tail down, lethargic , drinking.

[Crazychocolatedog]

I wish I had an answer instead of a similar problem. I have lost 1 hen a month or so ago. She was listless and behaving in the same way Crazy Chocolate Dog’s hen is behaving. We gave the whole flock vitamins and Remedy but she died after a couple of weeks. (Also treated for coccidiosis.) Now another hen is acting the same. What would kill them like this. We are in Texas. It’s been below freezing on many nights. HELP.

Hi,
Sorry to read that you are having the same issue. I’m afraid my entire flock will get this death sentence ...and in addition, I think this one is getting bumble foot....? Not sure what the white bump is,... it hasn’t absessed and no scab.
It’s amazing to read about farmers with 200 chickens and never an ailment or worm
....I’ve lost 2 in one year, and it looks like I will lose a third.
Sounds like you’re doing everything I am...if it wasn’t winter...I’d sweep it all out and wash with chlorox ...but I do keep my run and coop clean and it’s very dry. Not much poop hanging around in our houses.
good luck

 

[Georgiacanfield]

I responded to Crazy Chocolate Dog because I am having a similar problem. I lost one hen a couple of months ago. She was listless and just sat around. She died after a couple of weeks. I also lost a hen before that with a leg problem. It seemed to be her shoulder. Couldn’t use on leg at all. I separated her because the others were attacking her. Gave them all vitamins. Once she was separated, she stopped trying to walk and lost the use of her good leg. Now another hen is being listless. We are giving her Remedy but I fear she will die like the others. What could be causing this? These deaths are weeks and weeks apart.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

Does she now have bumble foot ??
I disked her feet in epsom salt & warm water. She’s eating. I have Tylan powder ... Date code expired 3 years ago

 

[aart]

Does she now have bumble foot ??

Looks more like frostbite with the overall swelling....is that possible?

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

Looks more like frostbite with the overall swelling....is that possible?

I really don’t think so. I live in Massachusetts, and it hasn’t been very cold (yay) . My chickens live in a well insulated coop, and run, with ventilation . I don’t even need a jacket when I’m there with them. this seemed to come on this week...but could it be the reason she isn’t walking for her last two weeks?
I didn’t think it was bumble foot either, but it must be painful. I had to support her while I soaked her feet,...and when I tried to put her weight down,. I could feel her tremble. I have her 1/4 of a 325 mg aspirin morning to help reduce the swelling.

 

[aart]

but could it be the reason she isn’t walking for her last two weeks?

Possible.
I don't know much ...but @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive might be able to help.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

Possible.
I don't know much ...but @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive might be able to help.

Thank you for trying. I think I’m going to need some Kleenex becuz I’m at my wits end and ready to sit down for a good cry! Lol

 

[Eggcessive]

I haven’t gone back over the whole thread, but in those last pics in post 73, I would agree that the last picture looks like frostbite with that grey color of the skin. The ankles appear swollen as mycoplasma synovitis or MS can look. There also looks like scaly leg mite on legs.

Frostbite should be treated with no rubbing, but you can spray a little betadine or vetericyn on them. Frostbitten feet are painful, and the damaged area can fall off after several weeks. Frostbite may have occurred some time ago, when temps might have been much colder.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

This is interesting....so over the course of this thread I started with a limping chicken that was coming out of a heavy molt, days later, she wouldn’t walk. We gave her scrambled eggs, lots of vitamins, cottage cheese. No more improvement.....NOW, weeks later...we get the swollen feet.
My friend works for a vet that’s rather very far away from me.. but the vet is off today, but one of the techs saw the photos, and suggested this could be GOUT ...which makes sense because I have been pumping her up with protein to get her to eat. ~~~
Who knows, but I thought I would share this.

 

[Eggcessive]

The thing about articular gout (and I have never seen it in my own chickens,) is that it causes lumpy-looking swelling of bothe feet. The big difference between gout and MS, is that in MS, the ankles and hocks are swollen, but the toes look fairly normal, and the color stays normal. In gout, the toes and whole foot looks swollen and lumpy. Gout may look like this photo: