Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[madchickenlady]

I noticed that Delilah seemed off colour on saturday, and her comb was pale. I lifted her from the flower bed and stood her on the decking, but she seemed unable to get around. She was stumbling and using her wing tips on the ground to balance. Rushed her to the vet, where he gave her an antibiotic and a steroid jab. He didn't think it was Marek's (thank God! ) or a stroke, but thought she was very thin. I disagreed with that, as I know that pekins always look like they should be heavy birds, but it's all feather IYSWIM. Anyway, brought her home and settled her in the garage where I have a hospital coop. She has really just sat, occasionally shuffling out for food and water. I have been giving her water off a spoon today, but she's completely uninterested in any food. Her comb is now very, very pale, and I suspect I'm going to lose her If she's still alive at 6pm, I will get her back to the vet, but tbh I don't see what he can do, and I know how much the trip will stress her. She is just sat, huddled up, with her beak open obviously very unwell. I feel so very bad that I can't do anything

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear about Delilah.

 

How old is she? And what breed?

Reason I ask is that one of my youngsters had a funny spell when she was about 13 weeks old, she kept having what I can only describe as dizzy spells. In the end, I wormed her and treated her for lice (although I coudn't actually see any), as the breeder said it sounded as though she wsan't getting all the nutrients she needed from her food.

 

Whatever the cause, the dizzy spells stopped after these treatements, and she's been fine ever since, touch wood. She's well over a year old now.

[madchickenlady]

Delilah is a pekin bantam, and about 8 months old. She was wormed four weeks ago, and has been dusted for mites/lice regularly. She's not egg bound or crop bound. I suspect that whatever is wrong with her is not easily put right

[The Dogmother]

Hmm, hard to diagnose without seeing her, but I'd keep her on some wet porridge and mix Avipro in with that, or in her water. All you can do is to treat the symptoms; there are quite a few diseases with those symptoms.

 

Is ther a vet near you who knows about chickens?

[madchickenlady]

The vet I use keeps chooks himself, so he's pretty good. Unfortunately though, like he says, it's often only in a postmortem that you can work out exactly what's gone wrong. She's been given the jabs, and has taken a little water off a spoon. Won't eat though, not even her favourite porridge Her comb has sort of gone mottled and pale, and the open beak seems to suggest a respitory problem. I have some Tylan here, and am wondering whether it would be worth a shot giving her a dose I'll have to check with the vet, as I'm not sure how it would effect the jab he gave her saturday.

[madchickenlady]

Quick update : We've been back to the vet, and he stiull thinks she has a fighting chance. Apparently, all the while her body temperature is up, she's fighting the infection. He thinks that it's some kind of mycoplasma, as that can put them off their legs She's had another shot of antibiotics, and I'm starting her on a course of Tylan too. The next 24 hours will be cruccial, but all the time she has a chance, I'm willing to keep on nursing her. Come on, Delilah!!!

[Guest]

sounds like you're doing everything possible, sending lots of healing vibes your way, hope she turns a corner.

 

xxxx

[Plum]

Sorry to hear about Delilah, hope she picks up.

[The Dogmother]

Mycoplasma is a sort of chest infection and you can usually hear it if you put your ear to the hens back - you will hear bubbling and whistling noises. Keep her warm and try to get her to drink some water with Avipro in it.

[madchickenlady]

She has laboured breathing, poor girl, but these symptoms have been late presenting. The main problem was her going off her legs. I can see her deep breathing now (she's almost rocking from the effort), but hopefully the antibiotics will have made a difference by morning. I went out at 9pm to give her a little more sugar water, but she wasn't really interested (not surprised, it was long past chook bedtime!) She's certainly no worse

[The Dogmother]

Just a thought, is her abdomen swollen?

 

How about her eyes, are the pupils irregular and is the paralysis spreading?

[Daphne]

how is Delilah today?

[madchickenlady]

She's not paralysed at all, just doesn't want to move much. No swellings anywhere. Her eyes are normal. She's still with us, and has got the hang of taking water from the syringe. I've added some sugar and a dose of tylan to the water. I keep offering her food, and she's had a bit of a peck at some corn. I'm cautiously optimistic today, as she is sitting with her feet to the floor now, instead of just lying in a heap. Hopefully, the jab the vet gave her last night is reducing the infection in her joints. She's still very poorly, but she's hanging in there

[The Dogmother]

That's good news, I am trying to eliminate possibilities but it's hard without seeing her. Great that she seems to be rallying.

 

Have you tried some sloppy porridge with loads of goodies in it? Citricidal will help her fight any infection

[madchickenlady]

I've tried everything I can think of Poor chook is not the friendliest of the bunch, and tends to show contempt for me at the best of times She has pecked at the corn a bit, but turned her nose up at the porridge/raisins/poultry spice combo that she'd usually go mad for. I'm going in to her every hour, and getting a syringeful of water/sugar/tylan down her, so at least she's getting fluids. Her comb is a bit brighter today, so she must be breathing a little better. I'd love to see her just take a few steps She's right next to the feeder/drinker, and snuggled in a deep bed of sawdust.

[The Dogmother]

Have you tried syringing a bit of slushy food into her?

[madchickenlady]

I've tried, but she just keeps shrugging her head away. I'm conscious of not squirting solids down her neck and blocking her air way. She has eaten something, as she has pooped (all over her fluffy knickers ) and it's not diarrhea. I have to take that as a good sign, as she's obviously digesting something.

[The Dogmother]

If you drop it onto her tongue then she'll swallow rather then inhaling it.

[madchickenlady]

She is quite stubbornly refusing to open her beak for anything other than sugar water. I don't want to stress her more by forcing it. I'll just keep offering the sloppy porridge and some corn.

[The Dogmother]

Fair enough, I hope that she makes it.

[sandyhas3chucks]

weetabix has been recommened on here, but my poorly girl sounds like yours, she doesn't like it but some sloppy watery ready brek is sometimes ok. also cucumber only for days then lettuce. I also put avipro in the syringe and there is something called critical care. I just kept offereing things one by one till she picked what she fancied but going for anything with it's own water content. I also found reoffring later she woul take, just didn't want when i offered, as she improved as head chook I fed her with bottom chook, and that seemed to give hr some more insentive to eat. evenrefused grapes & live maggots when really poorly!

hope this helps.

[madchickenlady]

I've brought her inside now, and am syringing sloppy porridge down her throat. She hates me, but at least something is going in. She's getting quite good at the 'head dodge', but I'm getting better at prising her little beak open with a spoon and tipping some porridge in My plan is to feed her a small amount every hour today, to try and get her strength up. Any suggestions for high calorie slop? I'm giving her porridge oats and water at the moment, with a bit of sugar mixed in. There is a small pile of corn near her, but she's showing no interest. I don't have any chick crumbs/growers pellets, only layers, so didn't think that making a pellet mash with them would be high calorie enough. She's very thin I have no way of getting to a poultry supplier (don't drive) today. I'm still syringing the sugar water/tylan down her throat at regular intervals.

[Daphne]

Hi - tuna has protein in it (people use it for moult) and also cat food (protein??). Not necessarily high cal but goodness. I wonder if those energy/build you up drinks for humans would be any good; I wouldn't normally be thinking like that but desperate times call for desperate measures. Have you tried weetabix? I know its not a miracle, and your girl does sound in a bad way (mine wasn't as bad as yours) but it did work for us when nothing else did. On other occasions I've found cutting grape into miniscule bits worked as well. You and she are doing a good job.

[sandyhas3chucks]

she's fighting you which could be a good sign. there is a high calorie paste for dogs that was rcommended on anothr forum, feed um. they do it for cats rabbits & othr small furries to. Pets world or whatever it is now called sels it also seen in other pet stores. there is also something called critical care formula, which ordered now on internet would be with you in the morning.

have you tried offering cucumer grapes lettuce. could try a little grated cheese. ready brek tinned cat food dreid meal worm.

ooo do try digestive biscuit or malted milk biccy, dried and sloppy.

good luck

also try dripping the water above her beak from the syringe, mine drank loads but only on one occasion like that. but plastic lid under her front to catch the drips, they seem to be attracted to the moving drips.

[chelsea]

sorry I am late catching up with this thread. Hope she pulls through.

 

If you can get hold of some Avipro (you can get it online) its excellent. I used it a couple of months ago on our very sick post op hen and it really boosted her recovery.