Juliette Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Hi Just coming on here for some advice - had a very odd evening last night. None of my 3 chickens wanted to go in their eglu - finally Pepper and Honey did, but Ginger still wouldn't - finally managed to get hold of her by lifting the eglu up and put her in through the nesting box. This morning went to check them - to be honest fully expecting Ginger to not be with us (as she didn't seem herself) - but all three seemed fine. Ginger though would not come out and when she did the best way to describe it is she sounds like she has got a cold. She is just standing in the field with her head tucked in - not wanting to feed or drink. I have now put her in a cat box in the garage which is fairly warm (certainly warmer than it was last night!) and put a bit of food in for her - reading through the poultry health forum I am now going to put a few grapes in for her as well! One friend has suggested worms, and I have put a call into the vet - but wonder if anyone has got any ideas. The other two are wondering around their patch quite normally s"Ooops, word censored!"ing up the ground and have a bit to eat here and there. look foward to hearing from someone soon and hopefully Ginger will make a full recovery being allowed some peace and quiet on her own. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Sorry to hear that your girl is not well. Bringing her in and keeping her warm is a good idea, so that she doesn't waste valuable energy trying to maintain her body temperature. I would try to make sure that she is drinking. If she is sounding as if she has got a cold....she probably has. Have a listen to her chest by placing your ear against her back. Idf it sounds rattly or wheezy, I would take her to the vet. Worms could make her miserable and hunched, but would probably not make her sound as if she has a cold. Citricidal is useful to have in to treat colds. I wonder if a mod could move this to the Chicken Clinic as it will get more views and responses there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Hi Juliette Have moved this for you. If she is all hunched up and looking miserable, I wonder if she has a soft shelled egg about to come out. Any idea when she last laid? Keeping her in is a good idea, and watching what she eats and drinks is crucial. Ill animals just don't eat, so it will be a good indicator. I guess you can only do what is regular good practice: Check she does not have lice or mites: They get them so quickly when low and it really adds to their misery. Good luck and do let us know how she is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliette Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 I have taken her to the vet and she has had an antibiotic injection and some liquid parrafin - he thought her crop was a bit large and that may mean there is an impaction and he is hoping the liquid petroleum will get things moving - and the antibiotic will help her fight anything off. We don't think she has been eating well for a little while or at least not digesting it properly. As she has been wondering around until yesterday doing what chickens do I hadn't noticed - but when I picked her up this morning to take her away from the other two I noticed she was really light - particularly compared to my other two. So fingers crossed she will pull through - but I am being fairly realistic about it. She is nice and warm though in the cat carrier and tomorrow if she is feeling a bit better a farmer friend of mine (who thinks we are all far too sentimental about these things!) has suggested I put her in the dog cage for a while as if she does lay any eggs we can't eat them now for a couple of weeks. Juliette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 hope she gets well soon, im sure with the antibiotics she will be feeling better. let us know how she goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Fingers crossed for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliette Posted October 30, 2008 Author Share Posted October 30, 2008 to all my concerned new friends Ginger seems a bit brighter this morning - but is still not eating. Off to get some straw and install her the cage so she has a bit more space. I think I will keep her inside for another couple of days and if she improves I can start putting the cage outside so she gets some natural light and putting her in the garage for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistachio Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 sounds like you are doing the right things. I was told that the problem with chickens is that their symptoms are often the same for all kinds of different things. You are right to make sure she is drinking. When mine was showing similar symptoms I got her to drink out of a sports bottle and I added a little citricidal to it. I also took her to the vets for antibiotics when she didn't pick up. She's right as rain now. Best of luck with yours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Oh Juliette. You did the right thing to take her to the vets. Fingers crossed she perks up. I presume you have tried tempting her with treats? Mine would do anything for tinned sweetcorn. Grapes seem to be another firm favourite, and of course, both are quite moist, so it means they are getting liquid down themselves too. If she is not digesting food properly, mabe you could got some white (undyed) maggots from a fishing shop? A few every hour or so might just get things moving again through her. Keep us posted on how she is doing. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliette Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 Dear all Happy news - Ginger is now eating I think we will try and put her outside in the next day or so again. She has had some maggots - so thank you for that suggestion - eaten some pasta and fruit and pelletts. So I am more hopeful than I was yesterday. We were beginning to think if she didn't start eating soon she wouldn't make it. As far as introducing her back into the run with the other two - I can't put her back fulltime for two weeks just in case she starts laying again - but do I just put her in and let them get used to her again or put her in the cage in their run for a bit each day. I am hoping I might be able to borrow an eglu someone isn't using for a couple of weeks - it is a friend of a friend so slightly complicated and then I thought I woudl just put that in the run but keep her in the eglu run until the two weeks are up. Thank you for all your advice and I will continue to keep you posted until she is out and about and behaving like a normal chicken again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 I would certainly find some way of letting her mix with them during the day so that they don't forget her. Can you divide the run in some way? It is good to hear that she is perking up. Home made apple sauce (unsweetened) is useful in treating impacted and sour crop too. The acidity helps break down tough fibres and keeps the PH in the crop at the right level so that fungi can't thrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
