Part 0800.0005

[Isabel]

Rachel, my 6w old (probably 7w now) New Hamp Red hasn't looked herself today. My attention was first drawn by 2 bloody looking poops in the run - but of course, I've no idea who did them! Having watched her like a hawk since lunchtime, she hasn't been as lively as usual, has picked a bit at food and has been drinking, she has spent an awful lot of time standing/sitting and also hiding/sitting under the Orp and sometimes the Buff Sussex, mostly the Orp though. I've picked her up and can see nothing obvious wrong - clean vent area, clean eyes, no sign of lice etc, no obvious respiratory noises.

 

As some of you might recall from my pics of them last weekend, she's the smallest of the trio - the others being a 14/15w old Orpington and a 10w or so Sussex. I'm relatively confident there's no bullying going on ... she ate and drank alongside the others and, like I said, was lying in under them - and all three are snuggled up tight in their house tonight. She's also first out of the hen-house each morning.

 

Just today, not her usual inquisitive self! DH thinks I'm imagining things maybe I am but I don't think so. She's def off-colour. Any suggestions or advice please.

 

Thanks

 

Isabel

[staceychristie]

Your doing well to pick up on these slight signs of behavior. She's too young to be laying eggs isn't she? Not had any young'uns myself, so hard to say. However the fact she's eating and drinking is encouraging.

 

Stacey

[Isabel]

Thanks for your reply Stacey. I wonder if she's just getting a bit of mothering from the older chickens? Still, that doesn't explain that she isn't first over if I go into the run etc. Oh the worry!

[Pikey]

Like Stacey said the fact she is eating and drinking is a good sign. If they are that ill that is one of the first things to stop.

 

Is is def blood or is it more orangying stringy like?? The reason I say this is mine get this all the time I think its semi digested worms

 

It might also just be her body getting ready to lay??

 

I would keep an eye on her and if she gets any worse perhaps take her to the vet.

 

Fingers crossed she is just having an off day

 

Sally

[Egluntyne]

Blood in the poo of a chick would ring alarm bells about coccidiosis to me. Were they given medicated chick crumbs do you know?

[Daphne]

And just to set your mind at rest Pikey - orangey/reddy stringy bits in poo are pieces of gut shed by the bird; its quite normal and nothing to worry about.

 

However, if it really is blood, given Rachel's age I'd be inclined to agree with Egluntyne - its likely to be coccidiosis. You can buy over the counter treatment (ie without a prescription) - Coxoid is a well known one.

[Isabel]

Thanks for all your replies. I half expected a dead chicken this morning but she's as right as rain! She must have just not been her usual self yesterday but today is eating, drinking, coming out to say hello and generally bright. There was another of those poos in the henhouse this morning - it's as though there is an orange-red streak through it but on closer examination it didn't look like blood - false alarm

 

Thanks again for all your replies!

 

Isabel

[Egluntyne]

Phew!

[Torrin]

Does this apply to older hens? I got mine as POL over a year ago and have noticed today some bloody looking poo in the run - def more red than orange.

 

No idea which hen has the problem