Thought my sick hen had gapeworms, but now I'm not sure.

[summertime]

I have a sick hen. I don't know if much can be done for her at this point, but I'd like to treat her if possible, and figure this out in case anyone else becomes sick. She shared her house with 5 other chickens, but none of them have shown any symptoms.

She (Teriyaki) is a 2 yr old Araucana (sp) old hen that we raised from a chick. Neither she nor anyone else in the flock has ever shown any signs of illness before now.

About 1.5 - 2 weeks ago her breathing became labored, breathing through an open beak and making little chirping noises. She started shaking her head and keeping her neck feathers ruffled, acting a little lethargic and completely stopped laying. Those were her only symptoms.

I thought she had gape worms (although couldn't see them), so I treated her with ivomec plus. She started acting better the next day, but then relapsed. Her condition goes up and down, but is trending downhill.

She is kept in a coop at night, with pine shavings in the enclosed roosting area, but has free range of our wooded acre throughout the day. They are given laying mash and water in their chicken run, but spend most of their day outside foraging.

She has been interested in food, but does not eat as much as usual and has lost quite a bit of weight. Now she is too weak to get up into the hen house and last night she slept on the ground. Today she has stopped eating and drinking. Her beak is a little crusty, but she now seems to be breathing normally and no longer shakes her head, she's just very weak and lethargic and has developed diarrhea which has now looks like water. Her eyes/nostrils are clear, and there is no swelling. Her breathing sounds normal, unless I'm just missing something.

Does anyone know what I can do for my girl? or what is causing this? Thanks for any ideas!

 

[allmypeeps]

I didnt think that an active Gapeworm infestation could be treated with Ivomec...I thought it could prevent infestations, but not cure an existing one.......I think I read fenbendazole was more ideal...but I could be mistaken...I have been reading alot of info and it all gets jumbled...

maybe someone can offer advice....

If she's not eating then she will have more watery poos...important to get fluids into her though so she does not dehydrate....

What is her regular worming scedule---is there one? Sometimes Ivomec can be too strong to use as a first time wormer for a flock thats never been wormed. I have read its best to use a mild wormer like wazine then wait a short tiem and do Ivomec...

Someone else hopefully will chime in....

 

[annek]

what about IB? Symptoms include the chirping, and loss of egg laying. It does say to be sure to get electrolytes into them for a treatment. Just throwing this out there but if it is it says it is highly contagious, have you isolated the bird? You can also fog with oxine.

Here is the link: http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/ib.htm

It also talks about more virulent strains that can affect the kidney's. See if she is exhibiting any of those symptoms.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

From what I have read thats what it sounds like. And it sounds like you can use ivermectin or the fenbendazole . Either way it is a BB SIZED dose of the tube paste for horses. Just give it to her orally. Good luck I hope she makes it. You might want to try to give her some sugar water or force some food first so she can fight this. She probably will benifit from it alot~ Tacey

 

[summertime]

Thanks so much for everyone's ideas. Sadly, Teriyaki didn't make it. Now 3 of our 6 remaining chickens are showing symptoms. I've taken one of them to the vet for bloodwork. She's coming home in an hour. I'll let you know what they find when we get the results back.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

Yes please keep me posted. Iam sorry she didn't make it! I hopeyou can help the others.

 

[summertime]

Round 1 tests are back and the only thing showing positive is Mycoplasma synoviae. Still waiting for avian influenza test results. We will be switching antibiotics to Baytril. It won't cure the problem but will help their symptoms. Was told by the vet not to introduce new chickens into the flock. Have to wait until this entire flock has died out as they will be carriers now (if they make it). They haven't gotten any worse since they began the Doxycycline last Thursday, but they do still show some symptoms. I'll let you know what the other tests say when we get them back.

Thanks all!