Sick pullet, or trying to lay?

[EggSighted4Life]

She hasn't had any droppings yet since I put her in the brooder this morning. If and when she poops, I will give an update.

I do have some powdered Corid. Is everyone on here thinking that I should just treat her for Cocci anyway, even though I'm not sure if that's the problem?

Even though I agree, Cocci is more likely in warm/damp conditions, most anything is possible... with my experience I would treat for cocci now. Or take a fecal sample to the vet and get the cocci as well as other worm species ruled in or out ($18 at my vet, doesn't haven't to be avian). But if the turn around is more than a couple hours I would start treatment. As said, no harm will be caused to her if used as directed, even if this isn't the actual problem. The Corid acts as a thiamine blocker to slow the growth of the coccidia which are ALWAYS present in EVERY poo and only an issue when allowed to flourish out of control, which could easily happen if the immune system is compromised in some other way.

 

[greenlemonade05]

I gave her as much Corid water I could make her drink tonight. She's roosting under the heat lamp in her brooder. Hopefully she'll have some droppings for me to see in the morning. I'll feed her some more of that feed mixture in the morning, but I'll use the Corid water to make it. I hope this girl gets better.

 

[greenlemonade05]

Well, she's pooping, but it's pretty loose. I saw some greenish streaks and a little pile of yellow poop under her roost. She's still the same, maybe a little worse. She didn't want too much wet food this morning, but I had her drink the excess water in the food I made. I used the Corid water plus sprinkled some in the food. I used a syringe too so I could make sure she was getting a good amount of water. I'll do this again a few more times today.

I'm also just going ahead and treating the rest of the flock too. When I got my hens in March, one of them went through something similar, but she didn't make it. I had tried Corid then too. After she died, I did my own necropsy as best as I could, and I didn't see any worms or lesions in her intestines. No signs of egg yolk peitonitis either. The only thing I found was that her stomach was full of stones even though she hadn't eaten in a very long time.

 

[junebuggena]

Be careful about squirting water into her mouth. You may cause her to aspirate instead of swallow, and then she may develop pneumonia. Dipping the beak is the safest way to encourage drinking.

 

[greenlemonade05]

I didn't have to force her to drink from a syringe, she was pretty compliant. I'll stick with dipping though.

 

[bantamluv]

Ascites may likely be the culprit here... that or coccidiosis. I recommend treating with Corid now, just in case, but if it is ascites then there is not much you can do. I had a hen die 3 days ago of ascites and the symptoms started one day, and then she was gone the next. She had her tail tucked in and tucked her head behind her wing, asleep, just like your pullet. I hope this is not the case with your girl, but if it is, then there are some preventative measures you can take to assure the rest of your flock doesn't contract this.

I found this link very helpful- https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...itions-of-poultry/ascites-syndrome-in-poultry

Hope this helps!

 

[greenlemonade05]

Thanks for the link. I don't think Cocoa has ascites, or at least not yet. Her belly is not swollen or distended, but I guess I can't feel for ascites around her heart. Ascites is the fluid that is the byproduct of organ failure...I'm not sure if we're at that stage yet.

After doing some research, I'm not ruling out that she's had too much calcium. The whole flock is eating starter/grower with free choice oyster shell or eggshells on the side. The other day, I did see some chicks eating the free choice calcium. I can't remember if she was one of them. Maybe she's craving calcium for some weird reason even though she shouldn't have it yet? Or maybe even though I have multiple food stations, the older hens are being bullies and she ate the calcium because she was hungry. I'm not sure, but I think it's a possibility that she has kidney issues. I'm making sure she's getting ACV and cutting back on high protein for now just in case. She just ate some soggy bread with Corid water, ACV, and natural jello (no junky dyes or chemicals).

So, she's still alive...it's funny when I feed her because she will keep her eye closed that is closest to me, but then keeps the eye open that is away, like she doesn't want to see me, or wants me to think she's more tired than she really is.

I'll keep posting updates. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Maybe she's craving calcium for some weird reason even though she shouldn't have it yet? Or maybe even though I have multiple food stations, the older hens are being bullies and she ate the calcium because she was hungry. I'm not sure, but I think it's a possibility that she has kidney issues.

Lots of chicks and boys sample the oyster shell. That is NOT likely the issue.

"High" protein is 30%+. Soggy bread is CRAP and may cause more issues like sour crop.

I found was that her stomach was full of stones even though she hadn't eaten in a very long time.

As far as I know, chickens don't have stomachs. They do have a gizzard where rocks ARE stored and they grind against each other and any food that passes through as part of the digestion process. So eating stones is essential and chicken with out access to some kind will perish from crop/gizzard blockage.

And so I'm not being ugly at all when I say... if you can't identify the anatomy correctly it wouldn't surprise me if there are things you missed doing your own necropsy. Which by the way I haven't even been brave enough to try yet and am still becoming familiar with anatomy as well. I suspect some lesions they are searching for may be microscopic even.

 

[greenlemonade05]

You're right, it was the gizzard full of stones, which would have been normal. I guess there could have been microscopic lesions, but there weren't any massively disturbing ones like the pictures online.

Anyway, Cocoa is doing better today. She's eating and drinking on her own again and not lethargic any more. I only tried the bread for one day, amd she didnt eat much of it. Today she has chick starter/grower and some scrambled egg. She still has very loose stool though. Should I wait for normal stools before attempting to put her back with the other girls? She's on day 3 of Corid, along with the rest of the flock. It looks like I should do at least 5 days?

 

[junebuggena]

If she's perky and eating well, then she can back with the flock. But be sure to finish the full five days of treatment.