Lindsay Jane
In the Brooder
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Rosie is an 8 month old New Hampshire Red. She is smaller and thinner than the other girls. Weight is unknown- a pound, maybe?
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS: She had a slight limp for a couple weeks, it came and went. The limp is gone, but spends most of her time "resting," i.e., sitting down. She isn't social with the other birds, and sleeps by herself on a lower roosting bar. She seems to be a bit smaller that the other two. She seems confused. When I am hand-feeding them treats (apples, strawberries, and leafy greens are their favorites), Rosie misses the food by a mile when she's trying to peck it, while the other two girls have laser-beam precision. She can most often be found sitting by herself, sometimes facing a wall or fence post. She has not laid yet. Her comb and waddles are very pale, and very small, while both other chickens have large, fleshy, bright red combs. She also often has her tail feather sort of... droopy.
FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS: Rosie’s poops appear to contain not fully digested food.
TODAY: Rosie is completely unable to stand/walk on her own. She falls down when she tries. At one point she fell, sprawled, and did not attempt to correct. I picked her up and helped her into a more comfortable position. Her eyes are closed most of the time, but she does open them when she tries to move. Her eyes are clear. When she is able to sit in a normal restign position, she often has all of her feather fluffed.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Symptoms have been going on a few weeks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
The other birds have none of these symptoms. The other chickens are healthy and happy. Today they are hovering a bit around Rosie, usually they sort of ignore her.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No bleeding, injury, or trauma.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
The other birds have none of these symptoms. I had thought the limp might have been from coming down the ramp of her roosting area and mis-stepping- all three birds took a short while to figure out how to use the ramp and would jump down at first. I thought she might have landed funny.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
As been eating/drinking normally, up to yesterday. No food or water at al today, including lettuce, apples, strawberries.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
No poop today- but has appeared to not be fully digested.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Have added calcium to her diet.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Unsure. I need help today because it is Sunday and there are no vets open that will see a chicken. And I am unsure if they can do anything but euthanize her. I want to keep her as comfortable as possible, I want to keep her from pain. Should I put her in a box/laundry basket- something with a blanket and keep her separated from the other chickens?
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
The chicken run has pea gravel and sand. The coop has larger wood flakes and then has shavings for the bedding/ nesting area. Rosie is currently in the run, resting on the pea gravel in the sun.
I don't know what to do, and I am extremely concerned and feel helpless! I am looking into vets that will take her (IT IS SUNDAY) but so far no luck!!
Rosie is an 8 month old New Hampshire Red. She is smaller and thinner than the other girls. Weight is unknown- a pound, maybe?
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS: She had a slight limp for a couple weeks, it came and went. The limp is gone, but spends most of her time "resting," i.e., sitting down. She isn't social with the other birds, and sleeps by herself on a lower roosting bar. She seems to be a bit smaller that the other two. She seems confused. When I am hand-feeding them treats (apples, strawberries, and leafy greens are their favorites), Rosie misses the food by a mile when she's trying to peck it, while the other two girls have laser-beam precision. She can most often be found sitting by herself, sometimes facing a wall or fence post. She has not laid yet. Her comb and waddles are very pale, and very small, while both other chickens have large, fleshy, bright red combs. She also often has her tail feather sort of... droopy.
FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS: Rosie’s poops appear to contain not fully digested food.
TODAY: Rosie is completely unable to stand/walk on her own. She falls down when she tries. At one point she fell, sprawled, and did not attempt to correct. I picked her up and helped her into a more comfortable position. Her eyes are closed most of the time, but she does open them when she tries to move. Her eyes are clear. When she is able to sit in a normal restign position, she often has all of her feather fluffed.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Symptoms have been going on a few weeks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
The other birds have none of these symptoms. The other chickens are healthy and happy. Today they are hovering a bit around Rosie, usually they sort of ignore her.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No bleeding, injury, or trauma.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
The other birds have none of these symptoms. I had thought the limp might have been from coming down the ramp of her roosting area and mis-stepping- all three birds took a short while to figure out how to use the ramp and would jump down at first. I thought she might have landed funny.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
As been eating/drinking normally, up to yesterday. No food or water at al today, including lettuce, apples, strawberries.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
No poop today- but has appeared to not be fully digested.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Have added calcium to her diet.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Unsure. I need help today because it is Sunday and there are no vets open that will see a chicken. And I am unsure if they can do anything but euthanize her. I want to keep her as comfortable as possible, I want to keep her from pain. Should I put her in a box/laundry basket- something with a blanket and keep her separated from the other chickens?
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
The chicken run has pea gravel and sand. The coop has larger wood flakes and then has shavings for the bedding/ nesting area. Rosie is currently in the run, resting on the pea gravel in the sun.
I don't know what to do, and I am extremely concerned and feel helpless! I am looking into vets that will take her (IT IS SUNDAY) but so far no luck!!
They will be considered carriers, but it does not have to be a death sentence for your whole flock. Each bird has their own immune system and so their T cells that fight virus are different. Some birds are more resistant and some strains are less aggressive so there are many unknown factors. Many things can look like Marek's also. 
