Sick Chicken.

[Chantilly]

I was wondering if anyone with could help diagnose this:
It has happened to two others, and i havnt been able to find what the problem is, but the chicken will stop picking for bugs and walking around, and eventually they will stop eating and drinking independently, soon they will spend most the day sitting down with their eyes half closed (poo gets on them because they will just poo on their own bum), they will start vomiting water, and after vomiting they die 24-48 hours later. My unwell chicken is currently at eyes half closed/ not vomiting yet. I just cant figure this out, I am really sorry, I know this is a parrot forum, but if you have ever experienced this sort of problem I would greatly apreciate any help. And if you need any more info, i will reply with it asap. Sorry, thankyou again.
Also: The chook is about 4. They havnt gotten unwell in any specific pattern, so i am thinking mabye they have eaten something/ or gotton a infection that isnt contagious (because they get it at random times)
Also they seem to loose sense of where things are, they go to peck food up high in the air, when really it is below them. Sorry if i should of started a new post for this.. But if anyone on here with chickens has had this happen please let me know. She is a pet, so i am really worried/sad about this. Edit: I am thinking rickets, seeing as unless i find a chicken vet (none around here) you have to make a guess, i am going to give her dosages of calcium&phosphorus(where would you find phosphorus?) for 3 days, no improvement and i will move onto something else.

Pajarita
No, it can't be rickets. Vomiting is not a symptom and you would have noticed the beak getting soft waaaaaay before you saw any disorientation. I assume the chickens affected stopped laying eggs but what did the eggs look like before they stopped? Did you quarantine the sick ones that ended up dead? Is this one quarantined? Did you try giving them a wide spectrum antibiotic?

They go into a large puppy cage when we see they are sick. We havnt been seeing or getting any eggs because crows take them as soon as they are laid, sorry i know that dosnt help. No i havnt tried that.. Would a produce shop sell it?

[Wolf]

I don't know what you have there but I usually go to a farm supply store or livestock feed store to find antibiotics for chickens or other livestock.

[Chantilly]

Thankyou Wolf, we had gone out for a school get together thingy, and when we got home she sadly hadnt made it.
I do appreciate all the advice though and do you think giving the 'ok' birds would do good from some antibiotics. I will be worming them all Saturday morning.

[Wolf]

I would give them all some antibiotics as you don't know what or where this came from. If you want the rest of them to remain in the land of the living, you just can't afford to not doctor them.

[liz]

Chantilly, the farm store idea is really the best. We have a chain co-op here. I worked for them as bookkeeper for 7 years before I retired. Because all the stores are connected to a central head quarters they share info and ideas. Since they are co-ops they have access to the practicle knowledge of the farmers. The employees get "brownie points" for their above and beyond studies.
Find the biggest farm store and tell someone what the problem is and ask who is there who can help you. If they don't have an employee with enough knowledge ask for a contact with a chicken farmer for the current info or an old time farmer for learned knowledge.
If it was me and I had one currently sick I would take it with me. Just don't bring it into the store. Ask the manager to look at it. He may not be the one who knows but he will see how desperate you are and put you in the right direction.
If non are sick at the time you go, make a list of the symptoms and observations in duplicate in case he needs to pass it to some one with more knowledge.
You also have access to all the information in the world. I would start with chicken illness help in your search. Just reword it until you get the right place. I wonder if their is a chicken forum.

[Wolf]

Great ideas, Liz.

[liz]

Thank you. Every once in a while I get an attack of the smart. But it passes quickly.

[Pajarita]

Thank you. Every once in a while I get an attack of the smart. But it passes quickly.

You are too much, Liz!

[Pajarita]

Chantilly, I would also treat them all. Anybody can get chicken antibiotics without a prescription (you put them in the water). Personally, I would go with a tetracycline one, first.

[Chantilly]

Thankyou everybody, we are actually going to a stockfeed shop today (lizards need more worms), so i will look for the antibiotics (it is different to the wormer isnt it?) and see if they know anything of the illness, also i will do some searching on the topic. Thanks