Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[sewitall]

I've had stroke of bad luck and one of my ginger rangers has come down with a respiratory infection which showed itself this morning. I've only had them 8 days. I contacted Omlet and sent emails to Barbara who gave me lots of good advice. Omlet did offer to take the chickens back but I wanted to give the ginger nut a chance so took her to the vet who prescribed Synulox Rtu by injection with Nisamox tablets to follow tomorrow. She was not drinking or eating anything at all so I had to syringe rehydration electrolytes drop by drop to the end of her beak. Then later this evening she managed a few sips on her own. She's currently in the garage (its quite warm tonight) with a cat carrier although she did make her way on to the top of the chest freezer. For someone who has never held a chicken prior to last week it's a pretty hands on experience. I hope she makes through and if she does I hope there are no lasting effects. She hasn't started to lay yet so I hope, if she survives, that her egg production doesn't suffer.

Edited May 22, 2010 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That is unlucky . Good for you, taking such good care of her though . I'm sure she'll pull through with such an attentive nurse .

[staceychristie]

Health is more important, You shouldn't worry about egg count just yet. You are doing the right thing keeping her warm (not too hard tonight) and in a darkened area.

She'll need to be handled regularly for normal health checks anyway.

People at Omlet are fab (I have no connection to them other than this forum and my Cube) and they offer fantastic advise.

Fingers crossed

 

Stacey

[Plum]

It is a worry about the laying tract suffering when they have respiratory infections but she is on antibiotics which will prevent problems there. I think you have done the right thing.

 

The stress of a move can make them susceptible to respiratory infections, my girls started having runny noses soon after moving with no sign of it beforehand. I just watched them and they got over it quickly. However, one showed signs of inflamation of laying tract and prolapsed with first egg. I wish I had done what you did.

 

With all this handling she is going to be a lovely tame girl

[Seagazer]

I've got mine crossed for you.

[sewitall]

Good news so far. She is responding to the antibiotics and her wheezing/rattling has stopped and she is now taking sips of electrolyte fluid when the vessel is stuck in front of her beak. Still not interested in any kind of food but hoping with continued persistence that I may get something down her by late this afternoon. She's pecking about the garage for bits of grit so it's going in the right direction. Have given my other two some pro-biotic yogurt with bokasi, ACV, pellet and mealworm to build them up but both of them seem fit as fiddles at the moment.

[Plum]

That's a good idea. Great news that she is responding

[sewitall]

The patient continues to respond well and has now eaten a healthy portion of Omlet pellets and meal worms and is now roosting on one of my garden chairs in the garage. I have tried to give her the antibiotic pill crushed up in mealworms and a bit of olive oil, in pieces by hand and dissolved in water but she is refusing it. I am anxious not to try and force feed her with it as it will distress her at a time when she is getting back to normal. She is preening her feathers too. Does anyone know how soon I can re-integrate her with the other two and will they still accept her? Got to get something sorted out before I go back to work on Monday. Any techniques/tips gratefully received.

[scarlettohara]

It's important that she keeps taking the antibiotics so perhaps mix them into a paste and syringe into her beak ? They usually give them in liquid form to make this easier. One of mine had a respiratory infection when I first got her - she was fine after medication and lays lovely big brown eggs but took her a couple of weeks after being ill. Hope she is OK

[sewitall]

Thanks Scarlettohara. Have been getting some into her via syringe although a lot of it is being spilled. Hope it's enough. She's looking really well now, very alert. I'm so pleased and relieved.

[scarlettohara]

Good that's great news