Sickness in my hen house

Kylie · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 6:46 pm

It seems i have another pullet that is sick. My light sussex seems to be off colour, shes been sleeping alot through the day (more than normal) she stood at the water dish with her eyes closed this morning for over an hour, she didn't move other than to open her eyes for a few seconds when she took a a drink every now and then, I did notice she pooh'd a few times while standing there, it was watery and basically projectiled from her.. She seems to be going the same way my GL wyandotte did, i have separated her from the rest of the hens but its more than likely too late as they probably already have what ever it is. I thought it might be CRD but she seems to be breathing normal and doesn't have a runny nose or cough from what i have seen.

Worming is up to date.

Any suggestions would be great at this point, i'm a little worried that all my large birds may be doomed :-?

My pekins, silkies and d'Uccles are kept in a smaller pen, i hope they are far enough away not to have contracted what ever it is..

Ajacksonno · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 9:42 pm

That doesn't sound good

Poor little girl... (possibly Cocci?...Hexamitiasis?) I don't think i'm much help, but maybe if nobody here can answer it may be worth taking her down to the vet and seeing if they have any idea (often they'll suprise you, we've taken a few down there before with good results).

edit: Is she eating? How's she moving/is she walking round etc? Were droppings any colour in particular or just watery? How old is she? Weight Loss? Was she huddling close to others? Is she making any noises eg. chirping

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 7:08 am

My current solution is to isolate and then get Baytril into anything that even thinks about getting sick. I was sick (not a pun!) of losing chooks just after I noticed they were off colour.

This worked for my little d'Anvers cockerel recently, but I don't know if it is a sound practice in all cases or not.

My feeling is that it has been worth it for me (so far) because it is so fast-acting.

I'm guessing it's not effective against viruses or cocci, but it probably takes care of any secondary infections that might finish a bird off.

I'm not a vet, so get some more opinions.

Deb :-D

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Coccidiosis usually shows up with blood in droppings. Doesn't sound like that. More likely respiratory infection of some kind. The watery droppings can be a sign. Sometimes the wheezing or running nose etc is not obvious. I agree with debbie about isolation. Sometimes it helps spread even this late. It also allows you to make sure she isn't competing for food. Get her onto a high protein diet, and see how she goes. I like to give them a chance to recover without meds. If they are strong they can do it. If it goes on a bit long, or you suspect signs of secondary infection, then get antibiotics into her quick. I use OxyB, but the vet has better products. If you notice the eyes getting swollen, or gooey then you need the meds also. I've had a fair bit of this recently. It's everywhere along the East Coast I've heard.

Many viruses show up like that in the beginning. I've had birds look like that, and then two weeks later, I realise that they had fowl pox. Treatment's the same as for resp infection anyway.

I don't use coccidiosis meds unless I have reason to believe that's what it is. It can reduce their immune response to other infections.
Classic signs of cocci: fluffed up feathers, hunched posture, sometimes dropped wing or wings, blood in droppings, sleepy all the time (especially when they think you're not looking). If she's got this, then keep her on high protein diet (rickets diet in sticky) and get her straight onto a med like sulphaquin or Baycox or similar (but no antibiotics - intestine is struggling already).

If you get worried, then get her to the vet. I love sussex. I've got about twenty of them here myself. Hope she's ok!

Kylie · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 7:57 am

I didn't even think of cocci, droppings have no blood in them, but she is showing other signs. I have he isolated from the rest and on the rickets diet.

I have some sulphaquin so may treat them all for it, she is a little worse today, i don't want to leave her any longer so will treat her with the cocci meds just to be sure..

Is Baytril an antibiotic?

If it is cocci how long will i need to treat them for??

Its not easy when they are sick, as most vets here wont look at chickens or know little about them..

Kylie · **Posted:** Sun May 18, 2008 6:17 pm

I was talking to another chicken breeder today and described my sick sussex to him, he asked me about worming them, I told him i used ivomectin, he said that its great for all the outside parasites on poultry but not very good as a wormer and more than likely she has worms. I bought some wormer today that i can give to her with a syringe and have tired it tonight, i really hope hes right and shes not to far gone to save her..

Could he be right :?:

I'll really kick myself if it works as i could have saved the GL wyandotte, she more than likely had the same problem :-?

I have use the wormer on all the other hens to just incase...

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

I have been told that ivomectin is a great wormer for both internal and external blood sucking parasites. I use moxydectin which has the same active ingredient and is designed for poultry, but those who find out the correct dosage and use the ivomectin as an equivalent are using the same thing. I would be more confident with the ivomectin than many other wormers.

I don't think the chicken breeder you spoke to is right. Worming a sick bird that has already been wormed puts extra stress on them. But I'm no expert - just my opinion. I hope your girl recovers. Best wishes.

Peter16 · **Posted:** Sun May 18, 2008 6:32 pm

have you seen any evidence of worms in their excrement?

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

Not sure, but I don't think the ivomec does tape worm, & they do get them. I had a chook off colour & used a wormer that did tape worm & you could see it being passed :shock:

GGGROSS

Jafoosy · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:17 pm

That happened to a few of my chooks!!!
Im sad to say, they died.

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