten her leg injured somehow? If she stays isolated, can she still see her flockmates?

Good to know about the DE. I just google and try to learn and everything is so opposite so it’s nice to know when people actually rule it not to work. All birds have been treated. I have been keeping up with the vitamins, she has her high protein layer feed, and staying hydrated. She is eating and drinking really well. Just paralyzed on the right side. She can see her flock as she is on the open back porch in a cage because she can’t move I haven’t worried with her being able to free range. They can not get to her because they are blocked from the pool area. I go out and adjust her body every hour Incase she is uncomfortable in one position. I hate not knowing. I don’t know if she wants me to keep helping or rather just not be here. I’m also hoping the liquid poop stops so I know her body is at least taking in the nutrients. Thank you for your help.

 

[PopoMyers]

How long have you been raising chickens? You are doing a great job. Only time will tell at this point. I have never taken a bird to a vet, but that is an option for some. The anemic one that I had went up and down for months, she had days when she would not even roost and stayed on the ground, isolated herself ( she was the one remaining of 4 broodmates) sometimes lethargic, sometimes seemed normal. Thought many times that she would be gone the next morning. They, like many animals, will hide their symptoms and injuries. How is her poop looking? It can be runny when given lots of water in a short time. Since they technically don't pee, the excess gets eliminated.

 

[stephc31806]

I posted a pic of the poo in the original post. It was my first one so I’m not sure if I did it right, you’ll have to let me know. It looks like that but smaller piles now. That one was actually an all night poo in that pic. I had tended to her until 11 pm went to bed woke up to find her still in the little bin sleeping and clean poo free, picked her up and that went everywhere. Like she was relieved i finally moved her. I have had chickens since April 2020. Anytime I try to figure out what I’m doing I google and usually this site would pop up and I’d read the threads to learn. This is my first real sick chicken experience. I have only tended to injuries before.

 

[2 Acres]

This thread was from a few months ago, so you probably won’t get any replies from the original posters.
May i ask why you think that corid is bad

This thread was from a few months ago, so you probably won’t get any replies from the original posters.
May i ask why you think that corid is bad?

Yes, Corid can potentially cause wry neck in chickens, as it acts as a thiamine blocker, which can lead to neurological issues including muscle weakness and coordination problems that manifest as a twisted neck, also known as wry neck; if you suspect your chicken has developed wry neck after using Corid, it's important to consult a veterinarian.

Key points about Corid and wry neck:

• Thiamine deficiency:
  Corid is a medication that can interfere with the absorption of thiamine (vitamin B1), which is crucial for proper nerve function; a lack of thiamine can lead to neurological symptoms like wry neck.
  
  
• Symptoms of wry neck:
  A chicken with wry neck will hold its head at an unnatural angle, often tilted to one side.
  
  
• Treatment options:
  If you suspect Corid-induced wry neck, providing a B-complex vitamin supplement to your chicken can help replenish thiamine levels.

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