Sick Chicken

[wamflock]

A few days ago I notice my hen kind of slowing down....walk, slowly, keeping to her self. Then I noticed she wasn't eating, still drinking some, but not eating. Her crawl is soft. Yesterday evening she wouldn't or couldn't get on the roost so I put her in a box on the floor. This morning she would barely walk and now she is laying on her side and can't walk. Can't get her to eat or drink...labored breathing. Any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? If she is new to you or you have added a new chicken, she could have been exposed to a new strain of coccidiosis. If she is young or under 5 months, he may not have developed immunity to cocci yet. Treatment is Corid in the water for 5 days. Can she move her legs or stand if you sit her up? How do her poops look? Has she lost weight? Lameness can be caused by many things including Mareks disease. I would also check for mites and lice, or any other symptoms.

 

[wamflock]

Sorry to have to report she didnt make it. I had put her in a pen by herself, didn't want to take any chances. But she couldnt stand, she was about 1 year old and we have not had any new chickens added to the group. Her poops were runny and light yellow. She was doing great up until Wednesday morning. Thats when I noticed her acting different. What ever it was it was fast acting.....now I am concerned for the rest of my girls....any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[subhanalah]

I recommend doing a necropsy or sending her off for one. Some states do them for free.

 

[wamflock]

thank you

 

[subhanalah]

Sorry this happened. I didn't mean to seem cold earlier, guess I need to work on my bedside manner sometimes. Please forgive my callousness.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Bright yellow droppings can sometimes be a sign of E.coli infection, and sometimes histomoniasis or blackhead which is more common in turkeys. I would probably get a collective early morning stool sample and take it to my regular vet, and have it tested for E.coli, heterakis gallinarium (cecal worms that can be present in blackhead), clostridium perfringens (the bacteria that causes enteritis,) and coccidia. then you would know if you need to treat for one of those.