FoxFighters Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I was told by the lovely man who brought round our two girls that you could leave the door to the Eglu open at night (as long as it wasn't too extreme weather) and they would be fine. As I work nights sometimes I had noone to shut the door at bedtime so I chanced it. My looked at deaths door when I got back in the morning. The vet (an expert in cats only) wanted to put her down but I stuck by my guns and asked for wormers and antibiotics just in case. Anyway the chicken made a miraculous recovery a few hours later. It did have some antibiotics but I'm not sure if that was the cure, anyway........ I had to do the same last night (leave the door open) but we covered the run with plastic sheeting to minimise draughts etc. Things seemed ok when I got back this morning, but my is now showing similar symptoms as the day progresses. Both have fairly pale poos at the moment, and the floor of the Eglu was quite wet this morning so they must've been quite runny. Both were wormed after the visit to the vet. They are both free-ranging it in my garden during the day but it seemed to be a bit of a coincidence with the open door thing? I'm getting a bit fed up with it all to be honest! I suppose I'm just really worried that I'm doing my chooks some serious harm some where along the line? Hopefully will be fine in the morning (i've given her some antibiotics just in case) but has anyone got any clue????????? I certainly haven't! FoxFighter Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Please dont worry about the door - it isnt that at all i promise! I leave the door of my eglu open 9 months of the year and my girls are just fine. What diagnosis did the vet actually give? How long have you had your girls for and how old are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxFighters Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 Thank you for clarifying the thing about the door! The vet didn't actually give a diagnosis, I'm not sure he'd even held a chicken before. He said she had a temperature and was seriously thin!! She had been eating fine the day before and was and still is a perfectly normal size chicken!! We got the girls on the 7th April from Omlet, so POL is the best I can say. Just after the vet trip, the laid her first egg, but they are both laying fine now and have been an egg a day each for at least a week. The only common denominator I could find with it all was the door of the Eglu being left open?!?!? In case it helps, other syptoms include lethargy, eyes closing, not eating/drinking and in extreme cases shivering. The poo is very watery too. Fingers crossed the was better within 24hrs so hopefully will be ok in the morning? What do you think? Thanks for the advice though x FoxFighters Jackie and now Holly too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 The open door will not be the problem but I am not sure what is.... Is the watery poo any particular colour? (sorry!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxFighters Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 Thanks for that! I was nearly convinced they'd caught a chill! To start with (before got sick) they'd been doing those thick, smelly mustard coloured poos every now and then, which concerned me (but after reading some of the posts I realised they seem to come to all chickens from time to time!) When got poorly her poos were watery and white (maybe very, very pale yellow) and not very big. is doing the same poos now. I've just checked on them as they've gone to bed. is definately not quite right, though not as poorly as my was! Hopefully things will be OK in the morning!!! Thanks for replying FoxFighters J & H xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Newly arrived chickens often do strange poos for up to two weeks or so but don't usually have any other symptoms Let us know if no improvement in the morning Don't let it put you off, chickens aren't always ill or anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxFighters Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 Thanks ever so much Redwing!!! We will update you on the latest news tommorrow evening. Love FoxFighters J & H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Hi, my Omlet chooks did loads of squitty poos for a few weeks after they arrived and then it all settled down after that. The eglu door being open isn't the problem. In case it helps, other syptoms include lethargy, eyes closing, not eating/drinking and in extreme cases shivering. The poo is very watery too. Fingers crossed the was better within 24hrs so hopefully will be ok in the morning?What do you think? She may just be find tomorrow like your other chook. The closed eyes, not feeding, shivering is a bit concerning. Keep a close eye on her. And maybe you should ring Omlet to let them know since they are only newly arrived and I'm sure they would want to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newmarcell Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Hi, Do you think your chickens are being visited by a fox at night, which is scaring them? It seems a coincidence that your chickens are only ill when the eglu door is left open. Just a thought! Newmarcell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxFighters Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 Well, it's tomorrow evening now. didn't lay an egg today, and is still definately off colour. I rang Omlet as suggested and Gwen said it sounded like she'd eaten something that disagreed with her and to try Bio yoghurt and layers pellets mashed together. absolutely loved it, but she's not ill! Got 2 pecks out of , hopefully it should do some good. She seems to be drinking loads now, which she wasn't yesterday, maybe an improvement? Poo is still white and watery Have noticed she keeps fluffing up her neck feathers? her crop feels squidgy enough, certainly no bigger than the other ones. Hopefully, fingers crossed, please please please she will be better in the morning. FoxFighters x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxFighters Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Hooray! Have been to vets with . Convinced myself and daughter that this was the END! 1 dose of antibiotics later (approx 2 hrs later) was back to normal!!!! Vet (who was fab, highly recommended, knows his chicken stuff) said when chickens move from one place to another it takes them a while to get used to the new germs where they are living, plus the fact wild bird poo carries all sorts of germs. They are on antibiotics in their water for a week, but I'm soooo pleased she is well! laid a double yolker today!!! (can't eat it though due to antibiotics) If anyone lives in the East Sussex area I can more than recommend a vet, though not sure if I'm allowed to on this site??? Thanks to all who gave advice xxxxxxxxxx FoxFighters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Good news There is a section on here somewhere for chicken friendly vets, I think it might be in the Wikki section..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
