Sick Chook - Please help

maisyfleur · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:45 pm

Hi All

Bought a rhode island red pullet on Saturday - looked fine all weekend but this morning I found her collapsed in a heap in the coop. I brought her inside and put her in a box. Within minutes she laid a soft shelled egg. She was laid right out this morn eyes shut and I thought for sure she would die. We have been syringing water into her mouth all day to keep her fluids up and she is now sitting a bit more upright with her head up and eyes open. Her tail seems to be raised up with her back end pulsating a bit!!!!

I have just given her 1/2 a baytril tablet and some baby food. She has not pooed all day so cannot get any idea whats wrong from that. Her legs seem to be unable to hold her up. She is unable to stand at all.

Has anyone any ideas about what I can give her or try to help get her better? My husband has forbidden me to take her to the vets.

maisyfleur · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:58 pm

Just noticed that her breathing appears laboured aswell!!

Any help?

Sue

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:37 pm

I think she may have cocci from the move onto new ground. Is she still young? Put her on some sulphaquin, mix 5ml per litre of water. I would syringe some (3 to 5 ml) into her beak and let her swollow. Do this morning and night as well as have it in her water for the first 3 days then just let her drink on her own for the last 2. I would do her for 5 days Be careful not to force it down her throat as it may go into the lungs.

Is she eating?? Make sure she is eating if you think she is and not just playing with the food, like picking it up and putting it down. Usually they starve to death rather than die from the problem I reckon. If she is not eating I would mix up a running mixture (10ml)of baby mixed breakfast cereal like Farex and force feed her like the water by putting it on her tongue and waiting for her to swallow. I find farex much easier to force feed than mash, through a syringe. I also add some vits & mins to the mixture for a boost. It is time consuming but if one does not persist with force feeding if the are not eating they usually die. You may need to force feed for a few days but after the first day offer her some of the farex on a dish to see if she will eat on her own. Keep force feeding her until she is eating on her own and tempt her them with maybe some wet mash with boiled egg yolk and maybe yoghurt added. Do not give too much protein or sugar for the first five days at least.

Cocci is a probelm for all young poultry especially when moving them onto new ground and it can hit them really fast. I hope she recovers for you.

maisyfleur · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:58 pm

Thank you so much County Lodge - that does make sense now. I have a silkie who has been under the weather and whilst trying to get her better I treated the whole flock for cocci.

I have some sulphaquin - have just given her 5ml of the diluted solution and filled up her bowl. How often should I be force feeding the farex. I did some this avo but I wasn't sure how much I should be giving her in any one go. I work from 9 to 3 so I am guessing I should take her to work with me and feed her every hour or so do you think? How much per hour do you think would be good to get her to eat?

She does seem much stronger tonight than she was this morning. Yes she is young around 4 mths the guy said.

If I do have cocci in my pen or coop - how do i go about trying to eradicate it?
I have a large chicken tractor that they sleep in at night and a 400m2 grassed pen to free range in during the day.

Any advice greatly received - I hate to lose any chick even a new one. I have 25 chooks - all diff breeds. Have only ever lost one silkie before which was my fault as I did not recognise her symptoms of being ill. I managed to catch this second silkie before it was too late. The silkie is much better but not 100% - just can't seem to get her on track. She eats and drinks and poos fine but she is still very lethargic and her comb is still quite pale. Any ideas on how I might be able to boost her up?

Also you mentioned some vits to give the sick chook - where do I get them from vets or produce store?

Thanks again
Sue

County Lodge · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:16 am

I would only force feed her 10 ml morning and evening. It is mainly to keep her alive while she fights the problem.

I use 'Soluvit" I think that is how to spell it. It turns the water yellow. I got mine from Bellsouth. I also sometime use livamol intheir feed as I have it here for the horses.

You can't eradicate cocci. There are about 7 or 8 different strains of it. All we can hope for is to help our little friends build up some immunity to it.

With your silkie, have you wormed her. She may need worming now and in 2 weeks time. Put her on a high protein diet now she is over the cocci. Mash with added tinnned cat food, or boiled egg yolk, some mince or some bone dust from the butcher. It is the stuff that comes off the saw when they saw the meat. Very high in protein and she will just love it on its own. A small handful 3 times a weeks if you can get it. I would also put your little silkie on some vits and mins as well. One week on one week off to begin with and as she picks up, one week one and maybe 2 weeks off. She should start to pick up in a matter of weeks.

maisyfleur · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:42 pm

Thank you County Lodge - I spent 2 hrs last night scanning all the past threads for some remedies mostly yours I believe so I am armed this avo with my list to hit the produce and vet stores.
Yes I have wormed the silkie a few weeks ago when she was sick and again at the weekend.

The RIR is at work with me she is drinking the sulphaquin solution really well. I am having to force feed the farex though which she is not liking. I have made it quite runny so it is drinkable but after 1ml she has had enough. I am trying to get 1ml down her every hour. Slow and painful but she is looking much more alert now so fingers crossed we might just beat this.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:48 pm

It is quicker and easier to use a crop needle but have never used one and am a bit nervous to do it on my own the first time without supervision. So i just use the syringe method. I make the farex the consistancy of past and put it on their tongue then lightly rub their throat and they swallow.

maisyfleur · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:58 pm

I shall try that when I get home this avo with a new batch.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:21 am

Hi maisyfleur,

I hope your little hen is okay.

Excellent advice throughout this thread CL! :-D

Deb

maisyfleur · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:39 am

Hi Deb/County Lodge

She is no worse but not standing up yet. She is taking the medication well and has eaten some nectarine this morning - she won't look at any mash just yet.

I have her at work again today and will continue with the farex as yesterday. Hopefully we will see some solid improvement today.

I have bought some soluvet plus from the vets for the silkie and also some livamol (1kg). I know how to administer the vits and mins but would you mind telling me how much etc I should use the livamol. Do I mix it up in the feed or give it seperately in a bowl on its own???
The silkie is actually looking really good today but I am going to keep her seperate and try and boost her up for the next two weeks so I know she is really well before putting her back in with all the others.

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