Very Lethargic 2 month old chicken

[rheo]

One of the 2 month old chickens I put down in the main coop with the others is not looking so great today.

I believe she's an Easter Egger? or maybe a mix with one... she has greenish legs.

She doesn't seem to have suffered any injury but she's all puffed up and just wants to close her eyes and sit very still.

She makes noises when I pick her up and will open her eyes a little but mostly just wants to keep them shut.

I checked the vent all seems fine that way.

I've brought her indoors and put her under a heat lamp just in case warmth will help.

Any ideas of what I might do to save this chicken?

 

[BantamLover21]

What are her droppings like? Will she eat or drink anything? What type of feed are you feeding them? Sorry for the questions, but they might help determine what is wrong, or at least the severity of it.

My best guess is that she has Coccidiosis, which is caused by protozoa in the soil/ground/bedding nearly everywhere. You say you just introduced her into the main coop; it is possible that she was exposed to a new amount/strain of coccidia and they are overloading her system. I would get some Corid liquid or powder from a livestock supply store and begin treating her with it immediately. If you can't find Corid, you can try a sulpha drug like Sulmet, or if you need some time until you can get the right medication, you can at least give her yogurt or buttermilk--both of those foods will coat the intestinal wall, and help slow down the damage from the coccidia.

If not Coccidiosis, it is possible that she has some sort of infection, or has an internal injury. If it is infection, you would need antibiotics. In the case of injury, she may eventually recover on her own, or succumb to the problem. The best thing you can do right now is keep her in a warm, clean place and encourage her to eat/drink. If she won't eat normal food, try giving her some scrambled eggs, mealworms, bread, fruit, or moistened chicken feed to peak her interest. Water is also essential. If she won't drink, you have to get water into her somehow--use a syringe, dip her beak in the water, etc. Tube feeding is another option.

One other thing: look near her vent, under her wings, and on her general body area for mites/lice. They will appear as red, black, or yellow moving blobs. Mites/lice can seriously put a damper on a bird's immune system, so if she has any, treat right away with a mite/lice powder or spray.

 

[JennieRD]

41 juveniles 6-8 weeks in same shape as reho's I just introduced them to the coop 4 days ago. Same symptoms only their combs are turning pink instead of bright red lost 5 yesterday the youngest and three today! Total 1 GLW pullett 1 EE pullett 1 CCM cock and 5 mixed breed hens

Droppings looked brownish red

Started them on antibiotics and only been able to get half to drink whatever it is isnot affecting 4 guinea juveniles

 

[JennieRD]

Make the 9 lost just lost another EE pullett just fell over dead!

 

[rheo]

Quote:
There haven't been any droppings yet for me to check.
If there does appear some what would determine it to be your suspect?

 

[rheo]

I also introduced to the coop 4 or 5 days ago.

(The other newer chickens are mostly brahma mixes. This is the only suspected easter egger mix.)

I noticed that none of the new ones have been taking to the roosts to sleep.. They prefer to go in the nesting boxes to sleep.

I wanted to discourage this so yesterday i put some boards in blocking the nesting boxes near the end of the day.

Everyone was happy at that time. She seemed totally healthy at 6pm.

I forgot to go back down and check on them last night after they were all inside after dark.

This morning she seems so sick. Not sure if it's connected to the nesting box thing. It was ridiculous though, all these 3 month old hens piling on top of each other in the boxes. I had to put a stop to it.

Is it OK to feed them grains of wheat? I've been throwing wheat on the ground for them because they seem to love it.

How much grit should be in her gizzard? I was feeling around for signs of trauma and it seemed there sure is alot of grit in that gizzard. Or perhaps it's the wheat? something that makes it feel a bit like a bean bag when I move my fingers around.

Unfortunately she seemed to be doing better before my poking and prodding. Perhaps it was just an injury and I made it worse?

No conclusions yet.. just observations.

 

[BantamLover21]

Is it OK to feed them grains of wheat? I've been throwing wheat on the ground for them because they seem to love it.
Yes, it is okay to feed them wheat. Just make sure that they eat some quality commercial chicken feed, too, or they won't get enough nutrition.

How much grit should be in her gizzard? I was feeling around for signs of trauma and it seemed there sure is alot of grit in that gizzard. Or perhaps it's the wheat? something that makes it feel a bit like a bean bag when I move my fingers around. I'm assuming you are talking about the crop, which is a storage organ located on the right side of the neck that can be felt. The gizzard is more internal, and can't really be felt.
The crop should not be hard (as though it is packed full with grain/sand), nor should it be engorged and balloon like (as if it is full of air). A normal crop will have some soiid particles in it, and be readily felt without being obvious by looking at the bird. If you're feeling a lot of "beanbag" stuff, I would assume that it is the wheat and/or some grit that she has eaten. If the wheat/grit doesn't disappear within 24 hours, she may have an impacted crop. Otherwise, it is probably normal.

There haven't been any droppings yet for me to check.
If there does appear some what would determine it to be your suspect?

The consistency and color of the droppings could help determine the problem. If they contain blood, it is probably Coccidiosis. If they are really watery, it means she isn't eating or has impacted crop/other part of digestive tract. If they are bright green, that is a sign of liver problems and of not eating enough. If they contain any worms, then that is the problem. If they are watery but with some solid junks, she probably has a digestive tract problem, etc.

 

[aatx]

I agree with BantamLover21 that you should consider coccidiosis. Good thing about treating for it is that it won't hurt to treat for it even if they do not have it. On the other hand, if it is coccidiosis, it can kill quickly. You add Corid to their drinking water. If they aren't wanting to drink, you can give them one undiluted drop of the Corid for the first dose to get them started.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I agree with BantamLover21 that you should consider coccidiosis. Good thing about treating for it is that it won't hurt to treat for it even if they do not have it. On the other hand, if it is coccidiosis, it can kill quickly. You add Corid to their drinking water. If they aren't wanting to drink, you can give them one undiluted drop of the Corid for the first dose to get them started.

Ditto. Treat right away, as in yesterday would have been better, if it is coccidiosis you do not have time on your side. It is highly likely this is what she has due to her age and just have recently been put into the coop. You need to at least rule it out.

 

[JennieRD]

Rheo- think u ought to consider antibiotic. My loss is at 11 dead. 5 Wednesday 6 today! My coop is clean and tidy The antibiots seem to be helping 15 of the remaing 30 are up moving again drinking and eating the remaining 15 I'm not so sure if they will make it 5 are standing in one spot and haven't moved in hours 10 are lying Dow tails in the air with beaks on the ground supporting their heads. It's sad and I've done all I can do. It did seem to help when I picked them up one by one allowing the fluid to run out of their mouths !