Starving chicken: a true mystery

[junebuggena]

Respiratory illness could be caused by any number of things, from bacterias or viruses to inadequate ventilation. Since it comes and goes, it's more likely environmental. Be sure to have lots of ventilation in your coop and also pay special attention to keeping the coop dry. The Faverolles' bare belly may be due to broodiness. They are very prone to brooding spells.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

If I understand what you're asking, the answer is it's perfectly okay to eat the eggs from a chicken that is carrying an avian virus. These viruses attach themselves to the cells of chickens only, and have no affinity to the cells of humans.

My chickens are healthy in every respect other than they all are carriers of the virus lymphotic leucosis. The hens not enjoying retirement, all lay eggs that I sell to customers who are aware of the virus but understand there is no danger from eating them.

By the way, some of my retired hens are happy, healthy hens in their seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth year, living evidence that carrying an avian virus doesn't need to be a death sentence.

Thank you! Yep, that answered my question

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Respiratory illness could be caused by any number of things, from bacterias or viruses to inadequate ventilation. Since it comes and goes, it's more likely environmental. Be sure to have lots of ventilation in your coop and also pay special attention to keeping the coop dry. The Faverolles' bare belly may be due to broodiness. They are very prone to brooding spells.

Is what I’m gonna say to the broodiness! It’s been a broody spell marathon here the past 2 weeks..

Thank you for the insight, @junebuggena on our problems. I was going to start new threads on these issues if I felt they were getting worse.

 

[orrpeople]

If you're at all curious about the vaccine, I did a ton of research - tried to sift through all the anecdotal evidence to get the real scoop. It's not pro or con, just informational. Best wishes to the OP for her hen's recovery. And sorry to those of you who have lost your backyard friends.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...y-chicks-vaccinated-for-mareks-disease.73398/

 

[azygous]

Thank you! Yep, that answered my question

There is a part two to the question about whether it's okay to eat eggs from a sick chicken. @junebuggena has already pointed out that you probably aren't going to get any eggs from a really sick chicken.

However, while viruses stick to their own chosen host species, bacteria do cross over between species, and we might get sick from eating the eggs and meat from a chicken that is harboring bacteria such as salmonella, as well as other bacteria such as Clostridium perfrigens. I say might because it depends on our immune system whether or not the bacteria will make us sick. Usually, healthy people do not get sick from these bacteria which are more prevalent than most folks realize.

So, just because you notice a hen is acting unwell, you don't need to worry about catching something by eating her eggs. Besides, cooking destroys most of these bacteria.

 

[Candace Martini]

The crucial factor is to know what you are dealing with, and the best way to do that is when a chicken gets sick and dies mysteriously, get a necropsy.

Many folks on this forum will claim they are too overwhelmed by grief to go through the process, but if you can muster up the courage to do it, it may make a huge difference in how healthy and happy your flock will be and it may mean less illness going into the future in spite of knowing your flock carries a deadly disease.

I couldn't agree more. While I have been reading this forum for years now I have never commented either because there are so many conflicting opinions but in this case I felt I just must since I was going through the same thing as the OP with my sweet Priscilla. (Identical symptoms) And while Priscilla was vaccinated most of my flock was not. I didn't feel comfortable with giving a chicken a vaccination. I practice human nursing and didn't feel comfortable with giving a bird an injection. I am not an expert but the state of Alabama's diagnostic veterinary avian specialist recommend in order to control the spread of this virus that I immunize all birds. She said Mareks is very common and I asked why I had not heard of any of my friend's having it on their farms. She said because they immunize or they have been extremely lucky and that luck runs out. I am not trying to debate it because vaccinations, just as they are on one's child is one's own choice but I never want another person to go through the pain I did. I pray that I am wrong about the OP's bird but please keep us posted and if the worst case scenario happens we hope you would get a necropsy so that we will all know these answers because knowledge is power and I believe we can all agree on that.

 

[debandchicks]

Did you check her for mites? A heavy mite infestation left untreated will result in the chicken becoming anemic and eventual death.

Is there any puffiness or swelling in her rear? I had a hen that had a lot of your hen's symptoms this past spring/summer. After reading here I assumed that it was due to the condition (can't remember the name) where eggs build up in the system (not egg binding). I assumed she was going to die, but once it got into fall and flock egg laying diminished, she got back to normal.

Is there any puffiness or swelling in her rear? I had a hen that had a lot of your hen's symptoms this past spring/summer. After reading here I assumed that it was due to the condition (can't remember the name) where eggs build up in the system (not egg binding). I assumed she was going to die, but once it got into fall and flock egg laying diminished, she got back to normal.

 

[debandchicks]

You are thinking of EYP or egg yolk peritonitis. That and Marek's is the most dreaded two evils to me, because by the time you are on to it, it is too late. I am a huge advocate of Marek's vaccination. (never mind that blather about "leaky vaccines" and breeding strong). If you ever saw Marek's, - and it is lurking everywhere, - it will tear your heart out. Your bird may have the visceral type, which is why your "vet" cannot feel any tumors; they exist on the organs, and can be found on necropsy. Also remember birds always put up a good front until the last, - always making it ultra hard for the good flock keeper who carries the guilt of thinking they did something wrong or were not on the ball. Some things are really hard, so the best you can do is vaccinate for Marek's. EYP is another "bady". This is a bad internal infection, and by the time you are on to it, the damage is done. So like the Marek's vaccine, EYP falls under prevention. Chickens were never meant to crank out eggs day in and out. That is not the way nature intended. Man did that to them. Don't light your birds in winter. Give them a long rest. Every time a chicken has to lay an egg, they are one egg closer to wearing out their body or having a mishap in the chain of events that must occur to lay an egg. After reading this post, I'd be willing to bet the hen does have something along the order of these two ills I mention here. As far as the vet, there is no vet that can adequately diagnose a chicken. It is hard enough to find a good POULTRY vet. Sorry to be so negative. The truth often hurts. I will add that if you ever want to learn what kills your chicken, spend $40 for a necropsy. You can then look back and understand why you never saw it coming. Prevention is the best treatment every time.

 

[Candace Martini]

If you're at all curious about the vaccine, I did a ton of research - tried to sift through all the anecdotal evidence to get the real scoop. It's not pro or con, just informational. Best wishes to the OP for her hen's recovery. And sorry to those of you who have lost your backyard friends.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...y-chicks-vaccinated-for-mareks-disease.73398/

Thank you Orrpeople. This is wonderful information. I just wished I had realized how prevalent it is. We built a really nice coop for Priscilla and her 3 friends. It is made of green metal and 16 gauge galvanized steel dug 1 foot into the ground. We were aiming to protect our flock from what lingered outside and never realized the predator that looms inside. And now my baby girl is gone. Always to be missed.

 

[staceyj]

Thank you Orrpeople. This is wonderful information. I just wished I had realized how prevalent it is. We built a really nice coop for Priscilla and her 3 friends. It is made of green metal and 16 gauze wire dug 1 foot into the ground. We were aiming to protect our flock from what lingered outside and never realized the predator that looms inside. And now my baby girl is gone. Always to be missed.

Oh my so very sorry Candace.