4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[pistachio]

 

Hi there - I got 6 young chickens from Omlet with a purple cube at the beginning of September. They've been doing really well and we've had about 4 eggs - I think only one is laying. I am enjoying them so much.

 

Yesterday one of them stayed in the perching area of the coop for a while and today she looks exhausted. She's always been the easiest to handle but she doesn't even move when I go to pick her up. She is keeping her eyes shut as much as she can and keeps lying down to sleep. I'm concerned she might get dehydrated if she tries to sleep in the coup. I tried putting her in the run area but she just stood on one leg and fell asleep. So I've now brought her in the house and have managed to get her to drink a reasonable amount of water with a little citricidal from a sports bottle. She's not at all interested in the layers pelletts or even in the oats that she usually adores as a treat in the afternoon.

 

I'm really worried about her. Any ideas? Her name is Penelope

[peepie]

Sorry to hear penelope isn't well. I would really try and tempt her to eat something but definitely make sure she drinks. They go downhill really quickly.

 

It could be that she's trying to lay a soft shelled egg, but sounds to have gone on rather a long time for this. Sometimes they're not happy as it's not as easy to lay as a hard one.

 

One of mine was ill last week, went from being fine in the morning to droopy in the evening. I took her inside to try and get her to eat and while she was in she pooed and it was full of worms. I have now wormed them all and she is 100% better and laying again. The thing is I wouldn't have noticed the worms had she not been right by me and I saw it moving. After about 30 seconds all movement had stopped so there's not much point going and looking at old poo!

 

Flubenvet seems to be the recommended wormer and it has worked for me. It's pricey but cheaper than a trip to the vet. There are various places online that sell it or you might be able to get it locally from a vet if you need it urgently.

 

Other than that, have you felt her crop? It should be reasonably firm at the end of the day. If it's all sloshy and watery when you squeeze it, she could have sour crop. Also will have really bad breath as the contents of the crop start to ferment. Sometimes this is due to a piece of food blocking the bottom of the crop. If so try feeding her probiotic yoghurt (they like this anyway and it's good for them so you can't do any harm giving it to her) and massage the crop really well to try and shift any blockage there might be in there.

 

Hope she's feeling better soon.

xx

[pistachio]

(Penelope) (Antigone) (Sue) (Boudica) (Raven) (Heather Feather)

 

THanks - I'll take a look at her next poo. They are a bit runny at the mo but still have some firm bits. I've managed to get her to drink quite a bit. She has been wheezing a bit. At one point she took in quite a few deep breaths and they sounded wheezy. I don't think she has a swollen crop - although I'm new to this. I'll do a bit of massage. Apart from the sleepiness she looks ok - no runny nose and her eyes are still clear and bright. I'll await the next pooh and check for worms. I've got to go out later and I'll have to take her with me because I'm worried about her suddenly being in pain and me not being there. She looks comfortable even when she's wheezing at the mo. Thanks for replying - it's nice to have a bit of support when you're new to all of this

[..lay a little egg for me]

I've got to go out later and I'll have to take her with me because I'm worried about her suddenly being in pain and me not being there.

 

Sorry to be flippant at this awkward time but I had an image of you going around the supermarket with a chicken under your arm (or perhaps in the trolley)

 

I do hope she perks up soon.

[Egluntyne]

If she is sounding wheezy and is generally off colour, she could have a chest infection or similar.

 

If she doesn't perk up I'd take her to the vet.

[peepie]

Have to say if she's wheezing I'd try the vet as well. Sometimes they need antibiotics and then perk up after a couple of days.

 

Take care

[pistachio]

thanks for that everyone. I have bought her some tonic and been getting her to drink and she perked up a little but not much and only ate one speck of food and then gave up. So I nipped to the vets and he has given her a couple of injections. He said it's not an infection and it's not her crop but he couldn't say what it was - maybe a stress thing - whatever that means. I'm taking her back tomorrow if she's made it through the night. She's such a cutie.

[The Brown Clan]

Fingers crossed for you , one of mine was like this her tail was constantly down aswell and although I hadn't noticed worms in her pooh after getting some flubernvet and dosing them all it was deffo worms and she perked up after a few days keep us posted please .

[Hen Watch]

Hi hope she is ok soon.

 

Last Sunday and Monday, my Amber was sleepy, drinking (but not eating) and feathers all puffed up. I got her to eat some corn and bio yoghurt and started with a course of Flubenvet wormer.

 

But on Tuesday she was OK again. I did find a softie in the poo tray and I assume it was hers and may have been the cause.

 

Glad to hear you've been to the vet. You never really know with chooks what exactly is up with them.

[pistachio]

Thanks everyone. It's really helpful to pick up new ideas and things to watch for. Penelope improved greatly after yesterday's antibiotic injections at vets. She was coming out of the coop and wandering slowly and eating and drinking for herself. She got pretty tired out since the vet had only given her a days dose (I think he thought she might be on the way out and didn't want to overcharge me) and I took her back and he gave her a fresh couple of jabs. I've now got antibiotic powder to add to water and syringe in her beak for a few days. I'm so pleased that she is perking up although I won't rest easy till she's back to normal. She was acting a bit shocked (shoulders up head tucked in feathers fluffed) after all the to-ing and fro-ing so I'm trying to get her back to normal routine now. Chickens eh? gotta love them but tey are frail little things

[peepie]

So glad she's on the up. I've come to the conclusion that waiting when a chook looks ill isn't an option. I think they wait until they're half dead before they let anything show.

 

Hope all continues well.

xx