UPDATE: Veterinary Results

[mcwooten]

My nearly eight-week-old Silver Campine pullet is having a very hard time getting around. Most of the time she has been laying around resting, but when she does try to walk it is a short shuffle in which she will stick out one or both of her wings for balance. Her stool is loose, but doesn't contain any blood and isn't lacking in substance. She will readily eat and drink if given food and water and her crop is full. She is thin, though. I have been feeding my birds (all the same age) two or three cups of kitten food daily in addition to their Starter/Grower feed for extra protein (mainly for my peachick amongst them all, 19 total birds), could that have caused this problem even though none of the others are showing symptoms? Please tell me what I should do. I appreciate any help you can offer. Here is a picture I took of her yesterday up and eating grapes with her Golden "sister.":

 

[mcwooten]

I've brought her inside and have her in a blanket-covered box with fresh food and electrolyte water. Is there anything else I can do? Heat?

 

[chkn]

Sometimes it's a vitamin deficiency with a young bird. You could try some Sav-A-Chick. She could be weak from internal/external parasites. Check her vent and under her wings for fly strike. It reminds me of an old hen of mine with sour crop and/or an intestinal blockage. It couldn't be that on your bird though if she's eating. I'd try electrolytes, vitamins...hey you know what? I'm thinking an EAR INFECTION because of the lost balance. I'd get some antibiotics going for her.

 

[mcwooten]

What type of antibiotic? Terramycin? If she's still here tomorrow morning, I'll head over and get some.

 

[mcwooten]

I took her to the veterinarian today, and her fecal analysis tested positive for coccidia. So, the flock is now being treated with Corid (Amprolium) and she is being treated with Albon for the coccidia and Panacur for worms just in case she might have them as well. I will follow the flock Corid treatment with a Prohibit (Levamisole) treatment for worms.

 

[mcwooten]

She is so much better today! She's been up and walking around fine all day; I hope this is a good sign!

 

[4Shadow]

Did the Cocci seen by the vet seem excessive? I ask as I had my hen's stool tested when she was doing poorly and the vet said yes, there is Coccidius present - but there always is - and she didn't feel it was of an amount to be of concern. Just want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything that should be treated.
Glad to hear that your hen is doing better. Maybe Cocci is more likely to make a youngster sick? Mine is an older girl. And it was not the source of her crisis I don't think.

 

[mcwooten]

She didn't say whether the Coccidia were more prevalent than they should be, but I assume they probably were. She said that she felt the source of the problem was most likely the Coccidia. It seems she was right by the way my bird is acting today; hopefully she'll start putting on some weight.

 

[2greenboyz]

Yeah! Glad to hear she's showing improvement. Please keep us updated.

 

[mcwooten]

She, now named "Silvia," is back with the flock, happy and healthy!