Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[piglet]

I’ve got 3 chickens I had them last May, we've had problems with lice but they are now all clear! just lately my bluebell chicken Bella has been gaining a lot more weight than the other two, doesn’t seem particularly interested in treats and seems to be having difficultly jumping less than 1ft (the eglu is slightly raised above the grass and surrounded by wooden sleepers), she is really having to think about it before she does it where as the other two do it with ease. She also has very dirty bum feathers (which I used to put down to the lice but like I say these are now all gone and have been for a couple of months), it looks to me like when she poos she doesn’t stand correctly and it gets on all her feathers, she has recently started to pull them out I have bought the anti peck spray now but there aren’t many feathers around that area to put it on and she isn’t pulling them out from any where else! This morning she did a rather watery poo which she then turned straight round and began to eat, something she has never done before is this a sign of her craving nutrients? We feed them organic layers pellets with some poultry spice, but also worm them regularly (but not don’t since Christmas)

 

Please help. is it time to go to the vet's?

 

[Redwing]

Peritonitis causes the abdomen to swell and the hen has difficulty walking and adopts a waddling walk

 

Could that be it? might be worth Googling

[Laura & CTB]

I was thinking peritonitis too - my light sussex Gucci had exactly the same symptoms apart from the poo eating bit, I took her to the vet and got some Baytril.

 

If you pick her up does she feel swollen and "tight" underneath? That was also a sign.

 

Also - is she still laying eggs?

[sandyhas3chucks]

I would pop her to the vets in the morning. be it peritonitis or egg stuck, you won;t be worrying all weekend and peri will need vet treatment regadles and can be very nasty, early treatment is needed.

It sounds fron yyou post that she has not been right for a while.

A course of antibiotics and possible anti inflamitories might sort her out in noi time.

good luck

[Egluntyne]

I agree, I'd take her to the vet.

[piglet]

I couldnt rest so took Bella to the vets last night, she has a tummy bug! she had a course of anti biotics but all in all the vet was very happy with her, she is a big bird weighing 3 kilos and she is just in her teenage years where she wants to be a bit stroppy and is still learning about adult life so hopefully she will grow out of these silly things, if not apparently she is just a bit thick! Im so pleased i took her its the best £30 i've spent just to put my mind at rest, knowing ive got a happy healthy bird!

[Egluntyne]

What a relief for you.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I knew you would worry. Well done, worth it for piece of mind

[Olly]

Phew, glad to hear it's nothing major - bet you're feeling much happier now.