Sick Pullet--Not Sure What's Wrong!?

[marlaw]

Getting so many conflicting answers online--I'm afraid of accidentally killing her trying to help her since her symptoms sound like it could be anything.

Winnie is a Serama Bantam pullet, approximately 9-10 months old. She has had intermittent bouts of dry sneezes for the past week. To treat that, we rubbed VetRx in their waddles and comb for the first few days and treated their water with it as well. Also put ACV in water. Sneezing was all but gone and she was her crazy self otherwise.

She normally runs out to greet us in the morning and is very gregarious and hyper. This morning she is standing in one place, eyes closed for extended periods, and her tail is gently pulsing up and down. Her tail isn't up at all. Her poop is runny and yellowish. Her crop does feel full and squishy this morning. I think she might be drinking (or trying to) because she's been camped out at the waterer. I haven't seen her eat.

I believe she laid an egg yesterday...but can't confirm. She laid it in the nest where a broody hen is sitting and I think the broody snatched it before I could. She did get sunflower hearts as a treat last night and I'm wondering if that impacted her crop somehow? She has had them before before but she was being a little piggy about them last night and wondering if she had too many. (We did de shell them and break the hearts up into halves and quarters.) She is currently inside in an indoor coop for winter.

I went to get a picture of her poo but hubby had already cleaned the coop. I'll try to get a pic of her today, but any help is really appreciated. I'm thinking it might be sour crop but also thought giving her Cortid?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

First thing I do for any chicken of questionable health is to isolate it in a small cage or kennel, in a warm safe place (usually my garage). That way I can make better observations... keep track of food intake, egg laying, etc. It also protects the sick individual from others in the flock and protects the flock from exposure to disease.

If Winnie's crop is full and squishy first thing in the morning, then sour or slow crop is probable. The best first thing to do is withhold food until the crop empties. (a day or 2 without food will not kill her ) It's especially important to withhold whole grains and seeds. Provide fresh water. Some probiotics added to the water can be helpful. I would avoid ACV at this time... not sure if the acid content helps or hinders.

If Winnie's crop doesn't clear overnight, I can help you, but won't go into it now.

Once the crop clears, you can reintroduce small amounts of easily digestible foods... bit of hard boiled egg, layer or all flock crumbles to start and see how it goes. I've had luck with small amounts of plain yogurt along with the first foods.

Slow crop is usually a symptom of an underlying problem... worms, viruses, oviduct problems, moldy feed, injury, mites, even lack of adequate grit... and it can return if you don't resolve the underlying problem. This is the harder part, so some questions for you:

What exactly did you treat the water with besides ACV?

You said dry sneezes... did any other chickens sneeze? Did the sneezes start when she was moved to the winter coop? (bedding changes may have caused it?)

Standing with tail down can indicate a stuck egg or or other internal problems. Does Winnie have access to oyster shell or some type of calcium? Can you feel an egg near her hind end? Keep track of her laying... isolation cage is best for that.

Runny yellowish poop is not normal. Has Winnie ever been wormed? Do you notice any sour smell to the poo or from her mouth? Did she eat anything new or different recently? Do any other birds have runny poop?

That should get us started. The good news it I think you caught whatever it is at an early stage. Sick chickens hide their symptoms from the flock, so we don't often notice there is a problem until it is very serious. I think Winnie's chances for recovery are very good.

 

[marlaw]

First thing I do for any chicken of questionable health is to isolate it in a small cage or kennel, in a warm safe place (usually my garage). That way I can make better observations... keep track of food intake, egg laying, etc. It also protects the sick individual from others in the flock and protects the flock from exposure to disease....

I really appreciate you trying to help, thank you so much. I printed out your response, but sadly I'm not going to get the chance to try anything else. We lost her a little bit ago.

Turns out she did eat too many sunflower hearts and it impacted her crop. She took a turn for the worst around lunchtime. The impaction pushed on her lungs and she suffocated in our arms.

We are first time pet chicken owners and we knew there was a possibility of losing some from our inexperience, but I didn't think it would be something so stupid and so avoidable....and I didn't think it would hurt this much. We were just having so much fun with her last night and gave her too many seeds. She was such a ham and we loved her dearly. This was a very hard lesson to learn indeed.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I'm so sorry to hear that she didn't make it. I don't think you should blame yourself over the sunflower seeds. It is very likely that she was sicker than you think, and the sunflower seeds were not the only cause. My Seramas are greedy little gobblers too. They get mixed bird seed and a bit of corn and chopped kale every evening. Their crops get very full, and they are able to process it all. Poor Winnie must have had some other underlying problem. It's so hard when we lose one, and sadly, it never gets easier.