Solitary chicken - need advice

[likeastar--x]

we got some new chickens after the fox attack before xmas and before ive even had time to post some pictures one has a problem.

 

i came outside today and a few of the girls have colds so ive been putting ACV in the water etc. but its not helping much. and when i went out one was missing, so i went to look in the coop and willow the bantam was up there on her own.

 

at first i thought she was just up there because she gets a bit nervous about using the ladder still, but on closer inspection i saw her eyes were closed, and bits of yellow crust were surrounding them.

 

so i rushed her indoors and wiped them with some cotton wool and warm water and not all of it would come off unless i had scrubbed hard, and the chicken barely allows me to touch its eyes let alone scrub at them!

 

so after that i put her on the floor and she opened her eyes for a bit and ate some corn and they looked a bit sore.

 

then after a few seconds white foam started builiding up in the corners (the kind chickens get in their eyes when they have a cold) until she started trying to wipe it off (to failure) and shut them again. ive now put her in the coop by herslef but i dont know what to do!!

 

its probably some horrible eye infection and we'll have to go the vets yet AGAIN. I am SICK of all this, i know its not the chickens fault, but why is our lot in particular so prone to these sort of things??!?!?! (sorry little rant there)

 

[sandyhas3chucks]

thread already started on CLINIC.

[Egluntyne]

I think you need to contact the breeder....and take her to the vet.

 

Sounds as if she could have Mycoplasma.

 

What a shame. You don't have much luck do you?

 

I hope I'm wrong.

[The Dogmother]

I think it sounds like Myco too - get heer to the vet for some Baytril or Tylan and contact the breeder - they should at least arrange a replacement chicken or foot the vet bills.

[Guest]

this may be academic now but citricidal works better for colds, ACV is anti-bacterial and is a good tonic but if you're targetting a cold then it's citricidal you need.

 

Might be an idea to bring her inside where it's warm, in a cat box or something, with some food and water, just til she's a bit stronger.

 

Hope you've managed to get her to a vet, poor little mite

[likeastar--x]

what a replacement chicken?????? is she going to die??!?!?!?

[likeastar--x]

okay ive looked all over google for a simple description of this disease and they are all too complicated for me to process in this stressed state!!

 

can anyone explain what this is to me????

[sandyhas3chucks]

haven't you even rung the vet yet

look here

 

search.php?keywords=Mycoplasma&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

 

you click the search button at the top of the page

you type the word in the "search" box

 

& like najic you get all the posts relating tpo it.

You would do best to always do as Egluntine and Claret suggest.

they are both very experinced, & always give great informed advice.

 

looks to me like your poor sick chook needs to go to the vet and get some antibiotics in her quickly.

Edited January 7, 2009 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

Article about it **here**.

[likeastar--x]

well i have been at the library at college as i have an a level exam tomorrow and ive just had a quick check now as no-one had replied earlier. the vets is closed now.

 

willow isnt coughing or sneezing its just the eye thing and in the description it doesnt say anything about their eyes not opening!

also if mycoplasma is a chicken disease my vet will know nothing about it. i have some a very small amount of florences baytril left over, so ill calculate how much she needs and give her some tonight and tomorrow and maybe we can take her to the vets tomorrow after my exam.

ahh i cant be doing with this stress before tomorrow! i should be revising!

[likeastar--x]

on omlet some are describing it as a common disease and some are saying its curtains!! im so confused!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

So sorry to hear about this . Sounds like you just don't need this worry right now .

 

I think what was meant by "replacement chicken" was perhaps taking her back to the breeder for them to treat her and give you a replacement (healthy) chicken.

 

I know nothing about the condition I'm afraid, so I'm not much help. I just wanted to offer sympathy . And good luck with your exam tomorrow!

[Egluntyne]

I would bring her in, keep her warm and bathe her eyes with cold tea as it is very soothing and mildly antiseptic. Tyry to encourage hr to drink, and eat a little if possible,

 

Taking a sick animal to the vet is part and parcel of the responsibilities which go with pet ownership I'm afraid....and these things never crop up at a convenient time.

 

I can see 5 responses from Omleteers.

 

All being well, she will perk up, but the symptoms you have described are typical of mycoplasma unfortunately so if she is no better tomorrow, you really should take her to a vet.

 

Good luck with your exam tomorrow.

Edited January 7, 2009 by Guest

[Groovychook]

Just wanted to say that I hope Willow will be okay and good luck with your exam tomorrow...

[sandyhas3chucks]

well i have been at the library at college as i have an a level exam tomorrow and ive just had a quick check now as no-one had replied earlier. the vets is closed now.

 

!

that is a litte unfair you posted at what 3.23 & I replied a minute later . Egluntine 4 mins after. That's pretty quick. If you are not that worried you could have got the eye drops I suggested on the CLINIC posting at the chemist for under a fiver.

[Daphne]

It is not normal for hens eyes to weep. If it is Myco (it sounds like it - VERY basically its like a cold/respiratory infection with runny/foamy/crusty eyes as a common and obvious sympton) she needs some anti-biotics. I believe Tylan is usually recommended for Myco and I'm guessing your vet may give you enough for the rest of the flock.

 

Myco can spread, its common in chooks are a bit under par for some reason (eg with the move or with some other weakness/illness) but it could just have easily been in the breeder's flock. Its quite common for the sufferer to be more susceptible to passing cold-type things in the future so you should keep a special eye on her. Sorry to distress you more with all the bad luck you've had, but your responsibilty is to get her sorted out asap.

 

Good Luck

[Plum]

Poor you. What bad luck you are having and really bad timing.

Take a deep breath you cleaned her eye and saw what happened, asked for help. If you follow Egluntines advice you'll know you are doing the right thing and can get yourself on track for the exam and Willow will be treated ok.

Can you twist your dad's arm to take her to the vet for you. He is great isn't he what he's done. Daughter's usually have their dad's wrapped around their fingers.

Good luck.

[likeastar--x]

sorry sandy, what i meant was i posted one in the chicken clinic at 11 and there were no replies apart from yours, and though it was good advvice as you said i should wait for someone to double check it. i forgot everyones back at work today

 

we got her out again when i got home and we wiped her eyes and they opened again. but then the bubbles formed and they closed, but at least we know that is whats causing it now. after looking at some more information it looks a lot like mycoplasma, and after my exam were going to try going down the vets and getting them to prescribe her some baytril. turns out i used up all of florences so we just left her tonight.

 

im going to seperate her in a catbox for tonight, but we have no means of seperate housing for her if this thing lasts for weeks. so im not horribly suprised when i go to the vets, is this very treatable and is it likely she could be okay? or could she die from this?

 

the unfortunate reason im always reluctant to take the chickens to the vets isnt because i dont understand the consequences of not doing so, or that i dont love my pets, its mainly because unfortunatly we do have very bad luck when it comes to the chickens and when i asked my parents to get them for my for my 18th i assured them that they would pay for themselves with their eggs etc. and now my dad revealed to me the otherday that theyve cost upwards of £600/700 or so since weve got them, so i feel really guilty.

 

of course for this situation in particular i will take her to the vets, ill just have to beg my dad to have it as my 19th birthday present!

 

 

thanks for your advice, amazingly helpful as always

[sparkysmum]

Oh dear, likeastar, I do feel for you. Could a relative or friend take her for treatment? Good luck with your exam. Allisonx

[likeastar--x]

oh dear...i was just thinking that at least she doesnt have rattling breath and then i remembered that she breathes really heavily and has been doing so since we got her. is this rattling breath? we thought it was like asthma but it was probably this...oh dear, i so didnt want to be putting down another chicken so soon and she was my favourite of the new girls...

 

i should invest money in some more stable pets...whatever happened to good old cats and dogs?

[farrowy]

I hope the vet can help you later today - do let us all know how it goes x

[The Dogmother]

Do let us know how you get on at the vet.

 

Myco isn't rare and is only serious if it isn't treated quickly - she needs to be separated from the rest of the flock, kept warm and given a 5 day course of either Baytril or Tylan.

 

If a bird falls poorly soon after being bought, I would always recommend getting back to the breeder; as I said earlier, at the very least they ought to foot the vet bill. Ideally, they should take the poorly bird back and offer a replacement. This is normal accepted practice and they shouldn't make you feel bad about it. Perhaps you could ask one of your parents to phone the breeder.

 

Good luck with the exams.

[HENthusiastic]

Sorry to hear you've got a poorly girl.

 

Thought you might find this idea helpful:

Everytime me or my partner gets a £2 coin, it is put in a separate pot for the chickens. As far as we are concerned you can never spend a £2 coin. You would be amazed how quickly this builds up. Our chickens currently have over £100 so next time they need any treatment, they can pay with their own account

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

[likeastar--x]

havent gone to the vets yet, but willow is loads better. she has had her eyes open all day and they havent 'crusted over', though the bubbles are still there. shes very perky, and is eating and drinking fine.

 

i wasnt worried about taking her back to the breeder, what i meant was that the place i got it from was quite large and commercial, and it would be very naiive to think that when i return her they will treat her themselves. They would probably just put her down the instant i left. if she can be treated this isnt really fair (although maybe thats just the place i got it from). if willow died i would ask them to give me a replacement.

 

it was the same with my old bantam that had a dislocated leg, if i had given her back she would have been put down by them, but she managed to live a perfectly happy life with me.

 

ill let you know what the vet says!

[sandyhas3chucks]

i think that trhis really IS the best thing to do. You must get your Dad to breeder if it is as feared. It really isn't fair on you to foot the bill if you bought them unwwell. As somerone said they may not be aware, & you will need the vets opinion to negotiate!