The EMERGENCY Thread!!!

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NEW EMERGENCY

I need help with one of my pullets. She's approximately 4 ish months.

I received her from someone. She came to me in August. Apparently, she was a surprise birth. She's a special chick who thinks she's a dog. She's had a tough start and I'm not sure she's going to make it.

The first week she was here, she had diarrhea, that I had learned previously was coccidiosis when I had an outbreak a few months earlier with my flock of chicks. I treated her with Corid, she recovered. She got bigger and grew such a personality that she would always run to me so she could roost on my shoulder and want to follow me into the house.

About a month ago, I noticed she wasn't coming out of the hen house, so I opened the door to find her in a nesting box. She "yelled" at me and when I reached for her, she dove face first into the hay. I picked her up, one of her legs wasn't moving and she was protective of it. The other moved around just fine. I discovered that she may have broken her femur, which was confirmed by someone a lot more experienced than me. Being so young, I thought she may have had a chance. We splinted it, she seemed to be in less pain once we did so. She was being her normal self, I got her up for "PT" every day. Eating/drinking normally. Then, she had a bad day. She got worse, I checked the leg, wasn't hot or anything I could pinpoint. I saw mites on her, treated her for it. Gave her fluids. Two days later, back to normal, as normal can be with an injured leg.

Now, she isn't doing that well, at all. I know I should probably put her down, but this is a last ditch attempt for help. She has what I think is wryneck, probably has Marek's. Her legs are behind her, her wings aren't moving voluntarily. She wants to eat and drink but doesn't seem to be digesting anything. My daughter found her gasping and heard crackles. She tipped her forward and all this fluid came out. She drinks water, a few hours later, same thing. Any ideas? I've called around to vets, no one close by takes care of chickens. I'm pretty new to taking care of a flock, please use this as a teachable moment in case you want to browbeat me. I feel horrible enough as it.(Hope I'm posting appropriately)
 
Mareks and Wry neck are associated with each other so she could definitely have both.In most cases they dont get through Mareks.Mareks attacks the sciatic nerve enlarging it to paralysis.So she lays down like this?

Mareks-disease-leg-paresis.jpg
 
I am sorry to say that I had to have my sweet Opal chicken put down. The X-rays showed the fungal infection not only in lungs but air sacs as well. The vet said I could try hospitalization and more meds and nebulizing but that would cost hundreds of dollars more and might not even work. So they are putting her down right now. Never thought I would be crying my eyes out over a chicken. I spent about $500 trying to save her to no avail. Today was another $271. Rest in peace my sweet chicken. You know you were my favorite girl since the first time I ever saw you.
 
dreamyj said:
I am sorry to say that I had to have my sweet Opal chicken put down. The X-rays showed the fungal infection not only in lungs but air sacs as well. The vet said I could try hospitalization and more meds and nebulizing but that would cost hundreds of dollars more and might not even work. So they are putting her down right now. Never thought I would be crying my eyes out over a chicken. I spent about $500 trying to save her to no avail. Today was another $271. Rest in peace my sweet chicken. You know you were my favorite girl since the first time I ever saw you.
Click to expand...
:hugs. I am sorry you went through this. Unfortunately chickens tend to hide their disease until they are so sick they can not survive
 
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I'm sorry you had to put her down. I empathize with you, as I'm thinking this is what I'm going to have to do with my Muninn. Our dog died this week, too. We had him for 15 years. Much love and peace to you! <3
 

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