Eyren Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Cicely was put down this morning, after suffering an acute respiratory infection. She had appeared fine at the weekend, but got a bit of a drenching yesterday and didn't come out of the eglu this morning, and when I opened the eggport she was on her side, shivering and making rasping noises The vet commented that she was under-nourished, but since bantams are reluctant to be touched, I hadn't handled her since we clipped their wings about three weeks ago. She was the smallest, though, and bottom of the pecking order, and didn't seem to have grown much in the month that we had her. Do chicken clutches have runts, or do the youngsters sometimes fail to thrive for other reasons? Could she have had a bad case of worms (they free-range in our garden outside working hours)? The other two are fine - Migsy has produced an egg every day (but one) since she started laying, and Angelica is bouncy and bolshy as ever (fingers crossed!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Oh so sorry to hear that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Oh Redforx- how terrible for you - so sorry to hear your news I can't offer any advice I'm afraid but just wanted to send a cyber hug.... I'm sure more people with helpful hints will be along soon. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Ohh Redfox... I'm so sorry , can't be of much help to you with your question i'm afraid, but i'll keep my fingers crossed for your other two girls that they keep in good health. Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Oh what a shame hope the other girls are ok karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Sorry to hear about your run of bad luck - life's a b*tch sometimes isn't it . Have you thought about contacting Cicely's breeder for advice? I'm sure they are absolutely top notch but even the best can have the occasional problem. Did the vet give you any advice on if it was contagious and what signs to look for in Migsy & Angelica? Fingers crossed they stay in rude health ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted August 29, 2006 Author Share Posted August 29, 2006 Sorry to hear about your run of bad luck - life's a b*tch sometimes isn't it . Have you thought about contacting Cicely's breeder for advice? I'm sure they are absolutely top notch but even the best can have the occasional problem. Thanks for the kind words, all! I've emailed the breeder, just in case he has any useful suggestions (and tactfully pointed out that the bird had not thrived despite plentiful food and the same care as the other two). I'm concerned that she may have been put on layers' mash too young and didn't get the nutrients she needed We're also planning to go to our local "country" store in the morning and get some poultry spice, etc., to make sure our remaining two don't get run down. Did the vet give you any advice on if it was contagious and what signs to look for in Migsy & Angelica? Fingers crossed they stay in rude health ! Unfortunately our practice's exotic specialist was on holiday, and the vet who saw Cicely could only advise us to keep an eye on the other two. In both cases, we seem to have lost a chicken to a minor infection compounded by malnutrition, which makes me wonder if I'm doing something wrong on the feeding front. Since Morag died I've been sieving the big bits (split peas, etc) out of their mash - it was only being left or thrown on the run floor - and replacing the missing ingredients with smaller grains such as millet and red lentils. Maybe I should just give them pellets, so they have to eat a bit of everything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Whatever you do, please don't beat yourself up. I've lost two very loved chickens (Dixie 2 and Sidney) this year and I felt (and still feel) useless that I couldn't do anything to save them . I feed layers pellets ad lib and give them a bit of Allen & Page Super Mixed Corn late afternoon and occasionally for a treat to get them used to me. The other things I do (but I don't know if they help) is Apple Cider Vinegar in their water one week per month. I use Verm-X to worm them - 4 days per month in their water. When they are moulting or a bit low or under stress I add some Poultry Booster to their water for 4 or 5 days. I also spoil them with the occasional dried mealworm - it gets them running to me and I can get them in their run easily with them. Other than that, it's just luck I think. Some chickens do well, some don't. Dixie 3 (one of my Marans bantam chicks hatched this year) is a bit under the weather and I'm worried sick about her. I'm watching her endlessly which doesn't help one little bit. Hopefully tomorrow she'll be back to normal and I will have worried over nothing. Failing that, it will be yet another trip to the vet! Sorry to waffle on. I just wanted to reassure you that you're doing nothing wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
