The New Flock 2021: Back to Basics

[speckledhen]

I wonder if he had a bad but non-lethal case of West Nile virus.

Never thought about that, though I don't recall ever hearing about chickens catching West Nile, but they do get fowl pox from mosquitoes, of course, which is also only from bites, not spread from bird to bird, thankfully. Might explain him seemingly on the upswing after three months and some of the matching symptoms. Oddly enough, I did not have an issue with moquitoes last summer into fall so it never would have occurred to me. I found this on an extension service web page:

West Nile Encephalitis and Poultry​

https://extension.psu.edu/west-nile-encephalitis-and-poultry
Mosquitoes are the vector of the West Nile virus. Although chickens and turkeys can become infected when experimentally inoculated with the virus or bitten by infected mosquitoes, these birds do not develop the clinical disease. Their immune system quickly responds to infection by producing antibodies that clear the virus from their body. Also, because the virus can be transmitted only through the bite of an infected mosquito, infected poultry present no significant public health risk. Poultry can neither directly infect other birds, animals, or humans, nor act as a reservoir for the virus.
AND from the Merck manual West Nile Virus in Birds
Acute infections can be diagnosed by suggestive neurological clinical signs (eg, ataxia, weakness, hind limb paresis, head tilt, tremors, torticollis, seizures) or histological examination combined with virus isolation, RT-PCR assay, or immunohistochemical testing. Some patients may recover with supportive care, such as fluid administration and assisted feeding; however, prognosis generally is poor in cases of severe neurological disease.

So, those symptoms definitely fit, thank you, Mary. Now, I know something new. Supportive care must be what I do best, LOL. I did it with Bash in 2019. If Bodie's comb begins to stand again and his crow returns, I'll be more confident that he'll survive.

Strange coincidence maybe, but one of my bantams is showing similar symptoms. I noticed her acting odd last week. Now she walks like she's drunk, and appears to be molting. She still eats well and can still get away so we are letting her go for now. I've taken to calling her roly poly. She's like a little tumble weed with spunk.

Would be crazy if our chickens ended up with the same thing at about the same time, completely on opposite sides of the country.

 

[1muttsfan]

One of our occasional Michigan thread folks is a wildlife rehabber that lives not too far from me. I know the first things that she looks at in wild birds with neurological signs are west nile virus, lead toxicity, and botulism.

 

[1muttsfan]

I do not think though that botulism would produce these clinical signs.

 

[speckledhen]

I do not think though that botulism would produce these clinical signs.

Yeah, botulism that didn't fit the symptoms. I was wondering about some other toxin, though I'm not sure what that would be. Bash's seemed to be lead poisoning, though no clue where he would have gotten lead here on this property in his free range area. As far as Bodie, clumsiness, overall weakness, head tilt all seem to add up to West Nile so I guess that's what I'd have to say, putting it all together. Maybe there is light at the end of this tunnel for Bodie since he really does seem to be improving. Again, thank you, Mary, and Lisa.

 

[speckledhen]

I thought Bodie was gone this morning. The past two days, it's been too cold and damp for him to go outside and be on the ground. I hate that because he enjoyed his two days in the sunshine, was interested in everything, talking to his flock, etc. When I went in there today with his eggs and tuna, he looked awful, laying there like a lifeless lump, head curved all the way downward, almost under his chest. It was not very cold, but it's quite damp outside and he has his reptile bulb for isolated heat over his cage. He didn't really respond much when I touched him, acted like he was unable to hold his head up. When my husband got in there, he was petting and talking to him and put his food in front of him, then lifted his head so he could see it and he did eat some of that. Before we left the barn, he was standing up and after a quick trip to town and back, found him standing again like he was yesterday. I dunno how this is going to go. As you know, I've done all I can and I thought he was really on the upswing, but now, who knows? I wonder if Axel was infected with West Nile at the same time-he was somewhat like this before Bodie showed symptoms. At that point it was still quite warm here going into Fall so mosquitoes were still around. This morning was disappointing after all the supportive care.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like Bodie may not be here much longer. Poor guy.

 

[speckledhen]

Sounds like Bodie may not be here much longer. Poor guy.

That's what I fear myself. You win some, you lose some, but no one can say we didn't give him every chance to recover. i still hate losing.

 

[1muttsfan]

And in his case it seems like where there is life there is hope. Neurological disorders take a long time to resolve. I'm sure the only reason he is still here is due to your good nursing.

 

[speckledhen]

And in his case it seems like where there is life there is hope. Neurological disorders take a long time to resolve. I'm sure the only reason he is still here is due to your good nursing.

I do my best, but often it's just not good enough as we know all too well. Sometimes, I question why i try so hard with an aging bird (for a bantam Cochin anyway) that I don't even need here, but he's been such a great flock leader, it's just not in my nature to give up until every avenue has been exhausted. I do think, and I may be wrong, that every issue with the small breeds is magnified over a large breed. It sure seemed that way with the Belgian D'Anvers, even though Aubrey, my porcelain D'Anver rooster, lived to be 11 yrs old, the oldest living rooster I've ever had. Atlas was the second oldest, what a great guy he was. I wish Hector had lived as long as Atlas-even though he was over six, he seemed far too young to leave us, but he had no real issues. I haven't gone to the coop this morning so I may find Bodie standing or just gone. His resting place is ready, though. Will of course, keep doing the Bodie report. Oh, I added some FlockLeader Recover Plus Poultry Supplement for Chickens in his water yesterday morning, supposed to be to support moderate stress with electrolytes, probiotics and oregano just as another boost for the poor little man. Can't hurt, might help, but at least I have it here for other future situations.

I keep telling my subscribers that your own powers of observation are the best tool in your chicken health arsenal, which I fully believe, but at times, I almost wish I didn't notice subtle clues that something is off with a bird, as I did with Bodie back in October. I have always been this way with my birds, and I'm sure you are well aware, having been with me for such a long time. I hate mysteries, though, so i guess I'm stuck with me, LOL. I've had very, very few who just died without me realizing something was wrong, the ones you just find dead and have no explanation. At least I haven't agonized over them for months, though. I bet many on this thread are more like me than not, am I right? I don't want to ever be one f those who imagine issues where there are none, being a "hypochondriac by proxy" for them. By the way, Juliette, the pale wheaten/white EE hen, still looks as if she is lagging. I'm 100% sure it's reproductive in her case. I thought I'd get better longevity from the EEs, but she will be the third one I've lost to the same old crud.
I hope everyone here is doing well. We're going back into full on normal winter weather now. The spring interlude was glorious, but it was just a taste to lighten the doldrums.
Sorry for the novel, yet again. I can't wait until my little BRs are hatched, eggs maybe shipping soon. I think I may start a thread dedicated to just that new flock, document the hatch, the sexing, etc, just ilke I did Atlas's thread. Or should I continue on Atlas's thread?

To leave chickens for a moment, this is what we've been dealing with after a limb came through our wraparound porch roof, shows that one project leads to another, ugh. I'm exhausted. My cough is getting less frequent, but it still interrupts my sleep some and my husband is a zombie right now so not sure how fast all this will get done. My coffers are a bit drained after paying to have 7 more giant oaks cut down to save our poor roof and having the hole patched the same day, so paying someone else is not easy at this moment in time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Cynthia I think everyone knows how well you care for your chickens. Puts me to shame. I stopped a few years ago trying to fix a sick chicken because nothing ever worked and it still broke my heart at the end. Chickens aren't meant to live long. They are a prey animal that everything eats. They live each day like it's the best day ever, and I admire that spirit. You have done everything you can to help Bodie. It isn't in your hands anymore it seems. I hope he still makes it, you just never know.

You need to take cars of yourself first. Sorry about the tree limb on your house, and that lingering cough. I'm personally eyeballing spring and hoping for a good year. So far it's been a bit challenging, but I have no choice but to keep going, and hang on to that optimism. I'm excited for your new rocks. Time for another adventure.