Sick Chikcen

[ZRider10]

Help! I have a almost 5 month old chantecler pullet that isn't really moving. She seemed fine yesterday, but today when I came out, she went to run away from and fell over. There's not sign of external injury that I can find. There's a little bit of excrement on her feathers near the vent, but not a lot. What can I do to give her a better chance of pulling through this. I'm still very new to chickens, and I have no idea what to do!

 

[tiki244]

Unfortunately a 5 month old pullet with those signs and symptoms is the perfect age and sex for a Merriks diagnosis. However, I am not a vet. Keep her isolated from your other chickens. There is no cure that I know of, and if it were mine I would probably end her life. I would say for treatment you can just isolate her and give her poly visol vitamines and scrambled eggs and just good food and see what she does.

 

[ZRider10]

Should I hand feed and water her? Is it safe to do that with a syringe?

The only other main symptom I've noticed is that her eyes were almost sealed shut with mucous. I've cleaned that off now though.

 

[tiki244]

I dont think goey eyes is a symptom of Merriks, so it may not be Merriks. If she can eat on her own I would just let her. Be careful she doesnt choke if you hand feed her. Just put a bit of food in her mouth at a time. Try putting some saline solution in her eyes to clear them up. Plenty of vitamins would help. I really dont know what she could have. At the top of this page are some links for you to look at to try and diagnose her.

 

[tiki244]

Is she thin? How long has she been this way? What does her poo look like?

 

[tiki244]

A little live yogurt or probiotics would help too.

 

[ZRider10]

Her weights fine. She's actually grown a bit more than some of the other girls she came with. I didn't notice anything wrong with her yesterday, but I didn't do much more than count them. So it could be a progressive thing. I didn't see any unusual poop out there, and she hasn't pooped since I found her and brought her in.

I did have a hen suddenly die this May (White Rock about a year), but I was out of town and have no idea what it might have been. I assumed it was either the heat or eggbound. Perhaps it could be related . . .

Now that I've read up a bit on Marek's, I remember seeing one of my landlord's chickens go through it, and these seems real similar. I don't think she's capable of eating or drinking on her own. My chanteclers have always been pretty wild, because I didn't handle them much as chicks. But she's laying on a towel next to me on the bed, barely noticing I'm here. I think I just need to decide whether or not to give her another day or two before the inevitable.

 

[tiki244]

Merriks hits 5 month old pullets mostly. It is everywhere to some extent. Giving chickens electrolytes and vitamins and keeping them stress free would be a good idea for your whole flock. In the past I had a terrible outbreak, and keeping the chickens alive did no good. If I was to see a chicken like that in my flock now I would destroy it immediately. I lost a lot of birds. It is heartbreaking to go through. It isnt passed through the hatching eggs though. I now vaccinate my chicks.

I am sorry for what you have to go through. You sound like you really care about her a lot. I remember sitting in a chair holding some girls as they died and crying. It was aweful. I sure hope you dont have to go through a lot of losses.

With all that said I can in no way say that is what she has. I know some people on here say there is a cure. Hypericum in distilled water.

I wish someone else would pipe in and maybe have some other ideas, as it may not be Merriks. But if she is that weak, it doesnt sound too good. I cant understand what would be wrong with her eye. Good luck to you

 

[ZRider10]

I'd really appreciate anyone else's opinion on this. I can't even get her to drink. She occasionally stirs a little bit every half hour or so.

 

[ZRider10]

So, update. I'm going to assume it's not Marek's, because my hen is walking again! I haven't done anything other than keep here inside and give her food and water. DBF was a little upset to come home from working out of town and find her in the bathtub.

Now she's in the shed isolated from the other chickens. She never seemed to have abnormal stool, was just very, very lethargic. I had to watch her while she drank water to make sure she didn't drown in it. How long do I need to keep her isolated from the other hens for? She doesn't seem entirely 100% yet but is certainly much better. Thanks!