I wrote previously about my Muscovy hen that was ill with symptoms of ruffled feathers, head drawn into body, limping started on about the 3rd day and 2 days later she died. Her sister started displaying symptoms 2 days after she died. I consulted a vet who recommmeded some antibiotics & to isolate her. She started looking way better by day #3 but day 4 she did a 100% backwards turn and looked terrible. She couldn't even stand, her feet & legs were paralyzed. It was awful, her head was almost in a motion of having a tic! She died in my arms an hour later...she was just skin & bones. The vet thought it was a "staph" infection. Now one of my chickens is displaying symptoms. She looks sick, just sitting in one spot and her toes were actually curled. I have isolated her and have started antibiotics in the water. I want to know if anyone has any input! I have had a drainage problem which has left the dirt floor wet at times from rain...could this be the contamination source?????

heidi,
Did the vet give her an injection of antibiotic?
what is the type of antibiotic the vet gave you to use?
Was is specifically for staph? or for multiple infections
do you know that birds will hide that they are sick for as long as they can, when we notice it they are usually really sick and it is important to get fluids and the antibiotics in to her system quickly.( a lesson from my own experiences) try to soak some bread with the antibiotic water. to hand feed it to her making sure she eats it.
I have also used vitimins available at the pet store for pet birds( I used avitron) mixed in with rice and corn to ensure added nutrition .

are you keeping the bird warm with a heat source?
and away from draft.
Did you add a vitamin source to her diet.
If you had straw in the pen with standing water you could have bugs in there.
have you checked for any bugs/ mites?
have you checked her ear canals for bugs/ or yellow drainage? as to why she is shaking her head.
does the dirt smell moldy?
molds can cause respiratory havic.
I wish you the best of luck.

I am using a drug called Neox....it is erythromycin based. No yellow fluid from my hens head. The vet said its effective against staph. If there was mold on the soil how do I get rid of it?

in my experiences plain household Vinegar, has been the best way i've found to fight mold.
It is non toxic and even stops the mushrooms from coming back in the lawn. I use it liberally mixed 50/50 with water.
I have even used it straight on the lawn. with no problem.
the yellow I was mentioning would be a kinda waxy drainage only in her ears.
I have also had to spray Malathion around my pens and even the perches, as the mites/bugs had set up house in the wood perches. I was told only to use the malathion , and not any other pesticide.
and to be safe and wash my water and food bowls ( I used hot soapy water with a little clorox bleach and a good rinse and sun dry them.)
The erythromycin is effective ( orally) against many gram- positive and some gram negative organisms,
Staphylococcus(staph) is according to my books mostly a gram positive organism.
I hope my tid-bits of info. will help you.
Linda