Part 0800.0005

[cluckingmad]

Well, our little gingernut Maggie is off-colour again - this is the third time she's been like this in the past year and I'm getting more worried each time. Last time we brought her in, fussed her a lot and she pulled round but this time I'm not so sure - just know something isn't right..

 

Shes displaying al lthe non-descript symptoms of one unhappy hen - tail down, head down, not interested in food, no interest in her surroundings at all, and has green and white diarhoea on the feathers by the vent. She's still not terribly happy being picked up and makes a half-hearted attempt to scurry off but managed to gently check her over this morning before work - her crops empty, no foul breath, she's thin but has always been that way since the day we got her as a pullet (she's an omlet girl). Her tummy does however feel squishy and am wondering if this is peritonitis?

 

Got a vets appointment for her tomorrow after work and they're brilliant with the girls so will have to wait and see what they say - hubby wants to come too in case its not good news (bless him, he's as soft over the girls as I am!)

 

Cx

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like she might need worming to me.

[The Dogmother]

I agree, my first action would be to worm her, put a good poultry tonic in the water and see how she is over the next day.

[ClaireG]

I'd also worm her. It might be worth either giving her some Avipro if you have any or some natural yogurt on her pellets/mash. Might help her tum a bit.

[cluckingmad]

Already done - they were all wormed only a few weeks back, they get life guard in the water and poultry spice in their food, have avipro so will get on her that tonight.

 

Thanks guys

[Chucky Mama]

Did you use Flubenvet out of interest?

[cluckingmad]

Yes, don't trust anything else to get the job done

[Chucky Mama]

Perfect How are things now, any progress

[cluckingmad]

Sadly not, she's worse today - really poorly looking, at vets thsi afternoon so fingers crossed. She's currently sitting on the lawn being fussed over by the other hens..

[Chucky Mama]

Sorry to hear that, let us know how you get on a the vets. Fingers crossed for you

[Plum]

Hope it goes ok, could it be bowel infection

 

Chucky Mama congratulations, looks like you are a mod now. *Touches cap as sign of respect*

[Chucky Mama]

Chucky Mama congratulations, looks like you are a mod now. *Touches cap as sign of respect*

Thanks Plum It wont change me, I will try to remember my friends and keep my feet on the ground - now I know how many rules I have been breaking

[The Dogmother]

[cluckingmad]

 

Well, been to vets - Maggie's had a dose of antibiotics (he thought it's probably peritonitis or a bowel infection), poor little mite spent the evenign sleeping on my lap.

 

Gave her a warm bath so I could clean up her back end a little, bless her she sort of snuggled down into the water and dozed. Seemed that the warmth helped her feel a bit better, she had some porridge and raisins after her bath and managed to get some water into her too so fingers crossed... shes now in our front room in an indoor rabbit cage, lots of nice warm bedding and plenty of food and water, so if she feels like eating she doesn['t have to fend off the rest of the flock!

 

Vets view was if she survives the next 24-48hrs she'll be fine, if she's still not better by friday but is perking up then she'll have to go back for another shot of antibiotics. I have to say, never heard of a chicken breaking wind before but dear lord that girl was making some eye-watering smells...

 

x

[pipistrelle]

Oh gosh, poor girl, fingers crossed the antibiotics do the trick.

[cathybc]

really hope she pulls through x

[The Dogmother]

Glad to hear that she's perked up a bit - the wind may just be a sign that her guts are working properly.

[cluckingmad]

Thanks folks

 

She's rather perkier this morning so fingers crossed the antibiotics are doing the trick. Had to come into work this morning but going home at lunch to keep her company and have taken tomorrow off to work from home in case she needs the vets again

 

My parents are now convinced that I'm quite, quite mad...

[cluckingmad]

OK, update: maggie went to the vets for 2 injections, very slight improvement in that she did eat and drink, and did some preening however is extremely unsteady (can't hold her wings up, falls over if trying to walk).

 

Its been a week since the last vet visit and am preparing to take her again - she has very nasty foul smelling green diarhoea (is totally liquid, no solids at all - think its due to bile as she's not eating), sits fluffed up most of the time and is totally disinterested in everything.

She had been eating mealworms and corn (basically anything to get her eating), with Avipro mixed in however doesn't look like she eaten again today and her backend was covered in the diarhoea again - have cleaned her up and she's sitting on a towel on my lap as I type, eyes closed and not making any effort at all to move.

 

Anyone got any idea what could be wrong? She was wormed with flubenvet only weeks ago so we've ruled out worms with the vet...

[Chicktastic]

Bless, really sorry can't offer any advice but sending you lots of {{{{{ HUGS }}}}} Hope your lady pulls through!! xxx

[Daphne]

I don't know anything about bowel infections but if she has got peritonitis then I'm afraid there isn't much that can be done, unless its sterile peritonitis in which case fluid can be drained off (but that isn't a cure, it may have to be done more than once). Going to the vet and talking over your options would be best I think.

[chelsea]

Is her back end under her vent red and swollen? It could be sterile peritonitis.. Ella lived with it for 2 years and Spring/Summer were the worst times as it's peak laying time and she did swell up with fluid. She also occasionally had a dirty bum. Has your vet mentioned sterile peritonitis at all? Our vet did not drain Ella as he said that infection would set in and she would not survive.

[cluckingmad]

Thanks for all your kind words, am sad to say that Maggie had to be put to sleep this afternoon She was very subdued and collapsed mid-afternoon, the vet confirmed our fears that the peritonitis hadn't responded to the antibiotics and that she was already dying so we did the last thing we could for her and eased her on her way.

 

In hindsight it appears she's had a couple of cases of peritonitis previously however on each occasion it remained infection-free and she recovered within a few days of gentle nursing, however this time she wasn't so lucky. Still have 12 beautiful girls, but it'll be sad tomorrow when we let them otu and theres one missing

[beach chick]

so sorry to hear that, it's always sad when they go, but they are so good at hiding their symptoms. at least you know you did everything you could for her.

[Laura & CTB]

RIP Maggie