2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[garethg]

Hi,

We bought four point of lay chickens nearly three weeks ago, initially we were getting nearly 3 eggs a day for about the first 10 days (one of them is still a bit too young to lay), but last friday one of them looked started looking rather sorry for itself its tail is down, not eating much, spends a lot of time sleeping, friday was the last time it laid. We read a few forum pages to try and work out whats wrong, I've checked her crop which seems fine (if a bit empty) and I would have thought if she was egg bound she'd be in much more distress. The weird thing is there are no other symptoms, no breathing difficultys, her faeces seem normal, and she's fairly lively when you try and catch her too just no eggs and shes really forlorn! A couple of days ago another one seemed to start acting in a similar way though she is eating a bit more (I've been feeding her oil soaked bread and layers pellets which she'll eat but nothing else), they both now spend most of their time sleeping and neither have laid in days! I've put a vitamin supplement in their water too also to no avail. I'm totally baffled and in real need of any suggestions anyone might have!!

[garethg]

Just a quick update I think Matilda (the not too ill chicken) has an impacted crop, I read in another forum about this and her crop definitely felt hard so massaged her a few times yesterday and again this morning (it didn't empty fully overnight) and she seems a bit more her usual boystrous self. Flo (the a bit more ill chicken) on the other hand is still really ill and has lost loads of weight, I don't think she's got too long left, she still drinks tentatively, and I dug her up some worms last night which she wolfed down but she won't touch anything else.

[The Dogmother]

Sorry to hear that Gareth, information on treating an impacted crop here.

 

I hope that they get better soon, but a trip to the vet might be in order if you can't work out what the problem is.

 

Have they been wormed recently?

[Chucky Mama]

Have look at the FAQ section here viewforum.php?f=41

[garethg]

Thanks for replying both! I'm assuming they have been wormed recently as we only got them a few weeks ago so I'd guess they had been but don't know for certain. Matilda the impacted crop one is getting better after feeding her oil and massaging it she was definitely more perky today, but Flo was really off colour, is there anything plant wise thats toxic to chickens in case I could see identify anything in their run that might have caused this? I'll see if I can get her to a vet tonight or tomorrow if she hangs around that long! Its all happened so quick we literally got them 3 weeks ago on Saturday as a wedding present, I can't believe one is poorly and the other is seriously ill already! We must look like rubbish chicken parents!!

[staceychristie]

Your lucks in, Have a look here for a LONG LONG list.......

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=22559

 

Your not rubbish parents, it's just that your chucks are trying to see how much love they can squeeze out of you.

 

And never assume your breeders done everything. Ask him first, but I think I'm right in saying that it won't hurt if you worm them twice.

 

Good luck,

 

Stacey

[Plum]

Have you checked her for runny nose and listened to her breathing, just put your ear to her back. Is her vent clean? I would check those sort of things and take her to the vet.

[garethg]

Cool thanks for the link to the list of plants thats pretty useful and good to know that theres none of those in their pen! The girls are both still hanging in there, Flo has been eating a bit more than she was but still not anywhere near as much as she was, Matilda seems quite a bit better but no sign of eggs yet. I rang the farm we got them from, they said they had been wormed and I rang around a few vets but haven't found one that does poultry. Although I'm a bit more optimistic that they might get through whatever it has been now as they definitely seemed a bit more themselves this morning, so I guess we wait and see!! Thanks for everyones advice!!

[garethg]

Good news, as if by magic the girls seem to be getting back to their chickeny selves, got home last night to find a very weak flo attempting to push the other chickens out the way of the food bowl so she could have it all to herself which is much more like her! Then this morning all four of them were acting pretty much as normal! So strange whatever it was has clearly begun to resolve itself, still might be an uphill battle for Flo as she lost loads of weight but am definitely a lot more optimistic!

 

Thanks everyone for the advice and useful links!!

 

Foghorn (a Leghorn)

Matilda (Silverlink)

Cluckey (Crazy Silverlink)

Flo (emaciated Redco with extra fighting spirit)

Oscar (the grouch)

[Egluntyne]

Must have just been a brief viral illness. Glad to hear that they are improving.

[staceychristie]

Fab news, It's great to know things are looking better.

 

Stacey

[Plum]

That's good news