Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Sal119]

I've just been reading all your posts. I do hope she returns from the vets ok. One of mine is poorly at the moment with an eye infection. We had some eye drops for her but they don't seem to be working and she's not eating well, so know how you feel . Hope it's good news later for you.

[Lizzie]

thank you for your message

I hope your little chook picks up too

Does she not want to eat anything ? how about some weetabix or something similar ? Mine love cooked basmati rice. Good luck

[Sal119]

Thanks. I tried some porridge with some meal worms in this morning to tempt her but she wasn't that bothered, although did eat little bit. After reading that they like Weetabix I think I'll go out later and try her with some. I fear I may be back up the vets again tomorrow ......

[sandyhas3chucks]

good luck Lizzie, well chook really, all fingers crossed, you tried all you could 1st, I have seen a few posts about succesful block removal opps. one had bits of conveyer belt(from the battery! ) made a good recovery...

We can all just hope for the best outcome.

Thinking of you! x

[Olly]

Oh, fingers crossed for her, she sounds as if she's still got lots of spirit left in her. Hope it can be sorted out.

[Lizzie]

Latest from the Flo front :

She is continuing to have her crop flushed as the hard lump has not gone yet. The vet cannot do key hole surgery on her crop yet as it looks too red / bruised and thinks it will lead to problems healing wise. New feathers have never grown on her crop area.

 

I have just called again and am told that she is very bright and amusing the staff there, chatting away and taking treatment well.

 

Tomorrow, the vet will call me to update again, but anticipates to be able to do the camera work in the morning. He thinks she has a partial blockage but obviously he needs to clear this and find out the cause.

 

The other three are fine though am sure Wilma misses her as they are very close

 

Anyhow, I remain optimistic and know they are looking after her

 

Regards

Liz

[Sal119]

So nice to hear she's bright and breezy! Was wondering how she was getting on. Glad she's being well looked after and hope they sort her out for you.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I am so so pleased it is sounding good if she is chatting. I was looking for an update.. won't be able to see now till Sunday aft.

[Olly]

Oh, poor Flo - still it sounds as if she's quite enjoying herself! Hope they can find out what's blocking it.

[Plum]

Keeping all fingers crossed for a good outcome for you.

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear about everything poor Flo is going through. FIngers crossed for you.

[Lizzie]

Well, Flo is home. I picked her up on Saturday evening but only managed to have a proper chat with the vet last night hence the delay in updating.

 

Basically, it is her crop muscles which are the problem; a viral infection would have effected the nerve endings in the crop muscles therefore causing the crop not to function properly. Other than that, there is nothing untoward going on (ie tumors, blockages). This causes them to stop eating.

 

So, we had two options, a) to put her to sleep there or b) treat her twice daily with metoclopramide. I have opted for b) and so far things are good. We have no way of knowing how long she will respond for, but as soon as her crop becomes impacted and doesn't repond to treatment, she will be PTS.

We are going to be using the syrup format and this drug stimulates the muscles to work again. Flo didn't have any of this drug over the weekend and though she did have a small lump in the morning, by evening, her crop felt fine.

I haven't got the syrup yet as it had to be ordered but the vet has made me up a crushed tablet version which she started last night. So far, so good. She is also continuing metacam for anti inflammatory purposes / pain relief whilst she gets over this episode in full.

 

Is it the right thing to do? I know its not ideal and perhaps you would have chosen option a), but plenty of animals and humans are on medication every day and I just feel that as long as she is happy, eating, drinking and enjoying herself, then why should she not be around for as long as possible

 

This morning, before I left for work, she did her first solid poo whilst free ranging since the beginning of June ! She was also just going up to the nest.

 

So, finally I know what is wrong, I know the outlook is bleak, but at least I am hoping she can have a few more weeks happy and finally feeling better than she had been over teh past month.

 

Thanks to all that have given such valuable advice

 

Best wishes

 

Liz

[Lizzie]

PS - vet advised not to let her stuff herself full of food so treat wise, she has watery shredded wheat or weetabix, cooked rice etc but not tonnes at a time.

I have also been mixing up ex batt crumb with water / poultry spice etc to make a cake mixture consistency and she is enjoying this as well as normal mash and dry crumb.

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh well that is a little good a little not so good, but like you say you know what is happening and hopefully can treat as best you can.

Sounds like for now all is good. Really glad.

[Olly]

Glad you've got an answer, unfortunately once their crop muscles go there's not much that can be done. For me the question is always 'has this animal got any quality of life' - sounds as if Flo is still enjoying herself, so that's the answer.

 

If the moment comes when she's not, well at least you will know you did everything you possibly could for her. I hope she has a good summer and is able to spend time doing normal chickeny things.

[Budgies]

It's always such a difficult decision.

 

It sound as though you're doing all you can for her.

 

Personally I would keep an eye on both her weight and her general condition (by which I mean the glossiness of her feathers, the brightness of her eyes and the pinkness of her face). Those would be indicators that things weren't great.

 

Good luck with your wee girl, hope she continues to do well.

[beach chick]

sounds like you've all been through the mill; but as long as she is happy then that's great. the moment she's not right you'll know....

(I think a kind death is one of the greatest things you can give a much-loved pet, a hard decision to take but I do think you always know)

[Lizzie]

We will monitor Flo very carefully, think I will do weekly weigh in's

Her face and comb are a beautiful red so that has been another reason for me persuing the cause of her illness.

If she starts to decline, we will say our goodbyes

 

On a happier note, we have had Barbara and Dorothy just over a year now (19.07) and touch wood, they are both still going strong.

 

Regards

Liz

[sandyhas3chucks]

ah bless! I only looked at your signature with that comment, you haven't had Flo long.., how sad, but she is being loved and cossetted... A fitting way for an ex bat to spend their days, no matter for how long.I just looked to see exactly where you are to.

Do/did you go to the Avian specialist at Horsham?

I am sure you will know when it is time now, as you say bright red perky eating enjoying life.

Once again good luck.

Sadly your experience is too late for the other chook, similar problems different root cause, different vet, different ideas!

[Lydia]

Hi Lizzie

 

Sorry to hear about your ordeal with Flo.

 

We had a similar dilemma last year with Brian who needed weekly injections to keep her going. We knew she wasn't going to last long but she seemed perky enough in between the injections, dustbathing, eating and drinking and sunbathing etc. Our decision meant she enjoying an extra 6 weeks of freedom.

 

She let us know when it was time to stop.

 

It's always a tough decision and I wish you (and Flo) all the best.

[Plum]

I would choose the same path as you. You will know when the time is right and when her quality of life deteriorates. Enjoy your time with her while she is well and come on here to talk.

Don't be hard on yourself if you choose to end things sooner than later. You will be doing it to prevent her suffering. Hugs x

[Lizzie]

Thanks everybody for your support.

The hardest thing is that we are going away for a few days on Friday, we pay for a lady tol come and stay at our house and look after the animals 24/7 but not sure how she is with administering chook medicine. Anyhow, have enlisted the help of neighbours and my mum who is a dab hand so she will get her medication one way or another.

 

Sandy, I take my chooks and cats to the vets at Colgate - new vet there particularly good with chooks (I think he is anyway)

 

I will update again if any news

 

Best wishes

Liz XX

[Sal119]

All I can say is how nice that Flo's had a happy little life, whatever the outcome. Best of luck to you and her

[Lizzie]

We very sadly had to have little Flo put to sleep on Saturday - even until we took her to the vets, she was enjoying a dustbath but her weight had dropped and her crop was getting hard in the mornings again. The evening before she had drunk so much water she had made herself sick. Little Flo was 1 kilo less than Wilma who we got at the same time. We wanted to her to go whilst there was some dignity left. We buried her with two red gerenium flowers to match her beautiful red comb. We miss her terribly after six weeks of intensive care and hoping that she would make it. Little Wilma seems a bit lost without her again but we are making extra fuss of her (more than usual !)

 

Thank you all for the advice and help along the way

 

Best wishes

 

Liz

 

 

p.s Flo responded very well initially to the syrup rather than the crushed tablet mixture.

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.