3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[gaynorharris]

Hi

 

I desperately need some advice - opened up the chickens this morning and one of our ginger girls seems under the weather.

 

I have brought her in the kitchen and she is drinking but not eating (very unusual) her poo is runny, her vent is dirty. She is standing still and her eyes keep closing. She seems quite thin when I picked her up.

 

Advice needed asap as I'm very worried.

 

[Plum]

I'm sorry, how worrying it could be anything worms or infection. As she is so poorly I would take her to vet for antibiotics. Perhaps you can look at their poos for any signs of worms.

Avipro, a probiotic powder is good for adding to water/food to help stabilise the gut. It's good she is drinking.

 

Hope she picks up.

[legend21]

Could she just be going to lay a softee, mine sit very still huddled and sometimes feathers fluffed, if I see any of them like that I bring them in and when the softee has passed they are fine again.

 

J

[gaynorharris]

Just been to the vets - she couldn't see anything specific and has given us some antibiotics (should be fun trying to get them down!!). Her back end is sore and she is quite skinny, so are going to have to seperate her from the group and fingers crossed she will get better.

 

We will worm all of them as well.

 

Gaynor x

[Plum]

When I had antibiotics for my girl I wrapped her up in a towel and gave them by syringe to begin with but I read some stuff and it said it was proven that they work better taken through the day in water. You said she is still drinking so that may be best for her.

 

I found that sudocrem worked for sore bum (chickens not mine) but others have been recommended. You can give her a wash in warm soapy water, rinse well and blow dry with a hairdryer. Surprisingly they seem to enjoy it.

 

Best of luck

[Egluntyne]

I'd worm her after the antibiotic course is finished so as not to overpower her with medicines.

 

Bokashi bran is useful for firming up runny poos. Why not add a spoonful to her pellets.

 

If she isn't too keen on eating, she might be tempted if you mix her pellets with warm water and make a sloppy 'porridge'.

[Tutti Frutti]

When Penny was ill, I gave her mealworms - her favourite. I was desperate to re-awaken her appetite and it worked - she ate them like crisps! I figured something was better than nothing and at least they are high in fat and protein. She also like tomato - but I kept that to a minimum as not much nutritional value. Pasta worked as well.

 

Good luck, hope she perks up soon.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I prefer the dose directly to the chicken, yu know sjhe has had the right dose.

My vet and someone high up in veterinary pharm says most antibiotics are best as straight doses.

[Plum]

Not disputing it but just showing you evidence I found. Page 3 right hand chart shows continuous versus pulsed Baytril i.e. in water versus straight doses.

 

http://www.poultry.baytril.com/index.php/fuseaction/download/lrn_file/ChickenRespi.pdf

 

I found she wasn't drinking so gave it by syringe. Worked anyway

[sandyhas3chucks]

Not disputing it but just showing you evidence I found. Page 3 right hand chart shows continuous versus pulsed Baytril i.e. in water versus straight doses.

 

http://www.poultry.baytril.com/index.php/fuseaction/download/lrn_file/ChickenRespi.pdf

 

I found she wasn't drinking so gave it by syringe. Worked anyway

Well that's the point isn't it Plum, it is all very well them doing the trials and even some places recommending it, but it assumes the sick chook is drinking and regularly.

As you and I have found this isn't often the case, and so often people reprt that their chook isn't getting any better and it is often, I have noted been put in the water.

I queried it as it seemed an inaccurate waty of dosing, when we are always tld complete the course at the right dose, just seems too hit and miss.

I guess my vets report as seen in practise.

My Vet also said that the way the antibiotics react in the petri dish is nt always reflected in the animal, and he queried a labs recommendation, and they agreed with HIS recommendation for a better alternative.

I am afraid I am very sceptical of pharmaceutical companies.

Like How many chooks did they test, did they infect a whle shed? was it all tested in dishes etc etc.

Did you see the program on drugs last night? (horizon?)

Just my natural sceptism

[Plum]

Yeh you are right. No I didn't see the programme I'll look on i player. If you divide the dose and give it several times a day I reckon you will achieve a near enough stable level in the body.

 

Sorry Gaynorharris for going off on a tangent. I hope you have got her to take it.

[sandyhas3chucks]

yes, hope she gets it down her whatever method It is scarey at 1st, well I thought so, then you just get your own way and it is easy.

good luck, and hope she improves rapidly

[gaynorharris]

Thank you for all your advice.

 

Just want to update you all. We have kept her seperate (which she hates!!), medicine is going down (although not that easy!!) and at first we could only get her to eat mealworms (have stocked up on them). We bring her in twice a day to give her a dose and to make sure she eats (as she is not eating her normal food). The past couple of days she has really perked up - trying to jump on the table etc and becoming more vocal!! I cleaned her back end (so she looks a lot better). When I took her out this afternoon for her medicine I noticed a broken egg in her nest box (which I think is a good sign).

 

Thanks again for all your advice, we now have a happy chicken and a happy family.

 

[Plum]

Good to hear some positive news, must be a relief for you

[The Dogmother]

I have always dosed Baytril by injection as recommended by my vet; works for my chooks if they get sick.