CAMPYLOBACTER: Anyone else had it?

[Cloud9]

Hi all, well I am so upset. I lost a chicken about a month ago and now another is unwell

 

She is getting on for 3 and stopped laying before Christmas but there have been a couple of softies recently but I'm not sure if they are hers or the other hen's.

 

My chicken has been all hunched up and felt very heavy. On gently lifting her she started being "sick" in that a lot of coloured fluid was pouring out of her mouth and it smells awful.

 

I have tried massaging her crop and she has been making very gurgly noises and two days ago there was some stuff like wet sand come out. I have tried feeding her bread soaked in olive oil and also feeding her water but she seems very lethargic and goes to bed.

 

Her comb in floppy and looks a bit purple.

 

I can't feel any eggs when looking her over and her vent is nice and pink.

 

This morning I half expected her not to be here but she is and apparently came straight out of the house for a drink. Husband has been down to her this morning. He says she seems brighter but I'm not convinced.

 

I have wormed them with Flubenvet, they have grit, and I bougtht some citricidal which I've mixed in with some warm porridge. The other hen is so well.

 

Any ideas please?

[Falkor]

Hi from another Cambs Omleteer

 

With the smelly stuff coming out of her crop could it be sour crop?

 

**scuttles off to hunt out article about it**

[Christian]

Yes, would definitely say sour crop. Feed her natural probiotic yoghurt to help fight the bacteria. Plenty of fluids such as water with added Apple cider vinegar. She would probably benefit from a trip to the vets.

 

Good luck with her

[Falkor]

I believe maggots work too. Chooks seem to love them too and it is all protein!

 

And I think bokashi added to the yogurt helps too? Friendly organisms and all that.

 

I have loads of bokashi if you are close by and would like some

[Guest]

when one of mine was elderly, her crop stopped working and got very full. It wasn't sour crop, just her body shutting down with age. I'd take her to the vet if i were you for a definite diagnosis.

[sandyhas3chucks]

magots for blocked crop.

Agree with poet...

some have siiccessfully trewated sour ceop with live youghurt, bokashi, apple puree is said to be good, apple cider vinegar, citricidal, but you need to find out why really...

do a search on here for sour crop. loads of threads.

good luck

[Cloud9]

Thanks to all of you for your replies.

 

I took my chicken to a friend who keeps chickens yesterday so she could look her over for any ideas. She said that her crop was empty and there was no food in there whatsoever. My chicken was "sick" when she picked her up as well and she didn't really know what to suggest.

 

I have read some suggestions about probiotic yoghurt and, as I didn't have any to hand, I gave my chicken some actimel mixed with a little ready brek and also sugary water to drink (both of which I had syringed in). She did wander around the garden a bit last night but has been staying in the house a bit (don't blame her there as very cold here!).

 

Today she is still with me and seems a bit perkier. Her comb in definitely redder and she ate her actimel concoction out of the bowl I took it down in and seemed to have quite a good appetite She hasn't been sick when I've lifted her up - the nest box was a bit damp and but certainly not the yucky green colour fluid she has been bringing up.

 

My father-in-law is going to bring me some maggots over tomorrow to try her on a few for the protein if nothing else and I am going to keep her on this light diet for a couple more days although she does also have access to the pellets.

 

Fingers crossed she will continue to pick up

[Guest]

I am glad she seems to be perkier but if she starts being sick again i think it would be a good idea to take her to the vet as it would be unfair to let the condition linger.

 

Get some avipro, you can get it from the vet or on-line, it does wonders for birds that are under the weather.

[Redwing]

I agree with Poet, avipro would be a good idea

[sandyhas3chucks]

I too agree with Poet.A vet would be best if fluid is just flowing put of her beak again. chooks don't vomit like other species. Maggots work on a blocked crop.

Sour crop is a crop filled with fluid.

try plain readybrek made with water and PLAIN probiotic yohurt.

some pureed aples would be good and keep up with the citricidal in the water, personally I would go for the max drops the bottle says!

but take her to the vet tom if she dsoes not come boaling out as normal in the morning.

The wet nest box might be liquid poos?

[Cloud9]

Hi all, thank you again for your replies. I had planned on taking her to the vet if she was still being "sick" or seemed at all unwell and I have been checking on her regularly.

 

She does seem quite a lot better - comb is nearly perked right up and much much redder and she has been picking at some broccoli I put in for them this morning as well as gulping down some bread soaked in live yoghurt - her appetite seems so much better She even came to me today to see what I had on offer!!

 

She has been out free-ranging tonight and wandering around most of the garden which is quite big.

 

I'll try her on some pureed apple tomorrow as well.

 

Can I ask - if she has sour crop would I be able to feel the fluid in her crop ?? Also what could the liquid poo mean if it is that?

 

I shall defo be keeping an extra eye on her.

[Guest]

if she has sour crop then her crop would feel like a water filled balloon and her breath would be stinky.

 

The liquid poo would be because no solids are getting into her system. Avipro is very good for hens that are losing fluid/dehydrated, it's full of pro and pre-biotics and other good stuff and you can add it to their food or water. I'd really urge you to get some.

[Cloud9]

Thanks Poet I thought my girl's crop was empty and my friend confirmed it was totally empty when she was at her worst but she is eating better and I can feel food in there

 

I thought that was the reason for liquid poos.

 

I'll defo have a look at getting some Avipro.

 

Thanks

[sandyhas3chucks]

liquid poo, can be a few things.

If she has a temperature and is drinking lots, they do this drink lots, & poo it out, to reduce their temperatures.

Course no solids in one end, none to come out other.

Bokashi bran might help this, as would a little weetabix with her live yoghurt.

I say a little as weetabix as unlike ready brek has added salt, though as she has been losing fluid I would "guess a little would maybe help.

But... ain't no vet just guessing, (is your vet friendly enough to offer advice over the phone?.

Then diarrhea can mean an infection of some sort, and a sample sent to retfords is one of the best things to do.

Sounds like she MAY be over the worst as she has perked up, fingers crossed.

I guess this mornings crop and bed contents may reveal more.

good luck, keep us posted

[Cloud9]

Thanks again

 

Hubby let the girls out this morning and he said they both came straight out - great as the poorly one had taken some initial coaxing for a few days.

 

She has been eating well and even came over to the wire when I went down the garden mid morning to see whether I had bought her anything! She is making some really nice clucky noises and seems much more perky. I wouldn't say she is 100% but is definitely so much better.

 

Thanks to you all for your very helpful advice.

[CluckyBucks]

Glad to hear shes alot better lets hope it stays that way.

 

All the best,

 

xx xx

[sandyhas3chucks]

sounds good

[Pikey]

Good news

[Cloud9]

Hi all and thanks - you certainly all gave me the strength to carry on with my girls (was getting very disheartened) and it has paid off!! My girl is looking really good - she was the first out today for her food and, by golly, is it going down!!! Just hope she continues to do well and starts laying again soon.

 

Thanks again - couldn't have done it without all your sound advice.

 

Ali