Angus Arran Chooks Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Have let the girls out to range as they have not been out now for a good few days due to various reasons. She is not doing chickeny things. She is just standing there almost moving in slow motion, no s"Ooops, word censored!"ing or pecking at the grass. She did lay an egg today - unless one of the others gave us two. All eggs were normal. Her eyes seem bright, I had a feel at her and nothing felt abnormal. I gave her a few drops of rescue remedy (not sure why now, I think I am panicking) and I am now worrying that I should have diluted it... The other 3 are running about scratching and coming when we go out. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I would examine her thoroughly. Is her crop OK....empty or full? Any signs of lice on her or evidence of mites in the housing? Legs OK? Any swelling in the abdomen? Does her chest sound rattly or wheezy when you place an ear along her back? Poos normal looking? Does her breath smell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Arran Chooks Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 OK Egluntine She is in the house right now for the first time. Her crop feels ok, pretty empty OH says. She has not eaten grass for a few days now Her legs are smooth and warm No evidence of lice or eggs under her feathers (checked right down to skin) Vent is free from any beasties, moist - quite a ruddy pink. Her saddle is mostly down and her poos are pretty runny - a mixture of clear, bubbly yellow/green liquid. Her back end is twitching Breath doesnt smell No rattling or wheezing when we listed along her back, but when we initially picked her up there was a slight wheeze On Sunday there was a monster egg, we thought that it might have been one of the older black rocks. this thing was huge - twice the size of our normal eggs. Could this have something to do with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 if her back end is twitching it's possible she is trying to pass something. Usually the vent only pulsates when they've just done a poo (or laid). Has she ever laid any soft eggs? what do you feed them? do they have free access to grit/oyster shell? do you feed them a lot of treats? how old is she? has she ever been wormed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 have you wormed her recently? Using Panacur or Flubenvet? Worms can make them miserable. An empty crop at night probably means she's unhappy, certainly, but as long as she's drinking then you can keep going until you find an answer. Try syringing fluids into her at least (and if you have or can get Avipro or Apple Cider Vinegar to mix in with the water, all the better). She'll cope without food longer than coping without water. Could you tempt her to eat porridge or tuna or - particularly lifting for a poorly hen - plain live yoghurt with some bokashi bran? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Could you check your pm's please? :D She could be having trouble either trying to lay another large egg, or passing a soft shelled egg. I would give her a calcium supplement such as Zolcal D to increase the strength of the contractions which push the egg along the laying tackle, and this in itself can help prevent the eggs becoming to large. Has she been wormed? Greenish poos can be a sign of internal parasites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 greenish poos can be a symptom of several things, it's undigested bile so if she's not eating much then the bile has nothing to 'digest' and is passed out in the droppings. It can mean worms but it can also mean other things so it's difficult to tell just from the green droppings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Arran Chooks Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 ok, shehad just done 3 watery poos in say 20 mins. they get layers pellets, they havnt had any treats in the last couple of days - that ii am aware of (kids party on Sat past) we never have had any soft eggs at all. Ginger is roughly 30wks old we mix shell through their food along with spice and garlic powder Wormed - not 100 percent sure. Breeder said she wormed hers only once a year, so dont know if she has been included... have put her back in the eglu with the others as she was just standing there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 once a year isn't really enough, they should be wormed every 4 months or so. If she's about 6 months old now then I'd worm them all with flubenvet. Keep a close eye on her and if there is any deterioration then I'd take her to the vet but I'd try worming her first, asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Arran Chooks Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Thanks eveyone for your help. Will organise worming asap. I will go now and leave you all in peace, thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 you're welcome, that's what we're here for, hope she gets better soon, let us know how you get on xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Based on what you say, I would certainly worm her. I'd use Flubenvet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Arran Chooks Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Just to say Ginger seems like a different bird today! ?? Doing chickeny things Very strange. I managed to get Flubenvet today and have started worming. How on earth do I weigh 1.2g though? Anj (much relieved) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I know some people don't agree with this method but I just dip half a grape in some powder, shake off the excess and give them half a grape each a day for 7 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I managed to get Flubenvet today and have started worming. How on earth do I weigh 1.2g though? Anj (much relieved) Approx a tsp to 4 kg of feed........which is more than she'll get through. Half a tsp to 2kg ir even 1/4 tsp to 1 kg. Treated food to be discarded after 7 days, and minimise treats so that they eat mainly the medicated feed. The manufacturers recommendation is that the Flubenvet is added to the food, so that the hen takes in the medication over the course of the day, and not all in one go, and gets the correct dose according to their age and weight. I tried the grape method once or twice and ended up with some overdosed hens and others untreated. Am pleased to hear that she is improving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
