Strawberry is very sick. Droopy Head AND droopy vent!

[Kiki]

I'm sorry your birds are not well.

I highly doubt you are dealing with the AI 'bird flu' carried by the migrating ducks. The birds most likely would all be dead by now.

Just want to mention a few things.


Bird diseases are highly contagious and if you have something in your flock keeping a bird in the house isn't good enough for keeping the disease away from others. Diseases are carried by the wind/on you/your clothing.

You mentioned a blind bird...have you ever noticed any birds having trouble walking before?

Marek's disease is very common.

If the birds aren't eating well/a balanced diet they can suffer wry neck issues fairly quickly.

What do you feed your birds?
How long ago was the last time you brought a new to you bird home and when was the last time a bird died?


One last thing... I see you are in California.
Are you aware that your state lab will perform a necropsy for $20 to tell you exactly why a bird died?

 

[Kiki]

One last thing...Tylan really should be given no less than every 8 hours to work correctly and giving it straight in to the mouth might be better for the bird instead of injecting it. Injecting it can cause problems.

 

[DarkWater1929]

Believe me, you're in excellent company. Most of us here are crazy for chickens, naming each one, coming up with entertainment so the darlings don't get bored, all that and some.

Yes, it's entirely possible the chickens got some bacteria from the rat. It happens. Keep on with the Tylosin. If there is no improvement, switch to amoxicillin 250mg if you can get a vet to prescribe it. Since you're in California, antibiotics aren't going to be easy to obtain. If you have a friend or relative out of state, you might be able to get them to order some here and mail it to you. https://www.kvsupply.com/item/aqua-mox-250mg-capsules-100-count/P06184/ No prescription needed for other states.

Interestingly, in California, I am able to get some form of most antibiotics through websites that cater either to falconers, or aquarium supply. I don't usually tell people that, because I would hate to see the loophole closed. But, I feel that all chicken keepers deserve access to such information. Further, I find it outrageous that my hens, who contribute not only companionship, but food, are not entitled to the same benefits as are those wretched airborne Coyotes. Can you imagine? Those things are "protected," while my gentle girls are not. Oh, the injustice of it all! Stupid legislators. It was never anyone's patriotic duty to keep hawks.

 

[DarkWater1929]

I'm sorry your birds are not well.

I highly doubt you are dealing with the AI 'bird flu' carried by the migrating ducks. The birds most likely would all be dead by now.

Just want to mention a few things.


Bird diseases are highly contagious and if you have something in your flock keeping a bird in the house isn't good enough for keeping the disease away from others. Diseases are carried by the wind/on you/your clothing.

You mentioned a blind bird...have you ever noticed any birds having trouble walking before?

Marek's disease is very common.

If the birds aren't eating well/a balanced diet they can suffer wry neck issues fairly quickly.

What do you feed your birds?
How long ago was the last time you brought a new to you bird home and when was the last time a bird died?


One last thing... I see you are in California.
Are you aware that your state lab will perform a necropsy for $20 to tell you exactly why a bird died?

Thank you!
I don't think it can be Mereks. My first chicken had Mereks. She was given to me by an acquaintance who had no idea what was wrong, and didn't want to fool with her. That was quite a learning experience! I researched the heck out of her symptoms, before reaching the conclusion that Mareks was the culprit. Acyclovir seemed to help in that instance, but not enough, eventually. These two have the one commonality with Mereks, the lack of control over their heads, but it is very different. Also, the sudden, dramatic, onset of the thing seems inconsistent.

I have had no new birds in quite a long time, other than those that have hatched here.

I had heard about the necropsy possibility. I will look into that, if it comes to it. We had six cows die a horrible death, just after feeding, several years ago. We took one to UC Davis for necropsy, with negative results. Our local folks were afraid that it could be anthrax, so there was some imperative. We also took several bales of the hay they were fed, and had the pasture examined. All with no result. So, my faith in the ability to adequately diagnose cause of death tends to be somewhat cynical. But, I feel that it is worth doing, in any case.

Today is day 3 for Strawberry. Day 2 for her pal. They are still fighting, so I am still fighting for them. They seem comfortable enough. Strawberry had a sudden, horrid, outbreak of maggots last night. I bathed her, against all of the strictures against bathing sick chickens. She actually seemed to enjoy the blow drying. I have clipped the feathers away from all of her sores, and am keeping them coated with antibiotic. I made sure that it was the kind with no pain reliever. My main concern, at present, is getting enough fluids into them, to allow them the time to heal, if they possibly can.

All other birds are right as rain. I begin to think that some toxin in the rat, either a poison, or just rotten rat meat, must be to blame. It seems so unlikely to me that, were it viral, no other birds would be falling ill. What do you think?

Thank you again for your time and concern! I appreciate it a great deal.

 

[Kiki]

Marek's disease is actually highly likely since you already have it confirmed in your flock.
It takes many years for it to leave your land and if you haven't completely gotten rid of all of your birds for years then it's most likely it's still hanging around... unfortunately.