UPDATE: Issues with rooster now - respiratory? Gapeworm?

[tori729]

Yesterday I noticed one of my brahmas had pooped out some liquidy stool. I watched her and she walked over and looked like she got a drink of water. I made a note to check on her later.
My son let the chickens out and I had forgotten all about it. A few hours later when another kid went to put the chickens back he couldn't find our Becca. He eventually found her huddled under the deck and she wouldn't stand. I put her in the garage in a plastic container and have been force feeding her chick electrolyte. She voluntarily ate some wet cat food yesterday but has no interest today. She hasn't pooped since she's been in the garage.

She's 1.5 years old. No issues except she just molted and then seemed to molt again just on her head. No other chickens showing sickness. Her crop seems maybe a little hard? So I massaged it and gave her a bit of coconut oil. She doesn't seem egg bound, she hasn't been laying because she's been molting.
She's very lethargic, won't stand up and has no interest in eating or drinking. Any ideas? Here's a picture.

 

[azygous]

Add a little sugar to the electrolytes. Sometimes low blood glucose causes lethargy and lameness. If this is the case with this hen, the recovery should be very swift.

Have you ever noticed this hen being bullied away from the feeder? This can happen and starvation will produce these same symptoms. If you are able, tube feeding for a day or two would be something that should be tried.

 

[tori729]

Add a little sugar to the electrolytes. Sometimes low blood glucose causes lethargy and lameness. If this is the case with this hen, the recovery should be very swift.

Have you ever noticed this hen being bullied away from the feeder? This can happen and starvation will produce these same symptoms. If you are able, tube feeding for a day or two would be something that should be tried.

Thanks I will try that!

We have two feeders and she is one of the original 8 we started with so even though she is lower in the pecking order, I've never seen her being bullied. Could be though.

Not sure how to tube feed. The best I can do is syringe feed her the water. I might be able to water down some applesauce and syringe feed her that or some yogurt. Would that work? She is so tired she will barely open her mouth to drink but she is definitely swallowing and getting it.

 

[tori729]

Unfortunately she passed a little bit ago. I'm stumped as to what was wrong. I put acv in the chicken waters just in case it was bacterial. We have a lot more chickens now and I'm concerned maybe she wasn't getting access to the food regularly. I'm going to keep an eye on the others more closely and make sure they are all eating and drinking

 

[tori729]

Ok so now I noticed my rooster is struggling to breathe. I thought he was trying to crow yesterday but now I think it's more than that and his comb is darkening. Here's the video link:

I have a couple hours before TSC closes but of course the chickens are all in the coop for the night. His symptoms are not like the symptoms of my other chicken who never seemed to have issues breathing so I'm at a loss. I could get some ivermectin if that would help but what kind and what dosage?

ETA: He seemed to be eating and drinking fine today. He is about four months old.

 

[azygous]

So sorry to hear she died. You would need to have a lab test her to see what she died from. We can't tell you.

Your rooster looks and sounds like he has cardio/pulmonary issues. It could be genetic or caused by an avian virus or maybe a respiratory illness. There isn't much to be done about it unless you want to try him on Tylan.

You should buy a small animal tubing kit. A vet can sell it to you or you can order it from Amazon. I will instruct you how to do it. It's very easy when you understand the technique. It beats trying to syringe small amounts in and is far less stressful for you and the chicken.

 

[tori729]

So sorry to hear she died. You would need to have a lab test her to see what she died from. We can't tell you.

Your rooster looks and sounds like he has cardio/pulmonary issues. It could be genetic or caused by an avian virus or maybe a respiratory illness. There isn't much to be done about it unless you want to try him on Tylan.

You should buy a small animal tubing kit. A vet can sell it to you or you can order it from Amazon. I will instruct you how to do it. It's very easy when you understand the technique. It beats trying to syringe small amounts in and is far less stressful for you and the chicken.

Hmm so not worms? I'm just so worried it's going to spread to the rest of the flock and I'm going to have chickens dropping like flies. Would it hurt for me to get some ivermectin and treat the flock?

 

[azygous]

It never hurts to worm a flock. Ivermectin is super easy to administer, so it's a good choice. I use the pour-on and give three or four drops on the back of the neck skin, less for small chickens and a bit more for large ones. Repeat in two weeks.

Gape worm is very rare in the US. It's more common in Asia. But we do see occasional cases on this forum. Have you pried open his beak and looked into his throat? Look also for crusty buildup that may be hindering his breathing and eating.

 

[tori729]

So the rooster passed last night.
I got some VetRx at the farm store and gave it orally to my flock, plan on coating their faces and wings tonight before they go to bed. I added acv to their water, fed them plain Greek yogurt, and cleaned their coop and run out.

I'm not sure my next course of action; the rest of the chickens are acting fine but I know that doesn't mean anything. I might pick up some wellness brew today to add to water, that's supposed to be good for coccidiosis.
Should I treat for worms and/or get some corid as well? I just don't want to throw a bunch of things at them w/o knowing what the problem is.
I just find it odd that I had two die and their symptoms were totally different, different aged chickens (rooster was a few months old).

I also have one molting so I'm keeping an extra eye on her. Anything else I can do for her to keep her healthy?