Sick chicken

[mirandadaviss]

Hey guys, so I have a flock of 7 (2 silkies, 3 Rhode islands, and 2 silvers) and one of the Silvers is pretty sick. 2 weeks ago, I noticed she was extremely lethargic. We just had a mite infestation that we took care of with DE, so I assumed she was just recovering from that. Then, she began losing a lot of weight and I noticed she was no longer free ranging throughout the day, but just sitting on a hay bale or in bushes all day. Then last week, I brought her inside because she was getting picked on by the other chickens. When I held her, I noticed just how small she has gotten and she was hardly walking very wobbly. I dusted her with some DE and fed her some in her food, (it's food grade DE) just in case it was a parasite. I have been doing that now for almost a week and she isn't improving. She can still hardly stand and is very wobbly. She is eating and drinking well though, and she seemed to be doing better until today. This morning, she started gaping her mouth when she breathes in and it sounds kind of like a quiet wheeze. I don't have the money to spend $200 to take her to the local vet, and I'm not sure what to do. What do you guys suggest? I heard Tylan 200 may be what I should use if its respiratory..

 

[mirandadaviss]

She has also been having diahhrea

 

[cafarmgirl]

I posted on your other thread, definitely consider deworming all of your birds with an effective dewormer.

 

[enola]

I posted on your other thread, definitely consider deworming all of your birds with an effective dewormer.

I second this! Sooner or later chicken people will realize that DE is NOT a suitable wormer for any species of animal. You might also consider treating her for coccidia.

 

[mirandadaviss]

Ok, thank you. Something like Valbazen or Fenbendazole?

 

[Eggcessive]

Valbazen or Fenbendazole would be great for worms. If you were asking about what to treat coccidiosis with, and that would be Corid (amprollium.) Signs of coccidiosis are lethargy, standing puffed up or hunched, extreme weakness, diarrhea, poor appetite, and diarrhea (with or without blood depending on the cocci strain. Mites really requires treating with Permethrin or Sevin Dust every 7 days until no signs of mites are seen, plus emptying your coop and nest boxes of bedding, and starting over with clean fresh bedding. Straw and hay both are notorious for helping to bring mites into a coop. Here are some links to read about mites and coccidiosis:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/laura_e_john/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html