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

[GeorgieB]

I have a poorly ex-batt The first noticeable thing was that her poohs are a kind of orangy yellow and smelt quite badly but since Monday she has been hardly eating anything (even mealworms which the rest all love). Her tail is not as upright as before, she is a bit hunched looking, standing still a lot, sleeping a fair bit and then going to bed early. When she does move its very slowly.

 

She is still drinking which is a good sign and has had a course of Flubenvet (her last day of it was last Sunday). I have checked her crop in the morning which feels empty and then during the day and before bed (which feels just soft, unlike the other hens where you can feel food inside). I also felt her near her vent to see if I could feel an egg (in case she is egg bound as I don't think she's laying) but only feel a long hard ridge, which feels like a bone. She didn't feel hot but she's clearly underweight.

 

I thought she might have Blackhead as I read a posting on the Omlet forum about smelly yellow poohs and she has some of the other signs (looks depressed, not eating much, darkened/ blue tinged comb) but her poo isn't foamy (more creamy and more of an orangy yellow) and it doesn't have any specks of blood in it.

 

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions I'd be really grateful. I would rather not go to the vet (if I can help it) as it cost us £180 last time we had a poorly hen (which died despite seeing 3 different vets- one being an expert) and we don't have much money at the moment.

[Hedgehog]

Try the BHWT (Battery Hen welfare trust) web site - they might be able to advise you. I've found them very useful in the past as my hens are ex bats, and thankfully, very healthy.

[GeorgieB]

Hi Hedgehog,

 

Thanks for your message. I emailed them earlier (as it was after office hours) and waiting to hear back. I just thought I'd ask on here as well as there seems to be a lot of helpful people on here.

 

Her poohs seemed to have changed now into slurpy green/watery with a bit of yellow. So I'm even more puzzled now.

[Olly]

Sorry, no real ideas - it could be so many things. Unfortunately sometimes there isn't a lot you can do and as you've already found to your cost, not much a vet can do either.

 

Can only suggest the usual things - keep her separate if it seems appropriate to do so, try and get her to drink, or feed wet things like cucumber to keep her hydrated, and see what happens.

[Egluntyne]

Blackhead is quite unusual in chickens, even though they can be carriers and will pass it on to Turkeys.

 

The poos are a striking bright yellow.

[jos]

Hi Georgie,

 

When one of my ex batts had odd poo I sent a sample to Retford Poultry (retfordpoultry.co.uk), on the kind advice of Sandyhas3chucks, and they did a test on the poo and then sent the relevant medication, for a very reasonable price. I am glad to say she is still alive.

 

Fingers crossed for your liitle chicken

 

J

[GeorgieB]

Thanks for the replies. Her poo has gone back to being orangy yellow again but she does seem to be a little more active today. I doubt it's blackhead then if you say the poohs are bright yellow Egluntine - thanks for that.

 

Thanks for the advice of sending her poo away to be tested jos - great idea! I will definitely be looking into that.

 

I took her to one side yesterday evening and gave her some rice and cheese. She only ate a couple of teaspoons but better than nothing. I will offer her some porridge and honey in a bit and hope she will eat a little of that too.

[Snowy]

Always worth trying the live yoghurt/avipro in case it is a gut problem Isolate her for a short time and see if she will guzzle down the yoghurt with some raisins and mealworms. Also see if she will take some water, dose it with some poultry tonic. Sometimes they just need a bit of time out and feeding up a bit to help them on the road to recovery. Hope she perks up soon

[GeorgieB]

Hi Snowy,

 

I tried her on some live yogurt earlier, mixed with a bit of honey and bran flakes (that has been soaked to make them soft) but she wasn't interested unfortunately. The only thing she is eating a little of is cheese and a bit of rice.

 

Does anyone know of a liquid food that I could syringe into her?

 

I have been putting ACV in the water though in case it helps. There is also another drinker with poultry tonic in and another with a calcium supplement, so she has the choice. I'm pleased to see she is drinking well anyway.

 

I don't know if this is something I should sort out at the vets but I have noticed that the lower part of her beak is longer than the top and it looks like it's making a significant difference to her being able to eat enough. It takes her about 10 pecks to eat one grain of rice! I'm sure it's easier for her to eat the layers mash but still...not nice to see her struggle with treats while the others just wolf them down.

 

Unfortunately I have noticed another hen looking poorly now and she won't eat anything I offer. Hope it's just a 24 hour thing.