Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[LongbowGeorge]

Hi, I'm a newbie to the chook world got som ex batts and an eglu.

Mine are fine but a pal of mine has asked me to post for one of hers.

 

She has Pekin Bantams 2 @26weeks and 2@22weeks. A couple of them have com into lay in the last week (not sure which pair). One of them has developed a worrying head shake. She has only just started it and it is like she is trying to flick something off her comb and and has been doing it constantly since last night.

 

Everything else about her appears fine no odd behavior or sign of mites or creepy crawleys about the head or body. She does have a slight bare patch under her chin and her comb is a little pale compared to the others.

 

Anybody got any suggestions for what it might be?

 

Thanks greatly

 

George

[Egluntyne]

Maybe an ear infection or ear mites? Might be worth it being taken to the vet for a look see.

[LongbowGeorge]

Thanks greatly, she's booked in for an excotic vet tonight, hope it's nothing serious.

[Bondinho]

That can be sign of mycoplasma I believe, but if there are no other symptoms like bubbles in eye/nostril, sneezing, rattley breath then it most like is not that.

[LongbowGeorge]

Hi See below update from my pal.

A tough visit to the vet, but hopefuly on the mend.

Best

George

 

Update

 

Olive, seemingly unaware of her predicament, sung her way through the vets waiting room, which was nice but rather embarrassing.

 

She has no external parasites, not even scaly leg mite which I thought all my girls had – I now have an abundance of Vaseline!

 

Her weight is good and no visible ear, nose, throat, breathing or eye infections.

 

She does keep shaking her head though and she has a bald patch under her chin. Something is bothering her but it is difficult to say what.

 

The Vets best guess is a parasite or infection that has actually got into the skin or the very early stages of an inner ear infection.

 

Treatment – two injections at the vets today (Panomed & Voren) and antibiotics (Baytril) down the throat twice a day for a week.

 

Obviously can’t eat Olive’s eggs until 7 days after antibiotics finish.

 

It’s a best guess but we hope this should sort it.

 

There is a lesson here though - It is not easy taking a chicken to the vet and whilst on the table we very nearly lost Olive today, she went limp and blue for a while, then closed her eyes. Distraughtly I poked and shouted at her so much so that thankfully she came back. The vet said it was likely shock.

 

Vets are traumatic for girls and I recommend only as a last resort.

 

Thanks for all your support

 

Difficult day

[Daphne]

well lets hope that intervention from the vet has done the trick

 

I'd just like to reassure anybody who hasn't taken a bird to the vet that its not usually like that in terms of the effect on the bird. Sometimes a hen might be so ill or nervy that she does expire, but in the vast majority of cases nothing like that happens. I know most of us don't put our girls thru the experience of transport and examination without good cause. My vet has saved the life of at least one of my girls (and probably 3) via interventions and so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you go when necessary.

[LongbowGeorge]

Absolutly agree... a vet visit is not to be avoided if your girl is in distress, does not respond to treatment or you can't identfy the exact nature of the problem. Just sharing the experience for the benfit of the list. I'll post an update on how Olive gets on.

Thanks to everybody who contributed, the forum is a wonder of information and everybody is so very nice and helpful, it's very reassuring for us newbies.

[Hen Watch]

Treatment – two injections at the vets today (Panomed & Voren) and antibiotics (Baytril) down the throat twice a day for a week.

Obviously can’t eat Olive’s eggs until 7 days after antibiotics finish.

 

Glad to hear that she's got medication now to hopefully help. Just wanted to say my vet gave my chicken a Baytril injection on Monday plus Baytril to give her orally every day. But I was told egg withdrawal was one month (since it is not licenced for poultry) .......? Might be different for me as mine he had a Baytril injection plus extra orally but just thought I would raise this in case you wanted to check with your vet on egg withdrawal.

[sandyhas3chucks]

My goodness mine would all be dead by now if the vets trip so traumatic, I delayed taking one for 2 days but only because she was so badly bruised the 40 min drive would have hurt & I had pain medication to give her. When I opened the basket the little love had laid an egg, not soft that a real stressed girl might a beautiful egg. I been back and forth to the vet this year I thought it might just be easier to move nearer or marry him! If anything with my 2 recent loses I would say, don't put it off. JUST GET HERE!

[chelsea]

 

 

 

Vets are traumatic for girls and I recommend only as a last resort.

 

 

I afraid I disagree. If any animal needs veterinary attention then so be it. My lot from the biggest oldest hen to the teeniest "scardey cat" hen have all been good as gold at the surgery. My old gal Ella didnt even flinch when the vet had hold of her intestines!

 

Taking another hen along for company is a good idea and we always carry a pocketful of raisins for distraction

 

I am glad your girl is sorted and lets hope she is back to her normal self soon.