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

[eggalp]

I thought grey was maybe moulting as she's been under the weather for a while. This morning i opened the poo tray and found this yolky mess -

 

 

anyone any ideas? She has been hunched for a few days now and yesterday was really off her food. She spent most of the day in her fave trug and i couldn't tempt her to eat anything - tried mealworms, grapes, cooked pasta, tuna, yoghurt, cherry toms - she didnt want anything

This morning i let them out and she came out slowly had a big drink, nothing to eat and has gone and sat in the nest. I am worried it maybe a broken egg inside her? I have phoned the vets but the chicken expert vet is on holiday until monday. I am booked in for monday morning but am concerned she wont last until then. What can i do to help her?

[Egluntyne]

Poor girl.....no wonder she felt off colour.

 

Something has gone wrong with the formation of this egg and passing a shell-less egg makes them feel very poorly as they get a kind of cramping sensation.

 

I would give her a calcium supplement and keep an eye that she doesn't show signs of having an infection in case any of the yolky mess is left inside her.

[eggalp]

Is this peritonitis egluntine? i have read so much about it recently - seems there are a lot of sick hens at the moment.

 

thanks again

[Budgies]

Is this peritonitis egluntine? i have read so much about it recently - seems there are a lot of sick hens at the moment.

 

thanks again

 

No, Eggalp, it's not peritonitis. She's laid a shell-less egg at the moment as Eglutine has said.

 

Peritonitis comes when they lay the egg internally and it doesn't go where it's supposed to - you don't ever see the yolk again.

 

I would recommend cutting back on any corn or treats if possible, give her the mash or pellets she normally eats, mixed with water to soften.

 

Zolcal-d is probably the best calcium supplement to give at the moment, it can be bought online or from pet shops specialising in caged birds or reptiles.

 

Failing that, limestone flour from horse suppliers and some cod liver oil. (Cuttle fish bone ground or grated is also good if you can't get limestone flour)

 

She does need to be watched for signs of further problems, but calcium should help her a lot - it not only increases the likelihood of her forming proper strong shells but increases her contractions so she can expel them easier.

 

Good luck

[eggalp]

thanks for the advice - im finding it difficult to give her anything at the moment as she wont eat or drink - i will keep trying. She is currently in the kitchen with a bowl of tuna, a bowl of mash potato with poultry spice, some squashed tomatoes, some grapes, some mealworms mixed in yoghurt and a bowl of Battles poultry drink - she hasn't touched any of it. Maybe i'll keep her inside tonight and see if i can tempt her with anything. Is there anything else i can try?

[sandyhas3chucks]

there may be a chewing gum shell to come still, maybe she will pass it overnight,

If so she will pop out as normal in the morning, sometimes it comes with the next egg or very near,

fingers crossed, mine never eat which is a pain as I try to give zolcalD to help contractions. And always drink lots with a softee

[Budgies]

thanks for the advice - im finding it difficult to give her anything at the moment as she wont eat or drink - i will keep trying. She is currently in the kitchen with a bowl of tuna, a bowl of mash potato with poultry spice, some squashed tomatoes, some grapes, some mealworms mixed in yoghurt and a bowl of Battles poultry drink - she hasn't touched any of it. Maybe i'll keep her inside tonight and see if i can tempt her with anything. Is there anything else i can try?

 

If she's really not taking anything you'll probably have to syringe some water into her to keep her hydrated. You can get a syringe at any chemist if you don't have one.

 

If she'll swallow, just shoot a little into the side of her beak. She'll swallow and it will go down.

 

If she won't take it, you'll have to prise her beak open, put the syringe right back into her throat as far as it will go (she has her windpipe openings at the back of her tongue so you don't want to flood those) and squirt a bit down her.

 

How's she doing?

[sandyhas3chucks]

sounds too like one of my old girls. Think it is a vet job

[eggalp]

Cheers for the advice Budgies, very much appreciated. She ate nothing last night - not sure if she ate in the day as im at work but i got home she ate nothing and went to bed at about 6.30pm.

I managed to get hold of some Battles Poultry Drink which is supposed to stimulate their appetite - i have put this in the glug this morning and when i let her out she had a massive drink of it - no food though, but hopefully this will make her eat. I have brought her some strawberries today from the market - so will try her on these when i get home! If she does stop drinking i will get a syringe and try that. Have got the vets on monday, just hope she will last till then

[Budgies]

Have got the vets on monday, just hope she will last till then

 

If she's not eating, I'd be tempted to mix up some very sloppy porridge with her pellets or meal and syringe a little of that down her tomorrow. They lose condition very quickly when not eating and at least you might help her make it through to her vet appointment.

 

Strangely it sometimes also stimulates their appetite a bit to have a bit of food in them.

 

Good luck with her Eggalp

[sandyhas3chucks]

My old head chook RIP when off her food could often be tempted by a live earthworm, however if she refuses the 1st one or so, don't give up as apparently some are desirable when poorly and others are not, so not all earthworms are the same(bit like chickens really )

As budhgie says sometimes once they have some they want more, well Meany was like that. I also tried some honey in her water , she seemed to like that!

[dave2500]

What was the outcome of the above please?

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[sandyhas3chucks]

well she was suffering from a very severe bacterial infection. for weeks, up and down, seemingly made complete recovery, them sucumbed.

wish I had sent poo sample to retfords sooner, she MAY have survived with right anti b's sooner OR I would have known sooner that there was not going to be a recovery.

Bright vivid yelow dihorrea on and off , depending on seeming recovery too. Like no photos posted ANYWHERE I could find, and never done on a position that I could get a good photo to post either.

I do wonder if had we carroed on & on with more worms , she may have had more strength, but vet thinks something inside her kept taking hold!

however eating did stimulate more eating!

[dave2500]

Cheers Sandy,

 

I have Beyonce booked in for 4.50pm to go to that chicken heaven..

 

Over 2 weeks now of similar situation.

 

Tuesday i was ecstatic... A normal egg and the girl was as mischievous as she always is... Full of life, and all over the place..

 

Wednesday, No egg... (No problem, she is a pet not an egg layer)

Yesterday no egg.. Again no problem.

 

This morning the remnants of a half eaten soft egg again, and she has stayed hunched up all day..

 

The bit I am really struggling with is why I feel so bad about it..

I have done all I can, but would gladly do more if only I knew what..

 

Missus is taking her up..

I can't do it...

 

Despearely looking for a last ditched find that i can say... "This is what it is"... She will get better and save her..

 

Gutted..

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear that, Dave . It sounds like the kindest thing so don't beat yourself up . (The vet might have another plan for a last chance treatment .)

[sandyhas3chucks]

Is she really that poorly?

they can get oer softee laying IF it is only that.

Don't forget mine had nasty bacterial infection.