What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[S & S]

Hi everyone,

 

I think im off the the vets tomorow as one of my girls just does not seem to be herself this week.

 

Woundered if any one knows what could be wrong.

 

she is just over 2 years had a bit of a moult in November and stopped laying then, came back into lay about jan then stopped again. but seemed fine otherwise.

 

ive noticed last week she seemed to have gone a bit plumper around her legs and her tail is down she also started to waddle more rather than run. She has now gone a bit quiter and i can see her tail moving up & down a bit like just before she has a poo (sorry)!

I can also see her breathing quite fast. The only poo's I have seen her do are little ones.

 

She is eating & drinking and still runs well waddles to the run door when i go to let them out and still diggs around in the garden.

 

I was going to ring vets this morning but didnt cause thought she looked a bit brighter but when i checked when i got back from work tonight she look sad again and fluffed up. So will defo go to vets tomorow to get checked out.

 

any ideas?????????

 

sorry for rambling!

 

many thanks

Edited March 16, 2010 by Guest

[Plum]

Sorry she's off it. If she is waddling and straining it could be that she has a soft egg on the way and having trouble passing it. If you feel her abdomen gently you may be able to feel it. There is a thread in the FAQ section about dealing with eggbound hens.

 

The other thing when they waddle can be a collection of fluid in the abdomen - peritonitis which is often caused by an egg being laid internally which can cause some problems and you'll need the vet.

[Sarahsausage]

Mm, could it be a softie on its way or stuck? Have you tried putting a warm hot water bottle in the coop at night to see if that helps?

[Chicken Licken]

It sounds as if she may have trouble with her egg laying gear and have peritonitis. I lost both of my original girls to this. I know that it can be treated and some on here have had chickens with sterile peritonitis which have had long and happy lives. Take her to the vets and see what they say. The straining to lay is one of the symptoms I think of something being not right as well as the waddling gait - is her underside red and swollen? The vets may be able to help with some anti- biotics if there is infection - fingers crossed for you

[S & S]

hi

thanks for quick replies,

After doing some reaseach i too thought peritonitis, but thought if she had laid an egg internally, would she not carry on laying again after???? or would this stop her from laying?

 

wish i had taken her to vet today now.

 

thanks

[chelsea]

and some on here have had chickens with sterile peritonitis which have had long and happy lives. Take her to the vets and see what they say. The straining to lay is one of the symptoms I think of something being not right as well as the waddling gait - is her underside red and swollen?

 

We had Ella who had sterile peritontis for 2 years and passed away aged 4. Symptoms are as mentioned above - red swollen bum under the vent, almost puffed up appearance, tail down sometimes, and a purple-ish comb when the hen is sitting down (due to the pressure of build up of fluid). If your hen has this your vet may offer to drain your hen, but this is a tricky procedure that does not often work due to infection setting in. We left Ella alone and she had a few down episodes now and again but on the whole was a pretty normal chicken.

 

Let us know how she goes , the vet may give you some Baytril for now if it is peritonitis.

[S & S]

Well been to vets tonight and she confirmed peritonitis, she had baytrill injection and gave me some baytril to take home to put in her water. Dosey me cant remember how many days she said to use it for 5 days??? anyone know?

 

Vet said just see how she goes as she is still quite bright.

 

Even though when she's in the garden she still scratches around etc but when she goes back into run she sits around a lot and i can see her breathing heavier, last thing i want is for her to be suffering, does any one know if she will be in pain?

 

thanks all

fingers crossed

XX

[Plum]

Sorry that's the diagnosis but I understand if it's infectious it can be cured I would just use it till it runs out or at end of week if not improved contact the vet to continue it.

 

If she was mine I would carry on and see how she responds. I don't know if she would be in pain but I guess she'll be uncomfortable due to the pressure. If she's bright and digging in the garden when out then she's not feeling too bad.

 

I really hope she picks up with the antibiotics and if she doesn't you'll know in yourself when to make a difficult decision but come and talk to us. It is horrid seeing them in trouble and so vulnerable. x

[S & S]

hi everyone,

 

Just an update. My girl is doing much better now i cant beleive the difference, she is much brighter her tail is up and dosnt seem as swollen underneath and her breathing is much better. I just hope she stays like this and dosnt get worse again when the antibiotics finish.

[Plum]

Good news and I really hope she stays well.

[Laura & CTB]

Good news - wishing you all the best for her!

[S & S]

hi every one,

 

my girl has deteraited over the weekend, she is looking very sorry for herself and tends to just stand in the corner of the run with her eyes closed and is not interested in anything, dosent even want to go out into the garden. she has had some corn but is not really interested in eating just looks at it. ~She is breathing more heavily and her comb has gone smaller and purple. When she sees me she still comes to me but only slowly.

 

I feel it is unfair to let her carry on as she seems so miserable, and i dont want her to be suffering which i think she is. I will be ringing the vets in the morning to see what they say.

 

Am i right in thinking letting her go to chicken heaven would be the best thing for her???? im really not sure what to do for the best.

 

X

[Plum]

How sad but it's worth checking with the vet it's the same thing in case it's something that can be treated easily. It does sound like peritonitis again. So sorry.

[S & S]

Well as i thought i didnt bring my girl back from the vets. Vet agreed the kindest thing would be to put her to sleep, i am glad i made that decision now as she was suffering and looked even worse this morning. RIP Dawn.

 

Now that leaves my other girl on her own, she dosnt look too concerned at the moment but i will get her another friend but it will have to be in a couple of weeks as im going on holiday next week, hope she dosnt get too lonley in the mean time.

 

Thanks for all your kind words.

X

[WitchHazel]

So sorry to hear about your girlxxxx

[sparkysmum]

Sorry to hear your sad news.

[Plum]

I'm so sorry.