South Carolina

[huckleberryfarm]

Had a long day. A bird of mine last night started swelling up in the face. By this morning she could hardly breathe! I've had so many birds die I wanted to figure out what is going on once and for all.
Took the dying bird and my Cochin to sunset animal clinic. Saw dr. Ogburn and dr. Brown. Very nice doctors btw. The polish died before I got there. She was so swollen her eyes were sunk in and not visible and were draining. She died because of suffocation because of her horrible adema.
The vets were in utter shock. Weirdest thing they've seen in a while they said. They immediately said most likely a virus. (oh great) and they checked out my Cochin. They said he was under weight. Oh and they still have coccidia.
Well I took the dead polish by the Clemson facility for necropsy. I should have some results tomorrow. Hoping it's not viral. And they said if so I have to put down my flock if it's something very serious.
I'm on edge now. I wonder if I will have to put down my flock and if my eggs need to be destroyed too.

it's just been a crazy day.

Wow! I hope it's not that serious. I need to keep reading and see what happened...

 

[Larkspur88]

UPDATE

Well, Dr. Ogburn at Sunset Animal Clinic just called me. The laboratory called her today to review what they saw so far.

And things just get more bizzare...

The autopsy went well. The bird was in decent condition (except for being underweight) She said that the organs and such all were relatively normal. Well, they got to the birds face last and obviously it was extremely fluid filled. When they got to the brain the brain was grossly swollen and even around the brain and there was deterioration of the brain occuring!!!!! The lab has NO idea what it is. They've never seen this before.

My grandma jokingly said watch this be a new disease and it gets named after me. (Thanks a lot Grandma...haha.) And my coworker says it sounds like a new rabies strain....avian rabies. (Not comforting either...jeez)

Well, the lab said no signs of respiratory issues. Dr. Ogburn said that was surprising because one would think so. But, I noted that the bird literally started acting lethargic yesterday afternoon (2 nights ago) and that night the swelling began. She was dead in less than 24 hours (Yesterday). No respiratory issues at all beforehand.

I will update again when they find out more. They took tissue samples and are running those.

 

[dixiebeast]

I am so sorry you are going through this...it gets scarier everytime I read more! Thank you for sharing as this is something we may all face. I pray not but with all the super flu strains every year and now avian flu has supposedly been confirmed in a man in china...these are the things that we need to be aware of and prepare for.We never know what new virus/disease lurks around the corner.I am far from being a germ-o-phobe and believe a lil dirt is good for us all....

My thoughts are with you and your flock and family!!

UPDATE

Well, Dr. Ogburn at Sunset Animal Clinic just called me. The laboratory called her today to review what they saw so far.

And things just get more bizzare...

The autopsy went well. The bird was in decent condition (except for being underweight) She said that the organs and such all were relatively normal. Well, they got to the birds face last and obviously it was extremely fluid filled. When they got to the brain the brain was grossly swollen and even around the brain and there was deterioration of the brain occuring!!!!! The lab has NO idea what it is. They've never seen this before.

My grandma jokingly said watch this be a new disease and it gets named after me. (Thanks a lot Grandma...haha.) And my coworker says it sounds like a new rabies strain....avian rabies. (Not comforting either...jeez)

Well, the lab said no signs of respiratory issues. Dr. Ogburn said that was surprising because one would think so. But, I noted that the bird literally started acting lethargic yesterday afternoon (2 nights ago) and that night the swelling began. She was dead in less than 24 hours (Yesterday). No respiratory issues at all beforehand.

I will update again when they find out more. They took tissue samples and are running those.

 

[dixiebeast]

BATORVISION...the reruns I love to watch!!

 

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

I've been totally avoiding the new BYC!!!!

 

[ssellis]

live near by need chickens and or eggs

 

[Joycats]

live near by need chickens and or eggs

What kind of chickens and eggs? There are lots of us that can probably help you with this problem.

 

[Joycats]

A little while back someone on here asked me about my BB Red hen - sorry, but I can't remember who it was. If you're still looking for some hens I have a friend who has 2 she is wanting to sell. Just let me know who you are and I'll get you her contact info.

 

[Larkspur88]

I've been searching through chicken diseases and came across something that could possibly be what my chicken died from. I'll paste it here:

Swollen Head Syndrome

Synonyms: Facial cellulitis, thick head, Dikkop, SHS
Species affected: Chickens and turkeys are the known natural hosts. Experimentally, guinea fowl and pheasants are susceptible but pigeons, ducks, and geese are resistant to the infection. SHS does not presently occur in the United States, but is present in most countries of the world.
Clinical signs: In chicks and poults, there is initial sneezing, followed by reddening and swelling of the tear ducts and eye tissue. Facial swelling will extend over the head and down the jaw and wattles. Adult chickens have mild respiratory disease followed by a few birds having swollen heads. Other signs include disorientation, twisting of the neck, and a significant drop in egg production (see Table 1 ).
Transmission: The infection spreads by direct contact with infected birds or indirectly by exposure to infectious material.
Treatment: There is no proven medication for swollen head syndrome. The disease is caused by a virus classified as a pneumovirus. A disease closely mimicking SHS is caused by a mixed infection of respiratory viruses and specific bacteria. Antibiotic therapy may be helpful against the bacterial component.
Prevention: A commercial vaccine is available. Swollen head syndrome is considered an exotic disease and a live vaccine is not approved for use in the United States.

I read more about it somewhere else and it causes swelling of the brain and such. This is by far what sounds like what the bird I am having a necropsy done on has. If it is does it mean the virus is now in the U.S. (the chicken kind?) Seems plausible though the chances of me...a flock of 30 birds in a backyard...it would be crazy. It might explain why the lab is so far stumped. They don't see this in chickens here in the state.

Now I'm so worried not that I wasn't before. But oh my goodness. This may require going back through history of the last year and discovering where the illness no matter what it is came from. Hmmm. I'd hate to message people and be like..."I had a sick bird. Do yours have these symptoms???" Oh my. Guess I will be on edge waiting for the final results.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

live near by need chickens and or eggs

Hi! Are you still wanting some Silkies? I have about 4-6 youngsters I could sell. They are from 3 months down to 1 month and some that are about 2 weeks old. I can't tell if they are boys or girls but most are blue, the others are black.
The only other birds I have for sale right now are what I had told you about before, the bantam Cochins and those are in pairs or trios. Unless you want LF, too. I have a pair of black copper Marans for sale.

Did you ever find a few girls for your lonely roo? There should be someone on here that has the same breed.