HasSumAmi Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Hi All So sorry to have kept you all on tender hooks. Access to internet was down and then it's been crazy. Well Babs is still with us. She's happy, flapping her one wing, eating and drinking. Tried 23 vets or animal welfare places to try and get them to see her, including RSPCA, PDSA, London Zoo, and goodness knows what else. In the end did not take her to the vets - but gave her salt water baths daily and continuously sprayed with gentian violet (purple spray). We changed the dressing every day until the bare wound cleared up. To answer a few questions that were posted - the door of the Eglu was open, but the door of the run was locked. She was pulled through the bars by the fox. It was only the second time we had allowed the door of the Eglu to remain open at night. Needless to say, we're closing it again. We have also covered the whole of the Eglu run in a wire and plastic mesh in order to give extra protection during the day. The bars can resist a fox attack, but the gaps are too large imho. Babs is one of our four battery hens. After the loss of our four original hens we waited and eventually got six hybrids - great girls. Then we took on four battery hens. Have to say it's been a hard couple of weeks with those girls: Babs had this wing thing, Ginny jumped and hurt her leg and now Bunty has Sour Crop. Ginny's leg has regular warm oil and arnica massages - which she likes... And the sour crop is bring treated with live yogurt, apple cider vinegar and chopped up garlic. Have tried to make her vomit, but not managed that. She's only had it a day or two, so hoping that the above will work, otherwise I'll be back on the telephone again trying to find a London vet who will see a chicken! Take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Glad to hear she is doing ok. Cant believe how hard it is to get a vet in London!!! Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Glad to hear she is doing ok. Cant believe how hard it is to get a vet in London!!! Michelle ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 WOW I had her gone! so pleased it has gone well, that is scarey through the wire! who'd have thought that, glad I have a walk in run already! You are having a rough trot too aren't you. iF THE SOUR CROP IS NOT TOO BAD, ORAL DAKTARIN about £4 from chemist 1 inch 3 times daily. might fix it. If it is bad it is really easy to get it out, so hopefully it is not bad enough. When it is REALLY bad just tipping the head down will make it pour out, Be careful you don;t want her inhaling it... Little goes is apparently better. I don't know how much is a good idea to empty I hope someone will tell yoiu then I will know for next time! which am hoping is never! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 (edited) have you looked on the rvs website? using the advance option for find a vet. depends where you are a little way out might even be easier. they list in nearest to you out etc. how awful for you I am so happy to have a wonderful vet in Surrey. Edited April 6, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Glad to hear she's OK . Sounds like you're giving her excellent care . Sorry to hear about your other girls too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Glad to hear she is doing ok. Cant believe how hard it is to get a vet in London!!! Michelle I have a vet at the bottom of my road - it's just he wont see chickens. Says "its not his expertise..." Ripped off wings are not my expertise either, but I still had to deal with it. I found their overall lack of helpfullness really distressing. Not everyone sticks to cats, dogs and rabbits! I did contact the RVS - couldn't find a vet specialising in birds anywhere near me. Even called the vet training hospital in London to no joy. You would have thought that they would want to train people in a different pet if they had the chance - but no! Anyway, don't get me started. I was a little stressed out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 WOW I had her gone! so pleased it has gone well, that is scarey through the wire! who'd have thought that, glad I have a walk in run already!You are having a rough trot too aren't you. iF THE SOUR CROP IS NOT TOO BAD, ORAL DAKTARIN about £4 from chemist 1 inch 3 times daily. might fix it. If it is bad it is really easy to get it out, so hopefully it is not bad enough. When it is REALLY bad just tipping the head down will make it pour out, Be careful you don;t want her inhaling it... Little goes is apparently better. I don't know how much is a good idea to empty I hope someone will tell yoiu then I will know for next time! which am hoping is never! Well I definitely can't make her sick, and she's running round the place, but she does have a very wobbly crop. I'll see the state of her crop in the morning, and if it is still wobbly will go and get the Daktarin. Do I have to chuck out the eggs if I put her on Daktarin? Can't tell which are her eggs, but happy to chuck all if I need to, if the Daktarin is going to work for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Well done keeping her healthy. Hope your others pick up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Good to heart that Babs is doing well. Dactarin gel, a pea sized blob into the beak 3 or 4 times a day for a week is useful in cases of sour crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 HasSumAmi, whereabouts in London are you? There are other Londoners on here, might be someone who can suggest a vet for a future occasion. I'm glad to hear she's recovered, it sounded so bad I wasn't sure she'd make it. You will come out of the other side of all this a much more experienced chicken-keeper! I've never had to deal with sour crop (touch wood), hope Bunty picks up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 no one has mentioned egg withdrawal, so am guessing not however mine were not laying whilst poorly. What part of London? It takes me 30 /45 mins to get to my good vet though an acceptable is nearer. London is only a half hur ish run from Surrey, but depends where you are as to whether that might be a future option. Is your girl poorly? If not you could try the dactarin. If she is wonder if you asked a vet for a particular drug they might give it to you. Vystatin suspension or Metronizadol are the 2 I know are prescrived for the sour crop. Oooo just thought. What about ringing Retfords for advice. Charges for testing very sensible AND they post meds out to you!!!!!! Would be another option Eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 So good to hear that your girl is recovering! Best wishes in dealing with the sour crop... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I will post this as a new topic so others see it, but there is a website 'findavet' where in the advanced search you can tick the box for finding a vet that treats poultry - it covers all vets in the UK and you can search by place name or postcode. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 Well Bunty's crop is half the size this morning so the garlic, live yoghurt or Apple Cider Vinegar seem to be working. Will be keeping a very watchful eye on her - and the rest of them... Thanks for the vet search site Taj. I had tried to use that previously. Problem I've had is that I typed in postcode etc and tick poultry, it returns a whole load of vets - but when you call them up, they say, "We don't do chickens". If ever I have an emergency situation again (pray not!!), I think I will just turn up and throw myself at their mercy.... Well - it's been a rather eventful couple of weeks. Rather too eventful. And I would like to return to boring very quickly... My poor youngest daughter is so terrified of the fox that she wont even go out into the garden at the moment, and sleeps every night in my bed, whilst I dream of chickens... The joys of chicken keeping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I'm glad Bunty is feeling better and that Babs has made a recovery. You must be feeling rather wrung out after the last couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 glad she is on the road to recovery, thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 sorry i missed this topic, i'm glad that she is on the road to recoverey. your lucky to have her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusieQ Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Hi The same thing happened to me last night - I was so lucky that I heard the racket, why did the silly girls come out of the Eglu? Am at the vets later today (first visit with a chook), though she laid an egg 2 hours later and was eating drinking and fighting for grapes this morning. Polly's wing is sort of hanging off a bit, but I think I managed to get there before too much damage occured. I'm so upset , (she is my favourite - a little egg machine). Will get some plastic coated mesh to cover the run I think, a good idea. Am worried as leaving the door open was our only option when going away for the weekend. I've got someone that can go up in the day, but it's too much to expect them to go up twice a day. Where did you get your Gentian spray from and what Rescue remedy did you use? Hope Bab's is well on the road to recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 So sorry to hear that, SusieQ . I hope the vet can make her better . You could try corrugated plastic sheets (B&Q about £6 each - you need 2 for an eglu run). That might give you more peace of mind (and keeps the rain off too!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 ANH Where did you find your bungees to hold it on? I can't find any long enough Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I got them from here. I bought a selection of sizes so you can mix them to get the right length. I liked that they are green and blend in to the run really well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzy Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I don't know if it is of any help as not sure where in London you are but if you are SWW London, my vet actually has chickens and touch wood mine haven't needed him yet, it's great to know he is round the corner and knows his stuff. He's in Hampton (near Twickenham/ Teddington area) and it's the Sherwood Veterinary Group. Poor cat goes to the vet and we end up talking about chickens, the cat is like. 'hello, I'm here, what about me?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusieQ Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 That's a really good idea and doesn't look obtrusive, we've a brain storming weekend to try and come up with something. Polly didn't come back from the vets, her wing was too badly broken and there was other damage to her side. I am so upset, I just didn't realise how much she meant to me, and she was my favourite, the garden doesn't look right without her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 So so sorry you lost her. It's amazing how they worm their way into your lives.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
