I came home tonight and found one of my chickens lethargic. She is almost 3 months and shares a coop with 4 others. She just wants to lay there and tuck her head. I see no signs of obvious injuries except for some feathers missing from her back. But no injuries or redness to the skin. Her crop doesn't appear to be full. Her skin appears normal and no unusual color changes or black specks. When she did walk she was unsteady. She did eat a little and drink a little. I have her seperated with food and a water electrolyte solution. Please help. Any ideas?
Maturing chickens sometimes get Marek's disease. Here is a link to a page that is intended to be an accumulation of facts about the disease. You may want to read some of the things there to see if it is a match to some of her symptoms. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mareks-disease-fact-site Some feathers missing from her back seems a little strange...could some of the others be bullying her, and she is just suffering because of that? Hope she turns out to be O.K. -- you are wise to separate her.
If you decide to treat with amprolium these are the amounts recommended by the mfg and the FDA. The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid Powder is 1.5 teaspoons (4.536 grams). The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid liquid is 2 teaspoon. The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid Powder is 3/4 teaspoon (2.268 grams). The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid liquid is 1 teaspoon. The .006% dose for Corid Powder is 1/3 teaspoon (1.134 grams). The .006% dose for Corid liquid is 1/2 teaspoon. FDA recommendations: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/details.cfm?dn=013-149 "Chickens Indications: For the treatment of coccidiosis. Amount: Administer at the 0.012 percent level in drinking water as soon as coccidiosis is diagnosed and continue for 3 to 5 days (in severe outbreaks, give amprolium at the 0.024 percent level); continue with 0.006 percent amprolium-medicated water for an additional 1 to 2 weeks." And this link has these instructions: http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html "Poultry - as Soon As Caecal Coccidiosis Is Diagnosed, Give 0.024% Amprolium In The Drinking Water For 5 To 7 Days. Continue The Treatment With 0.006% Amprolium Medicated Water For An Additional One To Two Weeks. No Other Source Of Drinking Water Should Be Available To The Birds During This Time." This link has more info and the math done to come up with the dosing numbers: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/818879/updated-corid-and-amprol-amprolium-dosing -Kathy
