Sick pullet!!??!

Foulguy

In the Brooder
6 Years
Mar 27, 2013
12
0
22
MId MIchigan
Last night when checking my small flock of 4 week old(ish) birds, I noticed one of them Laying in their sand tray. I thought that she might be dead, but when I picked her up she did struggle a little trying to get awaybut she is hanging her head. She proceeded to eat a few crumbles of chic starter/grower. I changed out the water and added some probiotic and electrolyte formula and set the chick next to it to drink. It did consume a small amount of water.
This morning it is up and moving around slowly, still eating and drinking lightly, but she has no balance. She is hanging her head and when she put her head between her legs, she actually did a somersault.
I don't know if it is a crop problem (I am new to chickens and don't even know what a crop is or how to check it), or if it is cocci or what. Can anyone help me identify what she has and recommend a solution?

THank you in advance.
 
UPDATE: After researching BYC yesterday, I figured out how to check the crop. Absolutely nothing in there, and in fact she looks like she is getting thinner from eating so lightly these last few days. I had picked up some Corid to treat for Cocci and administered this to her as well as it can't hurt anything. All the while she was still acting strange, tucking her head between her legs almost as if she was trying to peck her abdomen. And it dawned on me. "Could she be constipated?" I don't know, but I added some cider vinegar to her water and soaked some crumbles in olive oil, and tried the red wine trick (in a smaller dose as she is only 4 weeks old) thinking if it will loosen an impacted crop, then it might help loosen up her bowels as well.. When I left the barn, I wasn't very hopeful that she was going to make it.
Checked her this morning, and she is up and moving around a little better! With 3 massive, solid looking, piles of poop (For her size) laying in her box. Aside from size it looks normal. Also she is eating better than I have seen her do in the past few days. I hope she is doing even better when get off work so i can move her back with her friends.
 
UPDATE 2: My little patient is doing better than last week, but something is still bothering her. She is still tucking her head to her neck/chest and backing up into the wall of her brooder seemingly trying to peck herself. In fact She never straightens her neck out at all. Her crop always feels empty except right after she eats and she is pooping fine now. Could there be something lodged in her crop that irritates her, but still allows food to pass? Or are these symptoms of worms and she is really trying to peck her stomach? Any insight is appreciated.
 
So I just realized that i was supposed to list the symptoms in the format provided. Here goes:

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) Production red, 4-5 weeks, not sure on weight, but lighter than the rest of my flock purchased at the same time and apparently the same age.

2) What is the behavior, exactly. Seemingly lethargic, keeps head turned downward tucked against outstretched neck, backing up with head between legs, and occasionally a somersault when backing up.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 1 week

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Unknown

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Same non medicated starter/grower as the others. Drinking water with electrolytes and probiotic.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Normal until yesterday, and now slightly runny.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Corid, Wazine, dusted for mites, vitamins, and addition of baby food to starter/grower crumbles

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Will treat myself.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Not yet, will try to get one.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use Pine flakes from TSC

She is still exhibiting the symptoms a week later, but still seems pretty active. Clumsier than the other birds I have, as she is always stepping in her food dish and occasionally stumbling. Possibility of affected vision: she seems to ignore food dish until I lift it to her beak, and then she eats very well.

Please post any thoughts if you have them. Either this is stumping everyone, or nobody want to talk to me :)
 

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