Skin rotting off

[snugglepup]

Hi,

Just came home from be out all weekend, and found one of my 6 wk chicks huddled in the pen. Picked her up and it looks like her skin is cracking/peeling/rotting off all over her body. Very gross. No discharge from eyes/nose, still drinking for sure, but dont know about eating. Definitely lethargic. The skin between her toes is cracked so bad its bleeding, also up in the creases of her wings. She does have a little poo around her vent, but otherwise I don't know how her poos are. She has been eating medicated chick food, but is free ranging during the day and could have access to the layer food.

Could this be mareks? I am thinking to cull her

but need to know what to do to protect the rest of the flock.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Could it be mites? I read this, and don't know if there are feathers coming out, but...

The Depluming Mite (Knemidocoptes laevis, variety gallinae) causes severe irritation by burrowing into the skin near the bases of feathers and frequently causes feathers to be pulled out or broken. The mite is barely visible to the naked eye and can be found in follicles at the base of the feathers. The mites crawl around the birds at times, spreading from bird to bird.

It seems that if it's mites it could be doing a lot of damage to the skin. Also, from what I understand of Mareks, they become paralyzed. Can she move? I know she's lethargic, but if she's got full mobility... This is puzzling.

 

[snugglepup]

its very puzzling. she can move, but she is limpy... probably because her feet are all cracked and bloody. It really looks like she has been dipped in acid or something. It's not like she's got patches where her skin is coming off, its her entire skin! Very gross!!

 

[sillygoose4ever]

It sounds devestating. I would really take her to a local veterinarian. It's could be a serious problem... Good Luck

 

[sillygoose4ever]

Are her feathers still intact?

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Any way you can post pics of it? I know it may seem gross, but maybe someone will recognize it. I've been looking around for you, but so far I have not come across anything that seems to match the symptoms you're giving. Could it be possible this chicken got some kind of chemical(s) on it? I really think if you posted a picture it might help.

 

[snugglepup]

she still has feathers intact. its when you part the feathers you notice her skin is just falling off. Just checked on her in the cage, her poos appear normal. Although she was not interested in food. My primary concern is protecting the rest of the flock.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Maybe this might help. I looked up Gangrenous Dermatitis (http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/204900.htm) and here's part of what it said (click the link for the article).

Clinical Findings and Lesions:
The first sign is usually a sudden dramatic increase in mortality in the affected flock. Overall mortality is 10-60%. Affected chickens are extremely depressed, lethargic, and prostrate, and die within 8-24 hr. Red to black patches of moist, gangrenous skin are seen over the breast, abdomen, wing tips, or thighs. Feather loss or sloughing of the epidermis is common. When clostridial infection occurs, palpation of the affected areas often reveals crepitation due to gas bubbles in the subcutis and musculature. At necropsy, there is an accumulation of gaseous, serosanguineous fluid in the subcutis, and the musculature has a pale cooked appearance. The liver and spleen are enlarged and may contain infarcts or pale focal areas of necrosis. The kidneys are usually swollen, and the lungs may be congested and edematous or necrotic. Atrophy of the bursa of Fabricius may be found in birds that were exposed to infectious bursal disease virus in the first few weeks after hatching.

If this is it, here's what it says:

Treatment and Control:
Maintaining proper litter conditions, minimizing traumatic injury, and controlling cannibalism can help prevent the disease. A program to vaccinate breeders against infectious bursal disease to establish healthy, immunocompetent, replacement stock has also been useful. Administration of oxytetracycline in the feed at 0.02% rapidly reduces mortality in field outbreaks of clostridial infections. Chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, or penicillin in the water have proved beneficial for staphylococcal infections, depending on the results of antibiotic sensitivity testing.

Maybe this helps? I'll keep looking! Again, I believe a picture would be most helpful.

 

[snugglepup]

Ugh. That sounds fun. Ok I am going to attempt pics with my sad digital camera. Stay tuned.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Here's a couple pictures I found of what that conditions looks like. THEY'RE KIND OF GROSS - SO SORRY.

Does any of that look similar to your chicken?