[kegs]

I've got a 10 week old unvaccinated Light Sussex chick who suddenly looks very ill.  She seemed fine at 7.30 this morning and is usually flighty, inquisitive and normally won't let me anywhere near her.  I've seen her drink but haven’t seen her eat anything (unmedicated Growers) and she is hunched, tired and just standing still looking very sorry for herself.  She is in a coop and run which have not been used for chickens before, with one Faverolle and 9 table birds who are all acting normally.  

I have got 4 vaccinated 9 month old hybrids in a different part of the garden, but the two groups are well away from each other and I change my outdoor shoes accordingly.  

I clear up as much poo as possible from their run every day (their grass has disappeared which has made it harder) and while I'm doing this they run about in the rest of the garden; there has been lots of shed intestinal lining but no blood; have sprinkled Stalosan F on the ground; wash their drinkers and feeders in vanodine v18; put fresh newspaper and Aubiouse on the floor of their (brand new) coop every day; slurry their coop and perches (no red mite).   She hasn't been wormed yet and I've tried to look down yer throat but she won't let me open her beak.

I haven’t got a vet nearby who knows about poultry but I have got Stalosan F, Bio-oo-cyst and Coxoid.  Any advice please on whether it is Coccidiosis or could she have eaten something she shouldn't have?  Sorry for the long post.

[Casey76]

Well, she sure looks down.  But she is past the danger age for cocci.

Normally by 10 weeks they have enough immunity from the environment for it not to be an issue.

How long has she been on unmedicated growers?

[kegs]

How long has she been on unmedicated growers?

For about 4 weeks.

I've just made her a nice warm box and tried to tempt her with some warm mash but she was having none of it.  As soon as my back was turned she legged it out of the kitchen door (so not quite at deaths door yet it would seem!) and squirted yellow poo on the grass.  Then she walked over to the storage box jumped up and that's where she is now, just as cowered down as she was this morning.

[Casey76]

Hmm, a high urate concentration would indicate a kidney problem.

It certainly doesn't look like a typical coccidiosis poo.

I think you are doing the right thing.  Isolate in a warm dark place, and free access to layers pellets and clean water.

I hope she picks up soon

[Lindeggs]

I'm sorry I can't help with a diagnosis for your wee pullet, but I did want to say thank you for the photos.  This is a very good example of what an unwell chicken looks like, and your description shows that you have been observing her well.

I have a Light Sussex pullet (much older than yours) whose stance looks very similar to your girl.  My Pearl laid a shell-less egg two days ago and I think she will lay another one today - hence her hunched up look, with her tail down and head pulled in.  When the others are digging and foraging, Pearl just stands still.  To me this is a "chicken with a tummy ache" stance.

[hillfooter]

Yes she doesn't look at all good and not eating or drinking sounds bad so I think a vet visit would be in order.   

If she were laying I'd suspect an egg binding issue but your bird is still young.  I don't think this is cocci and as you don't think it's a sour crop or crop impaction problem it's likely some enteritis causing problem I think and there are several possibilities which would need antibiotics such as Fowl Cholera or Fowl typhoid and only a vet could help here.  The sudden onset maybe a pointer as may a rodent problem if you have one?
HF

[kegs]

Thank you everyone for your help.  Even last night I had convinced myself that our Sussex had Coccidiocis and was very tempted to start medicated the whole flock before it was too late.  This morning I let them all out and although she was wobbly on her feet she did eat lots and had a small drink.  Now I've just let them all into the garden and she is almost back to her old self: a pinker comb, running away from me and scratching round doing her chicken thing.  Such a change from yesterday.  Thanks to everyone for your help and advice (especially those who post at 2.45 in the morning!!) you stopped me panicking and medicating when I didn't need to.