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

[Tweety]

Bluebell has been off colour for a couple of days - not eating much and going to bed very early - and I noticed a runny white discharge coming from her vent this morning. I took her to the vet this pm, and she has a temperature and a respiratory infection as well as the discharge. He has given her an antibiotic jab and said to isolate her to try to prevent it spreading to the other hens, which I have done, although it is probably a bit late now. She seems a bit perkier, has had a drink and some warm porridge, so I am just keeping my fingers crossed that she will pull through - the vet was not very optimistic though. I am just wondering if there is anything I can give the other girls to try to minimise the risk of them getting the infection? I have been giving them Poultry Spice mixed in with their food or Poultry Tonic in their water anyway, but if anyone knows of anything else that might help I would be very grateful for some advice. Thanks.

[helenmb]

A couple of my girls had a respiratory infection last November so we got some Baytril for them all and added it to their water so if there was some cross-infection they were all treated. You could try Citricidal added to their water which is very good for coldy type symptoms, the Omlet shop sell as do lots of other places online. My girls perked up very quickly and are all fine now.

 

Just make sure too that they are not anywhere too damp as this can affect their breathing too, lots of fresh air is good so best not to block any air holes in their home even if it does seem cold. Are they in an Eglu or a wooden house, if its wooden make sure that there isn't any mould lurking as this could exacerbate things too.

 

Good luck hope things sort themselves out very quickly.

[Tweety]

Thanks Helen - I've got some Citricidal so will put some in their water tomorrow. My girls are in a cube inside an outhouse, with plenty of fresh air circulating, and I always leave the cube door open at night. The girls are outside all day too. I have had to isolate Bluebell in a wooden ark, which is the only spare accommodation I have got at the moment, but it is clean and well ventilated and I hope she will be warm enough on her own. I asked the vet if I should bring her into the warmth of the house overnight, but he didn't think it was a good idea. Hope he's right.

[chelsea]

You've done exactly the right thing by taking her to the vet so promptly.

 

Chickens have very sensitive respiratory systems so please dont think its something you may have caused or not done for her. There are a lot of things going around at the moment with sniffles, colds etc and sometimes hens do go chesty/rattley like yours.

 

Fingers crossed you've caught it in the nick of time. Keep a very close eye on her.

[Tweety]

Thanks for that Chelsea. I must admit to feeling responsible somehow - maybe I should have taken her to the vet sooner, but until I saw the discharge from her vent this morning there weren't really any real symptoms of illness, and none ( that I could see ) of a respiratory infection until the vet examined her. I just hope she will be ok, and not too lonely on her own tonight.

[Egluntyne]

Hens are very clever at hiding the fact that they are ill. Well done for spotting it and taking action.

 

Fingers crossed for her.

[Tweety]

Thanks Egluntine. Well, she is still with us this morning and doesn't seem to be any worse, although there is still the white discharge. She has eaten some more warm porridge and a few bits of mixed corn, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and giving her lots of TLC. The vet said that the antibiotic jab should have some effect within 24 hours and to take her back if she was any worse, and at the moment I'm hoping that I won't have to do so.

[helenmb]

I'm glad things are going well so far at least with it being the weekend now you will be (I assume) more able to keep and eye on things as well.

[Tweety]

Thanks Helen. Bluebell did seem perkier this afternoon, and she ate some more porridge and some sweetcorn. The white discharge seems to have stopped too, although her poo is rather runny. All in all, she doesn't seem to be any worse, so fingers crossed for more improvement over the weekend.

[Tweety]

Poor Bluebell didn't look at all well this morning, so I took her back to the vet with a heavy heart, expecting the worse. Much to my relief, he said that she was breathing better than she had been, and gave her another jab and some baytril to put in her drinking water. She is now back in the isolation ward, and has had a drink and some sweetcorn, and is lying in a cosy box.

[helenmb]

My girls certainly improved after taking their Baytril via their water so hope that the same happens for Bluebell. Sending positive thoughts to her.