Omlet cube and run

[hippy chick]

Jean has suddenly gone very off it. She won't eat and only drinks if i force her. She was fine a couple of days ago but now her crop feels really empty and she isn't interested in anything. She hasn't laid for months apart from a few lash's over the past couple of weeks. She has recovered from her lameness and has been like a normal chuck. I have been wondering if its because of the hot weather over the past few days.

I can't loose her I had her in the house for 7 weeks when she couldn't walk, and am really attached to her.

[Egluntyne]

I'd take her to the vet. She sounds poorly.

 

If she has recently recovered from an illness, it could be connected to that.

[hippy chick]

Jean's even worse today. She is still not bothered about eating and now her breathing sounds quiet snotty. I can't get her into the vets till thurdsay night, what should i do?

[Egluntyne]

Keep syringing a few mls water into her beak, to prevent her becoming too dehydrated, and keep her warm and rested. I'd ring around an try for an earlier appointment if you can.

[hippy chick]

I have managed to get Jean to the vet, although not my usual chickeny vet. He has given her an injection of metacam an baytril. She seems even worse now though her breathing is really laboured, and she has a high temperature. She is just laying down all the time. I'm dreading the next few hours I think that i'm going to loose her.

[Egluntyne]

FIngers crossed that the medication works quickly.

[hippy chick]

Thanks I'm up and down like a yoyo. I have to keep checking on her cos i'm that worried. Trouble is every time i go to her i disturb her. She is laid with her head on the floor and to be honest she doesn't look good. I hope that i havn't been too late getting her to the vets.

[hippy chick]

:cry:I can't stop crying, the kids are crying and even my husband is crying. I have just found Jean dead in her nest box. She must have only just died because she was still warm. I have been checking on her every 10 mins. Its not fair, she has only had 8 months of freedom i thought that she would have been with me much longer. especially as she had recovered from her lameness and started being a healthy chuck again. Is it something i'm doing wrong with them this is the second one i've lost in 2 weeks. What about my other three girls will they get it am i going to loose them as well?

[Torrin]

So Sorry to hear about Jean

 

Must be very upsetting for you all. I'm sure it's not anything you're doing wrong, just unfortunate these things happen together

 

I'm sure she had a great 8 months of freedom with you

[Egluntyne]

Oh no. So sorry to hear it. You did all you could, and ex batts do have a very light grasp on life sometimes, so it definitely isn't something you are doing wrong.

[hippy chick]

I feel awful though if i had have got her to the vet yesterday then maybe she would have stood a chance. The vet did say that the next few hours would be critical. But i had it in my head that she was going to pull through. How can a chicken be so healthy one day and then gone the next?

And what about my others what if the the vet was wrong and its something contagious?

I knew when i got them that they might not live long and i promised myself that i would not get attached because they don't live long. I did think that maybe i would loose a couple over the winter but they got through just fine.

[Egluntyne]

This is the trouble with hens. They hide their symptoms very well, so as to not drop down in the pecking order, or be turned upon. Even very experienced chicken keepers can be caught out this way.

 

Please don't beat yourself up.

[hippy chick]

Thank-you for your kind comments. I guess I'm just too soft, it was just so sudden. I normally send my hubby to check when i think ones dying, just happend to be my turn.

Anyway now that I have a supply of baytril at least I will be prepared in-case another one starts to go downhill.

But when do you know its time to give antibiotics? I wonder if there Is there any medicated feed that I can give them that has antibiotics in. Or is that a bad idea.

[sewitall]

I'm really sorry to hear about Jean and I can understand how you must have become particularly close to her given how you got her through her initial problems. One of my hens went to bed as fit as a flea but emerged from the eglu gasping for breath (she's fine now) but it really bought it home to me how quickly their health can deteriorate and how a bond is established when you nurse them through illness and will them to live. It's impossible not to become attached.

[Pikey]

Sorry to hear about Jean

 

Sadly like others have said ex-batts can have a shorter life that others guess due to the rubbish start in life they have had. I know its hard when they have just passed away as its so raw but try and focus on the positive in that you gave her 8 months of freedom and love and all of those lovely memories you have of her free ranging.

 

I don't think giving antibiotics is a good idea unless they are actually ill and recommended by the vet....think can get resistant to them.

 

Why not give them some citradel (don't think that is how you spell it...you can buy from Omlet shop) in their water and perhaps some yougurt and garlic to boost up their immunity.

[staceychristie]

(((( Hippy Chick))))))

Bless you, you did the best you could, and as others say, it's 8months longer than she would have had, and you've got fond memories.

Having lost one of ours recently, I understand the pain and upset it brings, but you've got to keep thinking that you did the best for her. We had to have ours PTS after a tumor, and I keep telling myself that for us to have kept her going would have just being selfish.

 

Stacey