HELP sick orpington

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

My huge splash orpington cockerel is going down hill & I have no clue as to what is wrong, his sister suffered the same symtoms & died 5 days after onset.

He is 7 months old & was 6kg, he started looking a bit lathargic then his comb discoloured to a pale pink colour with purple colouring around the outer edge, he was still eating & drinking. Today he has his wings a little low & does't seem to have drunk much water, he is on wood shavings but the poo seems to be green shaded & he hasn't had greens in a few days.

Nearly forgot I did read somewhere that green poo is related to liver or kidney breakdown, if that's right & his symtoms match that what could have caused this to happen. There are no signs of resp. problems, has anyone got any ideas??? I don't wnat to loose this boy.

Roova · **Posted:** Sun May 16, 2010 9:10 pm

Thats no good

Just out of interest when was he last wormed? Are there any other birds in the flock with similar symptoms or was it only the two of them?

Purple around the outer edges of a comb can indicate lack of oxygen. Is he panting or looking like hes struggling to breathe? Any signs of sneezes, coughs etc

I would say he would be a candidate for antibiotics but you would need to take him to the vet for the appropriate one. If you lost the hen quickly you wouldn't want to delay the trip (if this is an option for you).

A couple of questions:
Is he separated and somewhere warm and quiet where he will be less stressed?
Have you made up the rickets diet as an extra for him?
Is the bedding where he and the other one were kept clean and free from dust or mouldy bedding?

I hope you can get him on the mend..it would be a shame to lose him after losing his sister.

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

He's probably due for worming again, they where done about 9 weeks ago with sheep ivomec (spelling??) behind the comb & above the tail. His sister died on the 18th of April & no one else has had any symtoms like I have mentioned, he seems to be breathing fine & no discharge from nose or mouth, eyes are ok & his breath doesn't smell.

He is in a pen by himself, he seems to be eating but the drinking today wasn't good. The area he has been kept in is a 6 x 6m shed fitted out for dogs it has 7 areas that can be made int seperate kennels. It is a cement floor with a thick cover of wood shavings. I haven't done the rickets diet yet didn't even give it a thought so thanks I'll get that done in the morning.

Roova · **Posted:** Mon May 17, 2010 5:44 am

Geez, its hard when everything sounds right. But, unless they was a problem with the birds genetically and they were never going to live long, then there is a problem with something to do with how they live. Its just a matter of working it out!

The only things can think (and I'm clutching at straws is)..

Is every 9 weeks too much for worming? Generally speaking freerange birds should be wormed about four times a year, and caged bird about two times a year or when needed. Birds with worms start to look scrawny, loose weight, lay fewer eggs, often have a pooey bum and their general health is affected. Birds will become resistant to the same type of wormer being used so its a good idea to change every couple of years.

Is his pen out of drafts and dry? Its getting colder now - are there winds blowing straight in the pen or is there wet or mouldy bedding. Possibly aspergillosis could be a factor, but I did think that took birds out quite quickly. You didn't by any chance happen to do an autopsy on the first chook did you? That can give you an idea on what organ (if any) was affected.

Do you have turkeys? Could blackhead possibly be a problem? Are the dropping yellowy and foamy?

Ok, I could go on guessing forever, but maybe someone else might think of something. I do suggest antibiotics though or there is a very good chance you'll lose him. If you lost the sister after the same symptoms, he may head down the same road without some intervention

Good luck.

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

Well he was dead this morning, stiff as a board his sister was the same when I found her so an autopsy wasn't done, I've only done 1 before on a pullet with a compacted crop. If he died during the night & is stiff I didn't think it would be viable to an autopsy.
At the moment I'm ready to throw in the towel & give it all away, it just seems to be 1 thing after another here at the moment. I went to a web site recomended on this list last night & did some reading, I'm wondering if it may have been the other form of mareks that causes tumors I just can't think of the name. Checked on worming & it is 11 weeks since their last dose.
The shed is not cold & when it cools right down I close the windows & back door & the roller doors are droped as well, their litter is clean & dry although it is a bit dusty if stired up to much but no more dusty than when I got it out of the bags.

greenaus · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 5:02 pm

Lou wrote:

At the moment I'm ready to throw in the towel & give it all away, it just seems to be 1 thing after another here at the moment.

It's entirely your choice of course, but please try to hang in there a little longer. These things do seem to come one after another, but with a little effort (ok, a lot) things can improve ...for a while.

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