3 wk RIR, unbalanced, smells, sticky brown goo on her neck - doing better, but any thoughts?

[2ndTink]

We have a 3 wk RIR pullet who wasn't showing any signs of illness or being off yesterday, but this morning was flopping / stumbling to the right until she'd get to the side of the brooder then she'd lean on that for support. Then she'd shake her head and jerk backward at times. She couldn't stand up on her own, her toes were all stretched out and she was rocking back on her hocks. She had crusty stuff on the left side of her neck and top of that left wing.

I used a wet paper towels to start to loosen the crusties, it wasn't blood, it was brown, really sticky, and smelled. To get it all off I ended up giving her a full body soak, the sticky stuff was all down her belly too. I got most of it off, when I was drying her I found a little glob of brown goo on her shoulder and used a wet q tip to get as much off as I could, I then applied antibiotic ointment. I couldn't find any red / irritated swollen spots, but it really seemed like a busted abscess or weeping from an infection which could have been under when I couldn't get cleaned of the brown goo. She's very alert, wants to eat, after I got her cleaned up and dried she drank a bunch of water and ate more. She can stand and walk on her own and she's stretching and preening again. She's still a bit unsteady, but bright eyed and holding her own.

I gave her a drop of Nutri-drench early this morning and dosed their water with Nutri-drench to try and help give her little body what it needs.

Does anyone know what could cause these symptoms? Could she just have gotten an abscess from feathers coming in and then all the sticky making her feathers clump together make her move like that? She's still not 100%, what should I watch for or what else should I be doing for her?

 

[2ndTink]

She's regaining her balance, she's been able to get up on the little roost, she's turning her head both directions now and steady enough to stretch up to check out the camera. I caught her stretching, it does look a bit red up by her neck. I plan to put ointment on that area twice a day for a couple days.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings 2ndTink,​

I think you did a good job at doing an exam of the little chick. That brown goo/discharge is an important clue as to what is causing the illness. It may have been an abscess indeed. But, what caused the abscess? Perhaps a peck wound from one of the other chicks. It's interesting that the discharge is brown. Maybe an ingrown feather follicle became infected. Brooders do harbor bacteria with all the little poops laying around.

Treatment seems to be working to this point, the clean-up, antibiotic ointment, and the vitamin supplement. I don't think an oral antibiotic is needed at this point, if the chick is eating, drinking and moving around. But, continue the vitamin supplement for another 2-3 days, and the antibiotic ointment till the infection site is healed. Vetricyn spray is another good antimicrobial to have on hand for chicken injuries. Keep the chick under observation for a few days, until you are confident it is fully recovered and growing normally.

Smelly discharge of any kind is an indicator of infection. If the infection is on that area of the shoulder, you'll have to keep on it. If you don't see any improvement or it appears to be worsening within the next 24 hours, you should clean it again. This time, use some Povidone Iodine. Use a sterile gauze pad or swab dipped in the Povidone Iodine. Wipe the infection site, and press out any puss or discharge if there is any. Reapply antibiotic ointment. Use a saline solution, or dish soap and water, to clean the site next time. Povidone Iodine will penetrate down into infection and kill it, allowing for healing. But, do not overuse Povidone Iodine, as it can also inhibit the body's effort to renew skin cells.

Abnormal poop is another indicator of infection or disease. Watch the poop for mushy, loose, diarrhea or color changes. Observe for any chick to chick bullying. Chicks can be attracted to bleeding, scabs etc.

If the chick is eating, drinking, and pooping normally, that's great!

These are my thoughts on your chick's health issue. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless

 

[2ndTink]

Greetings 2ndTink,​

I think you did a good job at doing an exam of the little chick. That brown goo/discharge is an important clue as to what is causing the illness. It may have been an abscess indeed. But, what caused the abscess? Perhaps a peck wound from one of the other chicks. It's interesting that the discharge is brown. Maybe an ingrown feather follicle became infected. Brooders do harbor bacteria with all the little poops laying around.

Treatment seems to be working to this point, the clean-up, antibiotic ointment, and the vitamin supplement. I don't think an oral antibiotic is needed at this point, if the chick is eating, drinking and moving around. But, continue the vitamin supplement for another 2-3 days, and the antibiotic ointment till the infection site is healed. Vetricyn spray is another good antimicrobial to have on hand for chicken injuries. Keep the chick under observation for a few days, until you are confident it is fully recovered and growing normally.

Smelly discharge of any kind is an indicator of infection. If the infection is on that area of the shoulder, you'll have to keep on it. If you don't see any improvement or it appears to be worsening within the next 24 hours, you should clean it again. This time, use some Povidone Iodine. Use a sterile gauze pad or swab dipped in the Povidone Iodine. Wipe the infection site, and press out any puss or discharge if there is any. Reapply antibiotic ointment. Use a saline solution, or dish soap and water, to clean the site next time. Povidone Iodine will penetrate down into infection and kill it, allowing for healing. But, do not overuse Povidone Iodine, as it can also inhibit the body's effort to renew skin cells.

Abnormal poop is another indicator of infection or disease. Watch the poop for mushy, loose, diarrhea or color changes. Observe for any chick to chick bullying. Chicks can be attracted to bleeding, scabs etc.

If the chick is eating, drinking, and pooping normally, that's great!

These are my thoughts on your chick's health issue. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless

Thanks! Your treatment plan sounds solid and like it comes from an ER nurse! I don't have Providone but we are still in town and we can get some, or Vetricyn, or both. I love going by the feed store I'll keep an eye on her poop and behavior, I did see her poo after I posted earlier and it was a smaller amount but looked normal.

Thank you so much for your reply!

 

[2ndTink]

I tried to clean up the little red again tongiht, the stink is gone and no fresh goo. I did find a scab, when I touched it with the qtip she about flipped over I put fresh ointment on her, she was a total champ. She's still a little off, but she's very alert, curious, eating and drinking.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

It's a good sign that the smell is gone. And it's really good that she is eating, drinking and alert.

Hopefully, that injury will dry up, now that there is a scab. But you still need to be vigilant, as some infections can and do hide under scabs. If you notice that the area is swelling, very red and is hot to the touch , you will need to clean with the Povidone Iodine again.

If you think an abscess is beginning to form, you will need to get more aggressive with the treatment. But, because you are treating a young chick, aggressive treatments such as debridement or aspirating abscesses should be avoided, if possible. These treatments are best done by a veterinarian, when dealing with chicks. But I think if you keep the chick well fed, the injury site clean, and also keep using an antibiotic ointment or spray, it should heal up fine.

What to expect:
Three days after the initial treatment, you should see the infection site begin to heal. The skin surrounding the scab will start to have a tightening appearance. It would be good if you could use some Vetericyn spray at this point. Vetericyn will allow the area to dry and protect it at the same time, allowing for faster healing. Spray the area 3-4 times a day for the first week.


It's a good sign that the smell is gone. And it's really good that she is eating, drinking and alert. Good Job!

 

[2ndTink]

It's a good sign that the smell is gone. And it's really good that she is eating, drinking and alert.

Hopefully, that injury will dry up, now that there is a scab. But you still need to be vigilant, as some infections can and do hide under scabs. If you notice that the area is swelling, very red and is hot to the touch , you will need to clean with the Povidone Iodine again.

If you think an abscess is beginning to form, you will need to get more aggressive with the treatment. But, because you are treating a young chick, aggressive treatments such as debridement or aspirating abscesses should be avoided, if possible. These treatments are best done by a veterinarian, when dealing with chicks. But I think if you keep the chick well fed, the injury site clean, and also keep using an antibiotic ointment or spray, it should heal up fine.

What to expect:
Three days after the initial treatment, you should see the infection site begin to heal. The skin surrounding the scab will start to have a tightening appearance. It would be good if you could use some Vetericyn spray at this point. Vetericyn will allow the area to dry and protect it at the same time, allowing for faster healing. Spray the area 3-4 times a day for the first week.


It's a good sign that the smell is gone. And it's really good that she is eating, drinking and alert. Good Job!

Thank you! The bit that I've been able to watch them today she seems to lay down more than the others, but not a droopy laying down. When she gets up she's just as active as the others, she's still preening, eating, jumping up on the perch, drinking, and is being super easy to doctor on. The others aren't picking on her, so I am happy about that.

We have 3 RIR's and to pick her out I have to watch for a few minutes until I catch her letting her wing sag a little or she stretches her head up and I can see where the ointment has her feathers a little greasy looking. I've seen her wing sag and thought uh-oh there's a problem but within 5 or 10 seconds it's right back where it should be and she'll keep it there for the rest of the time I'll watch her.

I'm really hoping it stays dried up, I'm not sure how I could debride her little shoulder and I can see how that is best left to a professional!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Just keep being vigilant.

 

[2ndTink]

I wanted to give a update on the little RIR, she is doing great! I did her last treatment yesterday and everything appears to be healed up. Her feather growth is right on track, she is moving around, chipper, and interactive. She has gotten to be hard to tell apart from the other 2 RIR's. She was trying to sleep when I got the photo

I'm so thankful for the advice @Hen Pen Jem you are awesome!