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

[Lizzie]

Morning

We are very worried about one of our chooks, Penny.

Since Saturday afternoon she has not been herself. She went to bed early on Saturday and Sunday morning got up with the same symptoms

 

Penny is generally just standing closing her eyes, I can't say that her feathers looked ruffled up either. She is showing no interest in food or water but did eat porridge oats (with water) yesterday afternoon and also had a drink then. She keeps passing watery white liquid. She likes to be with the others but isn't running to keep up with them, just walking.

 

This morning she did seem a bit perkier, but still showed no signs of wanting to eat or drink.

 

I don't want to rush her off to the vets - we have other hens that have done the same kind of thing (but they still drank water) then been fine the next day, but Penny seems to have been poorly longer and I don't want to leave her if she should go to the vets.

Her crop seems fine and her eyes bright. Breathing also sounds normal.

 

Any advice / help would be gratefully received

 

Regards

Liz

[Egluntyne]

Has she been wormed lately?

 

Is she laying?

 

Does she sound wheezy?

 

Is her abdomen swollen?

 

 

Thy to keep her warm and hydrated, syringing small amounts of water into her beak if necessary.

[Lizzie]

- I wormed them all in November, they ended up having a double dose for gapeworm also (just in case).

- I don't know if she is laying as I am not always around to see - I am at work today and apart from my parents visiting for a couple of hours, they will be on their own all day.

- She didn't sound wheezy when I picked her up yesterday and listened to her chest

- Again, I am not around to syringe water but will perhaps try and get a half day so I can go and be with her. I haven't felt her abdomen - not sure if I know if it is swollen or not, or would it be obvious ?

Have you any ideas what could be wrong ?

Regards

Liz

[sandyhas3chucks]

Mine is like that, but for longer. Have you checked her crop in the morning. My girls is not emptying.

It does not seem hard or blocked and she drank lots yesterday.

Ihave been to the vet, and will probably be going back today or tom as he is away then until next week

[Lizzie]

Her crop seems fine

[sandyhas3chucks]

I did same as you in November but am wondering if I should do this one again

[Egluntyne]

- I wormed them all in November, they ended up having a double dose for gapeworm also (just in case).

- I don't know if she is laying as I am not always around to see - I am at work today and apart from my parents visiting for a couple of hours, they will be on their own all day.

- She didn't sound wheezy when I picked her up yesterday and listened to her chest

- Again, I am not around to syringe water but will perhaps try and get a half day so I can go and be with her. I haven't felt her abdomen - not sure if I know if it is swollen or not, or would it be obvious ?

Have you any ideas what could be wrong ?

Regards

Liz

 

A swollen abdomen would be obvious, and may cause her to walk like John Wayne. It would be bulging and firm, feeling rather like a child's football.

 

From the symptoms you describe, I wonder if she is trying to lay a soft egg, has become egg bound or, if her abdomen is swollen, she has peritonitis.

 

There are articles on all these in the Chicken Clinic.