Vitamin Deficiency or Mareks?

[ORoppolo7]

I recently used Amprolium to treat my chickens for coccidia. Shortly after treatment, my 20 week old Lavender Orpington started to show some unusual behavior. She is still very bright mentally, still eating and drinking. It started as laying on her hocks when resting. Now, she is unable to walk without falling over, almost drunk like. She still has spirit and tries to take off with the other chickens when I let them out. Any insight or tips on what to do?

 

[coach723]

If your treatment is complete, then give her a b complex tablet or capsule once a day. Sometimes the amprolium can leave them deficient in thiamine, which can cause those symptoms. Any b complex, human ones, brand doesn't matter. Just put in her beak and push back a little and she'll swallow it. Size is not an issue. The b's are very safe, extra will be excreted. You don't want to give thiamine at the same time as amprolium as it can reduce the effectiveness of the medication, thus waiting until treatment is complete first. If others are not showing any symptoms there is no need to give them the vitamins. If she improves, I'd give it for a few days after and then she should be able to maintain it with regular feed levels.

 

[Eggcessive]

Was your hen eating chicken feed during her Corid treatment? Or was she not taking food due to her coccidiosis? Let us know if the B complex helps? Have you ever had Mareks disease or any unexpected deaths in your flock before?

 

[ORoppolo7]

I have not had any unexpected deaths, no. I have had times where I would feel her crop and it would be empty. Now that I have her isolated and able to view her more easily, I do see that she is eating still. I offered her some egg yesterday and she devoured it.

 

[ORoppolo7]

If your treatment is complete, then give her a b complex tablet or capsule once a day. Sometimes the amprolium can leave them deficient in thiamine, which can cause those symptoms. Any b complex, human ones, brand doesn't matter. Just put in her beak and push back a little and she'll swallow it. Size is not an issue. The b's are very safe, extra will be excreted. You don't want to give thiamine at the same time as amprolium as it can reduce the effectiveness of the medication, thus waiting until treatment is complete first. If others are not showing any symptoms there is no need to give them the vitamins. If she improves, I'd give it for a few days after and then she should be able to maintain it with regular feed levels.

THANK YOU! I will definitely try this!