theherd123 Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Brilliant news and im so glad the vet was helpful too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Glad it was good news and I bet Sophia must have been really pleased with the helping hand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 What a great vet You must be so relieved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattla Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Hello, I'm so glad she is okay. My hubby and I were going through exactly the same as you. I wonder whether it has anything to do with the warm weather and not enough water? We came home from work on Friday night to find Mash (of Bangers and Mash!) standing in the corner of the run looking very unhappy. We let them out as we always do when we get in from work and Bangers ran off around the garden, Mash however just stood in the garden all puffed up and her head low. I called hubby who has been obsessed with with possible egg blockage since the girls arrived (a year ago), and he picked Mash up very easily, which is quite unusual. We looked at her vent and it looked sore and a little red. We gentle massaged her tummy area, and following the advice in the chicken book we have we put on surgical gloves and rubbed a little vegetable oil around her vent. She was amazingly well behaved and didnt object to anything! We then popped her back on the glass with loads of water available to her, as usual, and suddenly a large egg fell out of her! She then perked up a bit, but was still walking quite slowly and looked as if she was in pain. She ate some grain very happily and drank a little more water. Within 1 hour (by this time they were back in the run as it was past 9pm and dark) another egg popped out, this time softed shelled. She is 100% better today, running around the garden, chatting away, eating and drink as usual. But she didnt lay this morning, so we are nervous about tomorrow and worried it may happen all over again. They have huge amounts of water in the run, so it cannot be caused by her not drinking enough surely? Is it worth giving her a bit of oil (what type?) in her layers pellets? We would be really grateful for any advice possible. We were both so worried about her, but well done to my hubby who seemed to shift the initial egg and kept getting up in the night to check on her! Look forward to hearing all your advice soon. Matt and Lee-Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Any type of oil will be fine Matt and Lee-Anne. I use olive oil or cod liver oil. Maybe a tablespoon in a bowl of pellet porridge? Hope she is ok tomorrow, probably just a blip in her system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 10, 2008 Author Share Posted May 10, 2008 Hi all, Mattia, I hope you girl is well on the mend - it is soooooo worrying isn't it. To each and every one who has replied - thanks for the good wishes. I'm afraid that I'm still a bit worried about Sophia and hope upon hope she is 100% better tomorrow as I fear another trip to the vets might otherwise be needed. Poor Sophia seemed to be quite a lot better on her return home - she drank absolutely loads and seemed more perky. We have tried to clean her rear end as best as we can but it looked sore so I didn't want to pull her about too much after her ordeal. She has spent the day laying in her run and has got up to change position occasionally but seems to lay down after a few steps. I did manage to get her to eat about 4 pieces of sweetcorn and I put some chopped cherry tomatoes in the run but she just hasn't seemed interested She wouldn't come out of her run at all and simply went to bed. I've checked on her and she is looking around but not moving that much. I just hope it's because she is rather sore (having had big babies I can sympathise!) and nothing more wrong. Emily on the other hand is her usual self but hasn't laid now for two days. I must admit the nesting box was very sodden this morning from poor Sophia but whilst she was at the vet I gave the Eglu a thorough clean and put nice fresh bedding down, etc. I just hope it's because she missed her sister and the upset rather than her coming down with anything. I can't believe this has happened. We are first time keepers and got the girls from a fellow omletter and they were sooooo happy and really fantastic looking birds. I feel like I've let the girls down and the lady who sold them to us We feed them layers pellets and I've tried to vary their treats to give they a good variety as well as their free-ranging time and we bought grit and oyster shells as soon as we got a soft shelled egg. We also wormed them but I know people are doubtful about Verm-X. I will order some limestone flour and tonic and whatever else I can - anything to get them both back to tip-top condition. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattla Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Hi Christian, Thank you ever so much. I have read that Calcivet liquid calcium is good as well. Do you think it is worth getting some or should we try olive oil for now and see if it happens again? Thank you once again Matt and Lee-Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Ali, don't feel bad! You have done every thing and more possible. Hens have very complicated internal workings and becoming egg bound can happen at any time. I'm sure she will be fine in the morning Give her lots of extra treats for a few days and less pellets, to give her system a chance to recover. All the best C x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that she perks up and feels better soon If you could pm your vet details I would be gratefull, he sounds like he knows chickens. I am in cambridge so it's always handy to know just incase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hi all, I'm sat here with tears streaming down my face and the screen is all blury. Hubby is outside digging a hole to bury Sophia who, despite all our efforts, has died this morning. We are all so sad. Our little boy who is two (it's hs chicken) is still asleep and I'm not sure if he will understand but I think he will be upset. Thankfully Emily seems fine but we need to get her a new companion. Thanks for all your good wishes - sadly they were all in vain. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I'm so sorry to read this Ali, how awful for you. You did the very best you could for little Sophia, sometimes it just makes no difference. Sending you a big hug....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Thanks Laura. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Am so sorry to hear the news. Sometimes they have a very slight hold on life. Please don't blame yourself or feel that you have let their previous owner down. You everything you could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Thanks Eglutine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Sorry to read your news Ali, I hope your little boy is okay with it. They are very resilient at that age so hopefully he will be. Don't blame yourself, it sounds like you were doing everything you could for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Sad to hear about Sophia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I'm so so sorry to hear about Sophia. HUG!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cazjohn Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Really sorry to hear your news x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Ali i am so so sorry to read that Sophia didnt make it You did everything you could to give her a fighting chance but sometimes they just dont make it. I do hope your little boy is ok about it all and lots of love and hugs coming your way from me. xoxoxoxoxoxox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Thanks to you all. Thankfully my little boy didn't understand and he is now outside grinning at our two new arrivals - two beautiful POL Merrydale Rangers (some RIR hybrid). We've named them Buttercup and Daisy. Poor Emily is yelling a lot and pacing around the run - in and out the Eglu. She seems more stressed now than when she was on her own. I just hope they all bond soon. Ali PS Thanks again to you all - you're a great bunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Thought your DS might respond in that way - its amazing how quickly they seem to forget the dearly loved pet that is no more when they get to choose the next one Probably just for the best I'm sure Emily will be best of friends with them before you know it, strange for her today but I'm sure she would rather have company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsareus Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hello, Just wanted to say that my chicken today has suddenly become unwell this evening and displaying very similar symptoms to your chicken. She's got watery poo and is dripping some mucusy saliva from her mouth occassionally. She is drinking water and have also put some chicken tonic in it. Just hope she is feeling better tomorrow and it's due to the hot weather and not something nastier. Hope your chicken gets better soon too. J.W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hi Catsareus, sorry to hear that you have a poorly chicken. Hope all is well and that she is bouncing around full of life tomorrow. Not sure if you have read all this thread but sadly my Sophia died Perhaps if she isn't any better tomorrow it might be as well to take her to the vets. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsareus Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hi Ali, So sorry about Sophia, it made me cry. No I hadn't realized there was so many pages to your thread and so hadn't read all the way through, really sorry about that. My Galinda seem okay this morning and back to normal but I'll keep a close eye on her and leave lots of water around the garden today. Really hope your new chickens settle in well with Emily and become one happy gang! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hi Catsareus, I'm so relieved to read that your chicken seems OK this morning - I hope she continues to be well. Has she laid? Poor Sophia hadn't laid for two days. I wasn't concerned after one day as I know they can't lay everyday and it was more her physical appearance that showed she was in discomfort. The new girls seem fine and Emily is much quieter this morning. I'm no chicken expert but Emily and Daisy seem to have hit it off. Buttercup is more shy and retiring. I think Emily must be happy (ish) as she has laid today Thanks for your reply. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
