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

[lollyfry]

We've had our 1st ex-bats for just 2 weeks and they been fantastic but over the last few days on of the girls has been a bit 'quiet'. She is just standing around with her feather all puffed up (sorry, thats not a technical term but thats the only way I can think to describe it! I took a photo so you can see what I mean!

 

 

She is eating - not not as much as the others, occasionally pecking about but not for long periods and doesn't run to the front of the WIR for treat time like the other 3. They were all wormed last week so not sure what to do??!!

 

Thanks in advance for any help/advice as I'm really worried about her

Edited September 30, 2009 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

Did you use Flubenvet to worm them? If you used Verm-X I'd re do them with Flubenvet.

 

Have you checked her over for signs of lice and mites? They often have mites when they come out of the battery shed.

 

Does her chest sound wheezy or rattly when you place an ear along her back?

[Chunky_Monkey]

Hi,

 

Has she laid anything recently? One of my ex-batts looked like that and we think she was egg bound and/or had peritonitis. This article viewtopic.php?f=41&t=31430&view=unread#unread is very useful and we followed all the tips. Unfortunately this didn't help pass the egg, so we took her to the vets who gave her some antibiotics. Sadly, she died later on, but if your hen is egg bound, it can be fixed. Maybe have a feel under her vent to see if there is any egg. We sprayed some olive oil around her vent and gave her yogurt to help.

 

Hope this helps a little, but I'm sure some of the more experienced members of the forum will come along as well!

[lollyfry]

We've just been out and had a listen to her back and there is no rattles or wheezing. Also have checked them all for lice the other day and couldn't see anything. They were wormed with with flubenvet.

 

Also, None of the girls have laid anything for 2 or 3 days.

 

The weirdest thing is the constant fluffing up of her feathers, almost like she is trying to make herself look bigger or something

[Jools]

That's definitely a Not Happy stance. It could be that she's going through a bit of a laying crisis, maybe some softies in the pipeline, or egg bound. Keep an eye on her .... and what comes out the other end!

[cluckingmad]

Definately not a happy girl - that hunched, puffed up look is a chickens way of letting yuo know that they're miserable (good description by the way )

 

Just a thought, but one of our girls (Maggie) went like this the other week, so we brought her in - she was thin and her crop was empty so we fed her some warm porridge (made with water) with a few raisins in and she woofed it down... if your girl isn't easting as much then it may be worth a try bringing her in for some TLC - also has the advantage that you can give her a really good check over...

 

Best of luck x

[lollyfry]

Ok all you lovely people who have help so far - here is the update!

 

Marjorie (the poorly chook in the photo) spent the night before last in the garage with a hot water bottle and when she went back in with the others yesterday she looked a lot perkier. When we have come home today and look out into the run she is looking a bit 'hunched' up again.......BUT when we looked in the coop there was what can only be described as a softie!!.......but we can't be sure which one of the girls laid it

 

If it was Marjorie that laid the softie would it take a bit of time for her to get over it?? Could that explain why is still looking a bit out of sorts??

 

Sorry so many questions!!

[sandyhas3chucks]

If this helps,,, I have had girls take over a day to pass the softee. If she is not herself in the morning my advice would be to take her to a vet that is happy to feel inside & see if the shell part of the softee is stuck. They can often get it out fairly easilily.

The trouble is if it is left in it will quickly go bad inside & she will be very very poorly.(fataly so)

They often pass the remains overnight, you may find a lump that looks like chewing gum or a tiny thin long opaque baloon like thing. Or the others might have eaten it.

Either way you should see a perky chook in the morning or take a trip to a good vet.

Good luck

[cluckingmad]

am keeping fingers, toes and eyes all crossed for her - hope she perks up x