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

[broni.jones]

hello,

i run a chicken club for my pupils. One of our hens is 'sleepy' all the time. pupils have reported that she is 'sleeping' (at least eyes closed & resting) during the day any where. she appears to be off her layers pelets but will take treats. she can now be caught and handled without any resistance which is not normal for her. she shuts her eyes when being held. her comb is very 'grey'. her droppings are mainly runny & white. she has recently been through a moult & still has feathers coming. Our hens were rehomed from a lovely omleter who had back problems. i think our hens are 2-3 years old. she is't laying at the moment.

 

any ideas?

[jos]

Hi,

I'm afraid it could be just be she is "winding down". One of my chickens became sleepier and sleepier, (although she was never off her treats!), and in the end, after several weeks, she went into a really deep slee one morning and then peacefully died.

 

However it may be worth worming her or it maybe that the moult has taken alot out of her so you could try and up her protein with some organic cat food or meal worms.

 

Hope she pulls through ok.

J

[Egluntyne]

I'd worm her, but she doesn't sound too clever, so I think I'd be inclined to take her to the vet.

 

Does her breathing sound rattly when you hold an ear to her back?

[broni.jones]

cheers guys,

i have checked her over again. i think that she has lost weight a little. her breathing doesn't seem to be noisy. pupils are saying that she is being turned out of the eglu house by the other 3 hens. this sound like a big shift in power as she was head hen. we have had them since september.

i will try to give her more protien in her diet & worm them.

any other ideas, please let me know.

most of the chicken club members in the school are getting very worrried. i am wondering if i should isolate her and bring her home with me to avoid stress to pupils & her. would it be cruel to take her away from the others? would they let her back into the flock?

[Egluntyne]

The other hens will be sensing that she is ill and this is why they are turning on her. They can hide the fact that they are not well for quite a while, and so it comes as quite a shock when you discover how thin they have become.

 

I'd still advise taking her to the vet.

[The Dogmother]

Doesn't sound good - please take her to the vet.

[sandyhas3chucks]

they can "go down" really quickly, if you haven't already & she's with you take her to a vet tonight, if she is still with you in the morning if you've left her a can't go back for her now or get someone else to take her. get her an appointment 1st thing. doesn't sound so good!

[likeastar--x]

i would definatly take her home, as i imagine (i dont know what age they are) that it may be very upsetting for your pupils. if she is 'winding down' (which i hope shes not) then it might be kinder to take her home or to the vets where they could have a look at her. if thats not possible then keep her in a warm, quiet place to relax.

[miffy]

oh she does sound poorly, hope you can get to a vet and that she will soon be feeling better.

[Egluntyne]

Any update?

[broni.jones]

hello,

i got our local chicken expert to come and have a look as i couldn't get an appointment with the vet for over a week! we have wormed her & give her a little more heat.

she seems to have perked up. she is taking more food & is not looking so sleepy. she seems to be getting on better with the other hens.

thanks for your hep guys

[sandyhas3chucks]

Hello, where in Hants. do you live being such a rusal community there are lots of vet that will see chickens.

You should NOT need to wait a week.

There are lots of people on this forum from Hants who will probably recommend one.

Go here

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/

 

Go to FIND A VET

enter your postcode

Use the ADVANCE search option & pick poultry. (not the one that says specialist the one that has tick boxes for various animals.

It will give you a list starting with the nearest to your post code.

If you are on the Surrey border I can recomend several!

Good luck

Have been cross about this all morning.

I think the vets need reporting.

In 40 years of having animals, & personally knowing abot 100 people with pets I have NEVER EVER heard of ANYONE EVER having to wait a week with a sick animal before seeing a vet

[broni.jones]

thanks for you advise.

i found a different vet a little further away who could see her this weekend. following his advise we decided it would be kinder to put her to sleep. he agreed with the omleters who said she was an old girl who was winding down. he couldn't be specific about whether or not she had a disease/infection but the other 3 girls seem very bright.

thanks for all the help guys.

[sandyhas3chucks]

always sad

glad you got her somewhere though

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.

[Groovychook]

Sorry to hear your news