Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[jos]

Hi, one of my ex-batts, Lollipop, was quite unwell in September. After some antibiotics and a vitamin jab from the vet, and a course of flubenvet she perked right up.

Then a couple of weeks ago (after they had all routinely been wormed) she went downhill again. Just standing on one leg (both legs are fine, by the way), eyes shut, all puffed up. She would perk up and eat meal worms when offered, and would drink, but otherwise looked really sorry for herself. Her poos were very watery.

Another trip to the vet, another jab and more antibiotics and after a week of getting worse while taking the anti biotics, so much so that I had made a tentative appt at the vet to put her out of her misery, then the very next day she was suddenly much much better!

But now she's just beginning to go off colour again. Still eating and drinking but beginning to spend more time under the hedge, on one leg, eyes shut etc etc.

I really am at a loss what to do.

TBH I'm not sure whether the medication has been helping or whether she has something else wrong that is temporarily righting itself.

It breaks my heart to see her going downhill and feeling ill again, but I do want her to have the chance to get better again.

Any ideas as to what could be wrong with her, or what to do, would be much appreciated.

jos

[Egluntyne]

Is she still laying?

[jos]

Hi Egluntine, I really don't know if she's laying... I am only getting around one egg a day from the 5 ex batts but I don't know who's doing it!

[Lydia]

She sounds a bit like our Brenda who was also an ex-batt. She would have what we called "down days" where she just stood in a corner somewhere and looked listless. Sometimes it lasted for a day, sometimes a few days. Often these episodes ended with a soft egg or bits of soft eggs. Then she'd perk up again. Maybe she had a touch of peritonitis but I really don't know. Visits to the vet were inconclusive too.

 

She was laying intermittently up until about February, however, the "down days" got more frequent and she died peacefully at the end of April.

 

Sometimes ex-batts are just simply worn out and their immune system doesn't cope following the stress of their previous life.

 

I'm sure you are giving her and her mates an excellent life. Sometimes just giving them space, good food and treats is all you can do.

[sandyhas3chucks]

my 3 are never right when I have used flubivet but they soon perk up again.

The trouble with softees is unless you watch them a lot they might drop it in bits & they eat it before you know! Mine are real sad when there's one on the way, got one that has been doing lots. I think most of us are low on eggs too... My head chook also biggestr & still fully featherd has been on work to rule, 1 every 3 days ort so, whilst my least feathered & needinmg a rest & smallest just keeps on poppying them out!

[jos]

thanks for your replies; lollipop has been under the hedge looking a little unwell today but will come out for treats, so can't be too bad!

I will keep an eye on her and make sure she is eating and drinking enough and just keep my fingers crossed.

[Jen&Rog]

Hello, sorry to hear about Lollipop (lovely name by the way). There's a couple of things you could check for which have affected my ex-batts recently. Firstly have a feel underneath to see if she's puffy (round the top of legs and behind there) - if it feels swollen like a balloon, she may have peritonitis (you'll probably need to compare against the others!). And secondly check her crop in the morning to see if she's managing to digest her food - it should be nice and full at bedtime and completely emptied first thing in the morning. If it's neither of those things then at least you can rule them out. I do agree that sometimes they're just worn out and it's lovely to at least give them a few months of freedom.