The Poultry Keeper

rickd · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: herefordshire

One of our 3 yr olds died last week, and we still don't know what happened, which is worrying as 2 others are now maybe showing similar symptoms, and we are at a loss as to the cause.
Initially she started just sitting about looking miserable, head in shoulders and inactive for periods of an hour or more, then seemingly being fine again. Then she started "gurgling" as if something was in her throat/crop, then she started drooling, so much so that if picked up some pale fluid came up (a couple of teaspoons). This went on, off and on for a week or so, so in the end we took her to a vet who said she seemed fine (but admitted he was no expert). Next day she died! None of the others showed any similar symptoms at the time, so we put it down to maybe something congenital. Now however 2 others are perhaps begining to show the same symptoms.
They have all been wormed, they free range and otherwise all seem very well, laying and pooing normally. The only thing I can think of is someting slowly poisoning them. I've checked the paddock they run in and found (in addition to the usual weeds) some bluebells and some "lords and ladies". Could they be poisoning them?

Any ideas on what else it could be???

rickd · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: herefordshire

I just read some articles on "sour crop" including one here. Certainly sounds the similar. So the cure is?? I read I have to syringe yogourt and olive oil down their throats then massage the crops and turn them upside down till they bring up whatever they have in them. Sounds harsh!

Any better remedies??

If it is this, I still don't understand the cause - they've been in long grass for ages so they are used to eating it.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1334 Location: Manchester

were thie chickens coughing/sneezing as well?

Do you still have the body of the birds, if you can afford it you can take one to the vet to be necropsied or if you're not squeamish you can do it at home.

It sounds to me more like a respiratory disease than poisoning.

Was the pale fluid like mucous or more liquid?

CP · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 10:55 am Post subject:

Mycoplasma maybe? Confused

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1334 Location: Manchester

That's what first sprung to my mind too -

"The true CRD produces slight respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and a nasal discharge. In the air sac syndrome there is an extensive involvement of the entire respiratory system. The air sacs are often cloudy and contain large amounts of exudate. Affected birds become droopy, feed consumption decreases and there is a rapid loss of body weight.

Infectious sinusitis in turkeys occurs in two forms. When the "upper" form is present, there is only a swelling of the sinus under the eye. In the "lower" form, the lungs and air sacs are involved. The air sacs become cloudy and may contain large amounts of exudate. Both forms of the disease are usually present in the flock and frequently are present in the same bird."

taken from
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/disbact.htm#mg

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3224 Location: Monmouthshire

Lords and ladies is poisonous, but my hens eat bluebells with no ill effects. If either of your other birds look likely to die, ask the vet to refer you (and bird) to the nearest VLA for them to do a PM. They prefer to receive the bird still living, and their reportss are very detailed. Last one I had done cost about £35, plus an 80 mile round trip.

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1358 Location: Leicestershire

rickd · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: herefordshire

We've dug out all the Lords&Ladies, but far too many bluebells so good they're OK!

The fluid was pretty runny - more like spit than snot, but I'm not sure how runny hen mucous is. There was no coughing or sneezing that I remember, tho' occasionally she did seem to be either be gulping for air or trying to swallow? Rather like an exagerated yawn. The two who looked iffy yesterday seem fine now, but I'll keep a close eye on them. The field they have recently been in has long couch grass so I guess that may have played some part. I'll try some crop regurgitation if I see the problem again.
In the meantime I'll look carefully at the mycoplasma symptoms so I'll know what to look out for.

Thanks for the help everyone. Let me know if anyting else comes to mind.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1334 Location: Manchester

you might want to have a look at gapeworm too - just in case

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/disparas.htm#gape

rickd · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: herefordshire

gapeworm was our first suspect, but the hens are regularly wormed (flubenvet), and only very recently before this problem so we think it less likely.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1334 Location: Manchester

aah I missed that bit in your first post..

Have a look at the other resp. issues on this site (same one the links above are from) it gives poultry diseases by symptom - very useful!
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/dissymp.htm