Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[buddoggy]

Hi All.

I hope someone can offer me some advice for my little ill chook as I am new to chicken keeping.

I have three Rhode Rocks,I have had them since mid July.Two are now laying but the third is yet to give it a whirl.

They have all been wormed approx two weeks ago and de-bugged too as I found lice on them.

Now the one that is not laying seems quite fed up and has been like this for a couple of days,no longer charging around the garden after one of the others who has found a grub!

I thought she was probably going to start laying but today I notice that she had some foam in the corner of both eyes.This looks clear just like bubbles ,both of her eyes look clear with no discharge.

The last two nights she has took to the roost early as well and when I went to check on her this evening the foam had gone but her nostrils looked runny

She is still pecking about the garden and wolfed the beansprouts down today but didnt really bother with the veggies and stuff that they had for dinner this evening.

She seems to be laying down more than the others too and today when she lay down she shut her eyes for a brief moment and I am sure her wattles under her ears went a different colour but she suddenly got up and they went back to pinky red again!

I picked her up today and she kind of whiffed a bit too,not like the normal chickeny whiff.

Would love some advice if anyone has any . I am looking to take her to the vets too ,anyone any experience with any west midlands vets.

xx

[sjp]

have a look at this page viewtopic.php?f=41&t=4447

I use Value Vets at Stone Cross West Bromwich 0121 5006451 ask for Alison she's not there every day she's not a poultry expert but she willing to treat poultry

[chelsea]

You can't be too careful with eyes IMO, so taking her to the vet is a good thing.

 

We've had a couple of eye problems in our flock and they have both required antibiotics usually in the form of Baytril. If the vet gives you drops and after a couple of days there is no improvement insist you have some Baytril. (drops did not work for our girls and sadly one lost their sight as a result of this)

[Egluntyne]

Foaming eyes can be a sign of a Mycoplasma infection.. I would take her to the vet to be on the safe side.

[buddoggy]

Hi Guys ,

Thanks for the replys.

 

When I let them out this morning there was no sign of the foam in the eye so, so far I have seen it only once,do you think it might have been something she ate?

I sat and watched her for a bit while in the run and she is still drinking and eating the layers ok too.I have let them out this afternoon and it does seem as though she has a cold as every now and them I can see that she has watery nostrils and she will shake her head to get rid of it.......hasnt stopped her scoffing a handful of corn though while I had a good look at her!

 

She does seem brighter today,at the moment she is digging all the pebbles out of the soakaway in between coming in and out of the kitchen.She also seems more vocal today....good or bad sign or what ????

 

Have managed to pick her up once today and had a quick sniff at her ,still whiffs a bit but to be honest she doesnt let me pick her up that often not like the fat one in the group does( is that just because she cant get away as quick lol!) so not really sure if thats "her smell",smells a bit fishy but havent noticed this with my fat one but I am going to get hold of them later and see what they all smell like,the things you do eh?

 

Do you think I should still book the vets or what she is like tomorrow?

Cheers Guys

xx

[-sarahjayne]

Hi

 

I had exactly the same problem with 2 chooks on the first week I had them. At first only one, Lottie, had it. So I bought some citricidal as the eye was only once or twice but the runny nose constant, it cleared it up for about a day but it didn't work for long.

Lottie went down hill very quickly despite seeming better one day, but worse the next so we took her back to the breeder.

 

We then spotted Rhonda with the symptoms so took her straight to the vet fearing she would end up like Lottie (roosting all day, no eating or drinking, no moving, miserable)

The vet said it was an upper respiritory infection, she was given 5 days Baytril course and made a full recovery.

 

It really is worth, from my experience, nipping this in the bud now.

[Chucky Mama]

I would advise a trip to the vets today if possible. It sounds a bit suspect plus the last thing you want to happen is to need the vet over the weekend (pricey!)

[buddoggy]

Hi All,

Thanks again for all your replys.

 

Could`nt get Chop socky into the vets yesterday but they managed to get her in this morning.I think I paid a bit extra for a Saturday appointment but I dont really know,came to £23.70 in all but a least he never gave me some cock and bull story about needing to do this and that and charging the earth for it.

Anyway as you all knew he would (clever lot!)he gave me Baytril to give her for 5 days but he has said there is more than a five day course in the bottle so I suppose if any of the other two show any symptoms I could get them started on it until they get a vets appointment.

 

She looks about the same today as yesterday so at least thats something and she looks no worse ....still eating and drinking too which is the main thing and no more foamy eyes either.

 

So fingers crossed she will start to improve now but I am not looking forward to having to dose her twice a day but I imagine she will like it even less!

 

By the way do you think its worth topping them all up with that citricidal stuff?

 

Cheers guys

xx

[sjp]

easiest way is to put on with her favourite treat just enough to hid the med in I found sultanas worked also used chick crumb or ground up pellets but thet weren't to sucessful then catch her so you can feed her on her own

[buddoggy]

Hi All,

 

SJP,took you tip and tried the beansprouts cos they are mad for them.We poked holes all down the shoot and coated them with the Baytril and it worked a treat ....thanks!

 

She looks a lot better today ,seems more lively I thought maybe it was just me with wishful thinking but my other half reakons she seems it to so we will have to see.

Great stuff anyway feel pretty relieved today about it all .

 

xx

[buddoggy]

Hi Guys ,

Just a quick line to say thanks if anyone who replied is about.

Chop Socky looks great and seems back to her normal self

No more lying down all the time and really lively,I am so pleased.Chucky chan started to have a runny nose so before it proggressed any further I started her on the Baytril too (only downside to that I have lost the eggs from her as only her and Chick P lay at the mo) but she no longer seems to have a runny nose but still has a couple of days left on the med so will see it out.

But thanks guys ,glad I listened to all the good advice.

xx

[Egluntyne]

That is good news.

[sjp]

pleased it worked for you

egg withdraw is a pain especially when they Decide that it time to lay every day for most of the 28 days then when you can start useing the eggs again it time for a brake