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

[saracook31]

My Speckledy which I've written about in a previous post who hasn't been laying for months, is now looking a bit off colour.

 

She's gone really quiet and been hunched up on a perch outside most of today, I haven't seem her eat or drink when I've been there. Shes starting to lose feathers so thought maybe it was a moult. But she keeps scratching her neck and head and opening and closing her beak and looks likes she swallowing alot.

 

Shes curled up in the nest box now, and her breathing seems more obvious than normal and her chest is moving more than the others seem to. I've checked her vent and all looks ok.

 

Any ideas what it could be? Or how I could perk her up a bit?

 

Sara

[chelsea]

It could any number of things . Hunching sometimes is caused by an infestation of worms so if you haven't wormed your girls recently I would recommend a course of Flubenvet.

 

It may possibly be a soft shelled egg on the way......a hen who has one on the way is often quiet, dazed, very distant and not interested in food or water immediately put in front of her - after the soft shelled egg has been laid the hen should return to normal.

 

I would also give the once over for lice/mites etc.

 

If you have eliminated all of the above and she still appears poorly/going downhill I would advise a trip to the vet, she does sound poorly and her retiring to the nestbox now is not a good sign I'm afraid.

 

Hope she picks up soon.

[Hen Watch]

As Chelsea says there are so many symptoms that can be due to any number of problems.

Worms, softie egg and lice already mentioned.

 

Does she have a swollen abdomen? As an ex batt she might be like my girls recently who had sterile peritonitis or even some other underlying cause like tumours which could cause respitory problems? My vet prescribed antibiotics to help alleviate this.

[saracook31]

They've beeen wormed recently and can't see signs of any of the above. She hasn't laid since March so wouldn't have thought it was a softie.

 

If she's still quiet in the morning I'll try ringing the vet. Not a clue where to start though, in Ipswich and haven't seen any chook friendly vets advertised near by...

[Olly]

You could look at the Find a Vet site, or you could just ring round a few local ones and ask if they'll treat chickens.

[saracook31]

I'm wondering if its sour crop?!

She felt a bit puffy but when tipped up and massaged today a little but not alot came out! Was a browny/green colour, didn't really notice the smell.

Shes still very quiet and losing feathers so think I'll have a look in the morning and ring the vet. Its hard not really knowing her age, she could be older than we think and am worried she could be near the end...

[Egluntyne]

You mention her breathing sounds a little odd. Does she sound rattly or gurgly? She could have a chest infection or something similar. It might be worth taking her to the vet.

[saracook31]

Haven't noticed anything like that. Also when I saw her droppings today it was mainly water with some white bits...

[Egluntyne]

I'd worm her with Flubenvet, and if there is no improvement after that, I'd take her to the vet.

[saracook31]

Took Bee to vets yesterday.

 

He didin't give a diagnosis, but mentioned her crop being full and otherwise looked ok. He gave her an anti inflammatry and antibotic jab, which seems to have perked her up a bit and seems to be eating better now. Still feeding her some natural yoghurt to help crop.

 

Tbh i half expected to come home without her, I've kept her seperate until now but just put her back in & all is calm which is a relief!

 

one thing i have noticed more now though is her scratching her ears alot?! Anyone know why this could be?

 

[saracook31]

Its a miracle!!

 

Aswell as this post about Bee being poorly, u may have seen the post about her not laying an egg in 6 months!

 

Well.. after looking a bit better after her tlc and two weeks after thinking she was moulting (no tail feathers left) , she's laid two eggs in two days! And seems very happy with herself! Even been singing and talking away instead of her grumpy little moans at me!

 

So the eggs are small but even so i'm amazed!!

 

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Well done Bee!

 

Sha x

[gazzagerkin]