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

[Fourbecameeight]

I hope there is someone who can help

 

Snowflake was showing signs of illness yesterday, I thought she had a softee coming because despite being on ex-batt food and limestone flour she does suffer with them. She went to bed early in the nest box last night and I thought she would be okay by morning.

 

This morning she didn’t come out of the nest box. I offered her some water and she drank quite a bit. She still was showing no signs of improvement and a small amount of egg white came out of her vent.

 

I moved her inside with a animal heat pad, some wheatabix and water. She has been very quiet today she has eaten some grapes and drank some more but hasn’t eaten anything else.

I suspect that the egg maybe broken inside her. She hasn’t pooed all day so she is well and truly stuck.

 

I have just given her a warm bath but nothing shifted. Also her crop feels very squishy, is that because she hasn’t eaten much or is it another problem?

 

Is there anything else I can do before the vets open tomorrow morning?

 

Do I put her back in with her sisters for the night or is it better to keep her inside?

 

I hope someone can help, why do these things always happen at the weekend.

[Patricia W]

I hope someone comes along to help soon. I'll bump this up for you

 

Tricia

[Fourbecameeight]

I have just checked on her, she is stood up but looks hunched and her tail is down. She is a lovely chicken and my daughter special one. I just feel so helpless.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear about Snowflake . It sounds like you're doing all you can - I don't know what else to suggest . I would keep her indoors if I were you and hope for the best when you get her to the vets.

 

(A full crop does feel squishy (but not liquidy) and kind of grainy (like a beanbag) so it may be normal.).

 

Keep us posted when you've been to the vet .

 

(Someone else may have some better advice!)

[Fourbecameeight]

My daughter is just feeding her some rice with peas and sweetcorn left from the childrens tea and she is tucking in, she has even walked towards the bowl.

[Fourbecameeight]

She is still with us but looks very sorry for herself. She has had a drink this morning and eaten corn, meal worms and tuna.

 

I had to beg the vet for an appointment and said it couldn’t wait for tomorrow and they have squeezed us in at 12. Fingers crossed he can do something.

 

A bit more egg white came out of her vent this morning so I think the egg must have burst so I don’t want to do anything that could make her worse.

 

My daughter didn’t want to go to school this morning but I have explained to the teacher. I am hoping for a happy out come at the vet then I can go into school during lunch and tell her. Bad news can keep until home time.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's good you've got an appointment . Fingers crossed for her . Let us know how you get on.

[Fourbecameeight]

Back from the vets, he didn’t think she had an egg stuck and couldn’t feel anything.

He gave her an oxytocin injection just encase.

 

He said some diarrhoea can be jelly like. He also gave her an injection of baytril and a 5 day course. So I hope she picks up soon.

 

Could be something she’s picked up from the wild birds? I do keep the run and cube as clean as I can and use all the right disinfectants. I was on the internet last night ordering AviPro and Zolcal D my OH wishes he was treated as well as the chickens.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Well, I suppose that's good news . Let's hope the medication does the trick .

 

Do you give her Bokashi bran?

[Fourbecameeight]

I do give them Bokashi bran and I have purchased most other supplement mentioned on omlet. I did think we would have problems with the ex-batts and wanted a full chicken cupboard so I could give them the best. I didn’t think it would be little snowflake that would be ill.

[cluckingmad]

Poor little soul, you're doing all the right things though, fingers crossed she rallies - it's a good sign that she's showing interest in food, a fair bit of fusss problably wouldn't go amiss too

[Fourbecameeight]

I am hopeful, she has had some more to eat (hand fed by my daughter) and is have a little wander around the garden closely supervised.

 

I think I will keep her inside again tonight and see how she is in the morning.

 

There is a funny smell I am not sure if it is just having a chicken inside or an ill chicken. I hope no one comes round or they are going to think I am losing the plot.

[cluckingmad]

Fear not, my family/friends are quite used to coming round to ours to see hens wandering in and out, or sitting on the cats favourite chair

 

And if it makes you feel any better, we currently share our front room with the 4 babies, currently in a rabbit cage, sitting on the coffee table