mucusy vomit

[CluckyMiss]

I have some chicks that I purchased from a lady while a naive beginner. These chicks are now almost a year old and I have lost 2 of 5. The first was a month old and had no symptoms. The second became very lethargic and would vomit clear mucus if not held upright. At first I treated with yogurt and acv in water for sour crop. He pooped several times although the seeds seemed whole still and his strength was regained so I released him back into the flock. He became sick a second time and this time I treated him with terra-vet as he seemed much worse (I could almost push him over). After 7 days of small ups, he expired. He was 8 mo. Now I experienced a hen that spit up the same with no other symptoms. What is this? I have a suspicion that they were not vaccinated. If I were to vaccinate now would that make any improvements or is it too late and would be ineffectual?

 

[justplainbatty]

I have some chicks that I purchased from a lady while a naive beginner. These chicks are now almost a year old and I have lost 2 of 5. The first was a month old and had no symptoms. The second became very lethargic and would vomit clear mucus if not held upright. At first I treated with yogurt and acv in water for sour crop. He pooped several times although the seeds seemed whole still and his strength was regained so I released him back into the flock. He became sick a second time and this time I treated him with terra-vet as he seemed much worse (I could almost push him over). After 7 days of small ups, he expired. He was 8 mo. Now I experienced a hen that spit up the same with no other symptoms. What is this? I have a suspicion that they were not vaccinated. If I were to vaccinate now would that make any improvements or is it too late and would be ineffectual?

It could be crop problems or respiratory. My first question is do you give them grit? They cannot live without it. That may be why you saw undigested seed in his poop.

 

[CluckyMiss]

I let my chickens free range so they should be finding grit to consume though I had that thought myself. We have a gravel and decomposed granite driveway and quartz sand can be found where they roam. I've tried finding other digestive problems but to no avail. Crops feel normal except for the one time I treated for sour crop. His actually did feel mushy. I pick them all up and listen for wheezing/rasping, watch for gaping mouths, sneezing, any sort of runny anything especially if excited and everything seems normal. I'm inclined to think they just gorge and then spit up but wanted insight since I lost 2 already.

 

[justplainbatty]

I let my chickens free range so they should be finding grit to consume though I had that thought myself. We have a gravel and decomposed granite driveway and quartz sand can be found where they roam. I've tried finding other digestive problems but to no avail. Crops feel normal except for the one time I treated for sour crop. His actually did feel mushy. I pick them all up and listen for wheezing/rasping, watch for gaping mouths, sneezing, any sort of runny anything especially if excited and everything seems normal. I'm inclined to think they just gorge and then spit up but wanted insight since I lost 2 already.

Chickens are not known to gorge to the point of vomiting. Maybe some parasite that is stealing all their nutrition could cause that but I doubt it. Especially if they are of normal weight. I am wondering if your "decomposed" granite is too fine and too smooth to help them. Store bought grit is kinda sharp/coarse and when it becomes too smooth and rounded they poop it out. Sand is no help, too fine,too small.

 

[MrsBrooke]

What kind of watering set up do you have? How often to change their water and clean the container?

Chickens *do* regurgitate... They should not, however, vomit. You can tell the difference, because a chicken will make a spitting action and violently shake its head side to side.

I would separate that hen from the others immediately and keep her in quarantine (dog crate with a towel in the bottom in your garage with food and water) until you can figure out what's going on. You can keep a close eye on her poops and listen to her breathing. Even if she starts to show improvement, chickens WILL hide their symptoms. It's an instinctual defense mechanism. I would keep her inside until she's truly feisty to go back outside... Then I'd keep her in a few more days, just to make sure.

A picture would help us see her behavior if you can get a shot.

MrsB

 

[CluckyMiss]

Justplainbatty: it's varying degrees of decomposition from sand to chunks of rocks. They seem underweight to me and I've been watching for worms with no signs.

Mrsbrooke: I wash the containers often and try to put acv in the water when I can although sometimes they seem to knock the container over in refusal. Just standard chicken bottle waterers. Not much shaking of the head when I've seen them spit up, just efforts to swallow as though they have just drunk. Just normal chicken behavior. Chasing me around the garden while I dig up worms. I also feed them onion and garlic and peppers in lesser degrees as i was told this helps if there were internal parasites.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Onion will make your chickens anemic. Please cease immediately. That can be fatal!!!!!

MrsB

 

[CluckyMiss]

I hadn't heard that. I will. These hadn't had any in a month at least though. And anemia would cause lethargy right?

 

[justplainbatty]

I hadn't heard that. I will. These hadn't had any in a month at least though. And anemia would cause lethargy right?

ACV, garlic,DE-none of those things will prevent worms. If they are underweight I would strongly recommend a good de-wormer asap! Valbazen is good but there are others. I would also highly recommend the store bought chicken grit. It is the right size and coarseness, made especially for them. I don't measure what I give them but I would guess just under tablespoon full in each feeder twice a day, every day for ever and ever.(I have 17 chickens,2 trough feeders). You can't go wrong if you use that.

 

[CluckyMiss]

I use sevins more than DE though I have both on hand. I've been seeing a lot about worming and I'll give that a try even though I haven't seen anything. What about the mucus though? What could that be without the head bobbing, rasping /wheezing or snotty noses?