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

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

My 2 year old ex bat since 8 April has been under weather. Now not eaten for 2 days. Is wormed. Been having Life Guard for 1 week, calcium and had a course of Baytril (seen vet). Standing with a rounded back when resting which is not normal. Tail up at other times.

 

Any hints I can suggest to the vet as they are not chicken experts. Bloods x ray etc.

 

Thanks

 

Joy

[Biker Betty]

is she a bit swollen anywhere underneath?

 

I hope your poor girl gets better soon - I have a poorly chook at the mo and know how worrying it is.

 

Keep us posted!

[Egluntyne]

Which wormer did you use?

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

They were wormed with Ivermectin about 6 weeks ago and 3 months before that, however because of the problems Thomas was having I bought some Flubernvet which they started yesterday - but after she had stopped eating. She doesn't appear to be swollen underneath and her vent looks normal, she's also not trying to lay.

 

The vet couldn't see anything obviously wrong with Thomas but agreed she was poorly, they have kept her in overnight and are planning to x ray her in the morning and take it from there. Helen the lovely receptionist who keeps chickens herself was settling her in and fed her some meal worms and was talking about bringing some maggots in for her tomorrow. They have started her off on Baytril too.

 

I got a call at 8.30 pm today saying she was eating OK at the moment so they'll assess her in the morning.

 

My other ex-bat who has a lovely red comb and face has always had white ears with a patch of red on, I noticed tonight that they are beginning to redden up so maybe they did have worms. I'll check in the morning and phone through to the vets if I think the one at home was infested.

[Hen Watch]

Sorry to hear she is still poorly Joy.

 

Fingers crossed and keep us posted with what the vet says tomorrow.

 

Regards

Katy

[Egluntyne]

Ivermectin is only a light wormer....it is much better for killing external parasites.

 

Flubenvet will give you much better results.

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

I had a call from the vet saying she had perked up and was eating well (meal worms and mixed corn) so I went to collect her and see how she went on.

 

She had started to have loose droppings this morning at the vets and they have given me some Baytril to go home with. However when I arrived home she had a quick walk round with her friend and has been stood hunched looking miserable really no different from yesterday. Can't tempt her with any food even garden worms. Made some porridge and she just looked at it. Her crop whilst it does have food in isn't as full as the other hen but I can see they have managed to get her to eat.

 

I gave her a dose of antibiotic and the second dose of Flubenvet and dashed back to work. She's now dropped quite a bit of weight.

 

Any clues?

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

She was no better today but had a full soft crop from Wed night, Thurs. I thought I'd ring Minster Vets (on the Omlet site as Chicken vets). I spoke to an Avian specialist vet who said to bring her in who examined her said her pelvis was open like she was trying to lay and diagnosed a stuck egg(s) and peritonitis in about 2 mins. She tested her poo (now very runny) but no worms, etc. She showed me how to empty her crop with paraffin. She hopes with the antibiotic the peritonotis will subside and she will start eating within a week and will hopefully pass the now solid offending egg material inside her with the help of the calcium supplement she has had. She showed me how to check her internally each day and remove any material.

 

Although she is no better yet it is such a relief to find out exactly what's wrong with her it was well worth the longer journey and I'll definately be taking the trouble to go to Minster again over a local vet.

 

My husband seemed less impressed with the price although I thought it was well worth the hour she spent with me and he'll be even less impressed when we discuss whether they'll be coming on holiday with us next week.

[Biker Betty]

I love the fact that you're thinking of taking them on holiday with you!!

 

I am envious of your vet - I have had the same problem and my vet wasn't half as helpful as yours - mine too is looking loads better following some antibiotics and I'm hoping she too will pass the egg - but its been nearly a week now - wich I had the know how to check the stuck egg every day like you.

 

And tell your husband, that hour spent with the vet will save you a fortune in the long run - you'll be able to diagnose and treat it much more quickly and easily in the future without the need to take them to the vet.

 

Hope she gets better soon and passes that egg - if you're anything like me, you're checking hourly to see if its come out yet!

 

If it's ok, I'd like to keep updated with this one so I can know how your girl gets on for a comparison with mine.

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

I've managed to help her pass what looks like a lump of liver - photo taken I'll try to set photo buckets up to show you. I know it's not advised to intervene too much but this is a hen that I nearly had PTS this morning and the vet advised and demonstrated to me how to clear out what was close to the vent. She is still looking hunched and the vet warned there may be a few more eggs in there but I'm feeling happier - better out than in!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sounds like a great vet to know . You sound like you're doing a sterling job . Fingers crossed things go well for her .

[Egluntyne]

Well done. Would be interested to see the pictures.

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

Unfortunately Thomas had a fit as I opened her beak to give her her Baytril before bedtime and died - it wasn't very peaceful but I think she was saying she had had enough.

 

Can't believe I started April with 3 hens and have only one now.

 

Hope all the other poorly hens at the moment pull through.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh no . I really thought she had a chance of recovering . I'm so sorry .

[Egluntyne]

Oh my word! I am sorry.

[Hen Watch]

What a shame..... sorry to hear that.

 

You've done a stirling job in looking after her though.