UPDATE Dropped Wing, Low Head, Inactive UPDATE

[train2110]

Noticed two chickens not acting right this morning when I opened the coop.

1) What type of bird , age and weight. A. Bantom Rooster, 8 months old. B. Standard Red Sex-Link, 1 year old.

2) What is the behavior, exactly. A. & B. They are both unbalanced walking, occasionally dropping a wing, sitting on the ground fluffed out with there heads hung low. Small amount of poop on vent. There is NO discharge from eyes or nose.


3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? A. & B. About 36 hours.

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? Just these two.

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. A. & B. None.

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. A. & B. None.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. A. & B. Eating layer crumbles and drinking water.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. A. & B. The small amount of poop on vent looks normal.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? None, but have them seperated from rest of flock.

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Would treat ourself.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Will try later.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use. A. & B. In the same coop with the deep litter method.


This is the first issue we have had to deal with!

 

[chicks@feathers]

remove them from the other as fast as you can quaritin them and you could go to you feed store and get some anitbatic for the water but i would remove them had the same problem last year and they all died that start doing this finally removed those acting like this and stoped lossing them. best advice i can give you not a vet

 

[Judy]

Have you wormed them or checked for lice/mites?

 

[Chicken Chat]

I don't want to scare you, and I hope it's not but
1st thought is possible Mareks:
* Paralysis of legs, wings and neck.
* Loss of weight.
* Grey iris or irregular pupil.
* Vision impairment.
* Skin around feather follicles raised and roughened.
2nd thought is possible botulism:
* Nervous signs, weakness, progressive flaccid paralysis of legs, wings then neck, then sudden death.
* Affected broilers tend to settle with eyes closed when not disturbed.
* A soiled beak, because it rests on the litter, is also quite typical.
* feathers can easily be pulled out

I would separate them from the rest of the flock just in case. I agree with ddawn to check for mites and worms. B complex added to their water couldn't hurt, it helps with the nervous system. You don't have to worry about giving too much, what they don't need is excreted in the poo.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
x2

 

[train2110]

We have looked them both over and do not see any lice or mites. Their combs are getting white on the tips, not sure what that means. We picked up some vitamin and electrolyte mix for their water. We also picked up some poultry dust, permethrin, that we will do tomorrow. We just did not have time today.

Thank you to everyone, is there any other possible ideas? What is really throwing us, their eyes are normal, as is the nose/nostrils.

Again, thank you!

 

[rooster lover 119]

does she look like this?

if so it is botchilism.

 

[train2110]

The hen (B. above) has mostly a balance issue. The roo (A. above) is sitting with his feathers all puffed out. He then either pulls his head back into his feathers or twists his head and tucks under his wing. He has sleep almost all day. We have them in a dog carry case right now. Are they safe to put into the coop? It is supposed to get to around 20°F tonight. I can put them in a shed but they would have to stay in the crate, shed not safe for chickens to runaround in.

 

[train2110]

Sadly, Mr. Rex did not make it through the night.

He was showing the worst symptoms. The hen is still not acting right and is still separated from the rest of the flock. She is eating and drinking electrolyte / vitamin water. We will just have to keep an eye on her. The kids took it ok, now just have to tell my DW when she gets up.


RIP Mr REX, you will be missed!

 

[Chicken Chat]

I'm so sorry.

I have a hen, which has taken a turn for the worse, in the house for the past 4 weeks with leg paralysis. I'm sending you get well chicken vibes to you for your hen.