We apparently got a sick chicken...

[chickensarecoolsoye]

So my wife and I decided to get each other chickens for valentines day. We've been researching how to care for chickens for some time now and decided to get some bluff rock chickens (I may have the breed name wrong as I get them mixed up all the time). However after getting them home and setting them up in the temporary coop we got for them while we finish building the main one, we noticed one of them is acting less than healthy (we didn't notice this before. (When we selected her she looked fine...).

Symptoms:
Lethargy
Lower posture and half closed eyes (no swelling or discoloration of the face)
Watery discharge coming from somewhere on the face.
Gurgling sound when she breathes.
Watery poo stuck to the butt.

We've separated her from the healthy one we have. We don't have a chicken vet near us, and the vet we normally use for our dogs will likely be unhelpful. My only idea is to use the VetRx from Tractor Supply as it's what I've seen folks do on YouTube. Wife and I knew the future possibility of sick chickens, but we weren't expecting out of the gate. Ideas? Advice? Are these illnesses something that they can fight off themselves? Should we be ready to lose a chicken? I have no idea how to cull or dispatch a chicken myself as we weren't planning on having this issue on day 1 of having chickens. We just have the 2 right now so it'd be annoying to lose 1 of the 2.

 

[MGG]

How old is she? So sorry this happened to you. Sounds like a respiratory infection. Pictures would be helpful. Is she eating, drinking? I would try the vet rx

 

[chickensarecoolsoye]

We arent totally sure. Just know she's laying age. We want to get chicks when Tractor Supply has them but also wanted to get a 2 grown hens for eggs.

Im hoping the vet rx works. Not sure what else to try. The antibiotics arent exactly cheap and for the price of the antibiotics we could get 2 more grown hens lol.

 

[MGG]

@Miss Lydia any ideas?

 

[MGG]

Definitely try the vet rx. Electrolytes in her water might help too. Is she eating? What does her poop look like?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Definitely try the vet rx. Electrolytes in her water might help too. Is she eating? What does her poop look like?

You can post pics of the poop. Very helpful and we're used to it.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
I'm sorry that you are starting out this way, but getting older birds from 'out there' is always a risk.
Did both birds come from the same place? How old are they? Are they eating and drinking?
The VetRx won't do any harm, at least. You don't have a diagnosis, so adding antibiotics isn't a good idea.
Did they came from a farm? An auction?
More information will help, and I do hope she gets better. If she dies, have a necropsy done so you have answers. There are tests that can be run on live birds with swabs, also a good idea.
Add your approximate location to your profile too.
Mary

 

[chickensarecoolsoye]

We will get pics in the morning. We got her and her sibling from a farmers market. Her sibling so far has shown 0 of the symptoms she is currently exhibiting. We live in, and purchased birds in Upstate SC. The birds did come from the same gentleman. Both girls are eating and drinking, albeit the sick one is drinking and eating less than the healthy one. Shes also been quiet since getting home. The healthy one clucks and boks happily with lots of energy and chickenlike pizzaz. After looking at her again it does appear that her face and comb have slight pale discoloration.



ALSO somebody else recommended Apple Cider vinegar so we've added some of that to her water.

 

[Folly's place]

Monday, call your state veterinary college, I guess either Clemson or Purdue, and see about lab testing for respiratory diseases in chickens. I hope she will be better by then, but if not, you need to know what's going on.
Don't add any more birds until this is diagnosed! Chicken diseases are sometimes difficult and last in a flock, and infect every new bird.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Vinegar in her water might discourage drinking. Either leave it out, or add another waterer with just water.
Mary