Sick Hamburgh! WHAT'S WRONG???

[lollylegs]

Hi,
My hamburgh chicken is sick. He is approximately 2 months old and I notice this morning that his comb and beak were looking a lot paler than normal. This afternoon he has become lethargic and very quiet. I have seperated him now from my other chickens (hamburghs, houdans, crosses) But I don't know what is wrong with him. His feet also feel colder than normal. Please help!!

 

[#1California Chick]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Where do you live?? What has the temp been like?? Could your Roo have become frozen???

Cindy

 

[lollylegs]

No I live in Australia. And currently its about 30 degrees celsius. They have plenty of water. They free range. Plenty of food. I am wondering if they could have got sick from the local wildlife. We have 4 Bush Turkeys hanging around and I am unsure if they carry and diseases. They try and feed with my chickens even though I have tried to scare them away.

And THANK U for the welcome. Much appreciated!!

 

[#1California Chick]

First of all, you did the right FIRST THING!!

You separated your roo from your other chickens. Keep him warm, quiet and fed and watered.

Hopefully, someone will come on here tomorrow morning who might have an idea what is wrong!!

Cindy

 

[lollylegs]

Thanks Cindy!! Hopefully he will still be alive in the morning!

I just went and checked him and his breathing is laboured and he is asleep and very hard to wake up. I don't think he will be alive in the morning. I hate when unexpected horrible things happen...Aaarrgghh. He only looked sick today. Wish I knew what was wrong with him.

 

[gordy123]

hey lollylegs-
we live in connecticut! Had a hen do that, thought she was egg bound. Brought her in for a week, she did fine. Returned her to the flock a week later. A week and a half later she died. My husband thinks she had frost bite. This is our first flock rescued like the rest of our animals are! Rest of the flock seems fine! I'm new here and have been checkin in since 5-2008. I love you all! You all my kinda people!:

 

[HennysMom]

First - hi to you both and

Sorry about your bird - it does sound like frostbite at first guess but then again, its not that cold. My girls combs get sort of off color a bit now that its cold and I rub them down with A&D ointment and back to brillant red they go.

Hmm.... Does she/he sound like they have pnuemonia or anything? I thought I read on here also somewhere where deficiencies could cause the combs to change colors too....

I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in soon though.

I hope your bird gets better.

 

[Indiana hens]

lollylegs. I would give electrolites in the water and maybe add some pro-biotics if the poo is runny.

 

[lollylegs]

My poor rooster died about an hour after I posted

. It all happened really fast. It can't be anything to do with cold weather as I live in Australia and its summertime and we have had a mild summer. A fair amount of rain so everything is a bit muddy. But I can't contribute it to the weather.

 

[maymiegirl]

It sounds to me like he had a very nasty case of a sort of parasite. I would keep fenbendazole or something comparable onhand and also -- before it happens to another, worm your flock.

Pale comb tells me there is a lack of red blood cells. Poly-Vi-Sol or another good, multi vitamin will help give your flock a boost after worming for parasites. If you worm with a general wormer like fenbendazole you will need to do this 3 days in a row or maybe even up to 5 days.

It definitely sounds like a parasite. If you get many more at a time getting pale and sick like that THEN I would consider viruses. A fecal sample sometimes can confirm the type of parasite unless it is a gizzard or heartworm. Not all wormers take care of the entire spectrum.

Some people think if they get the yellow and white bottle they are covered. NOT

This is only a guess-- but where you live there are many types of parasites. It can never hurt to do the worming.