Unsecure chicken perches

[Eggie232]

9 days ago I adopted an ex battery hen who is very small, almost completely featherless and has a poorly leg. We took her to the vets and he thought she'd simply sprained her leg. Her limp has improved a little and she seemed in really good spirits until this morning. She has layed an egg every morning except this one. Its so unlike her, she's usually really happy and frisky. I'm hoping someone may recognise these symptoms and be able to give me some advice...

 

1. Not eating and drinking the usual amount

2. Lethargy

3. Eyes closed

4. Standing still

5. Feathers (the few she has) appear ruffled as if standing on end

6. Egg laying has stopped

7. Frothy white poo

I'm so worried about her and just don't know what to do....please help, I don't want to lose her

[Tutti Frutti]

It **could** be a temporary thing whilst she's waiting for a softie - an egg with a soft shell (or none at all!) that's really tricky to lay as there's nothing hard to push against. I hope that's what it is, you'll know in the morning - if it is and she's laid it, she'll come bouncing out! It's one of the occupational hazards of being an ex-batt Mind you, it could be anything - have you check for red mite, lice and checked her poos? Are her eyes bright and clear, no rattly chest, comb reddening up?

 

Did the vet give her anything for her leg?

 

Has she been wormed with Flubenvet? If she's on other meds, it's not wise to assault them to a shed-load of drugs but it's worth doing once her meds are finished.

 

Good luck, I hope she does bounce out tomorrow! Please let us know

[Eggie232]

Thank you so much for your advice Tutti Frutti.

I really just hope it is something relatively minor like a softie.

The vet didn't think antibiotics were necessary and she isn't taking any medication at all at present.

Having only had them just over a week, I haven't wormed them yet, do you think I should do that straight away? She hasn't pooed as much today either, and the few she did do were small, white, runny and frothy, almost a similar consistency to egg white. Her eyes are bright and clear, her chest sounds ok, and her comb is reddening up a little, although she's not going out much at the moment as she's not very mobile.

Am so worried about her, she's such a little dot and has such a lovely personality. I'm just praying she'll make it.

Edited June 21, 2010 by Guest

[cathybc]

fingers crossed for her x

[Tutti Frutti]

I'd leave it another couple of weeks before worming all your girls... and then, when you do, be prepared for the contents of the poo tray

 

I hope she's well in the morning! My ex-barn girls can be down in the dumps for a couple of days when they're brewing one. I'm getting a little more used to it now but still fear it's their time when it happens!

 

Another thought, have you tried mealworms? That wakes mine up when they have a softie on the way! Once they've gobbled them all up, they're back to hunched and sleepy mode

[Eggie232]

Have just been out to see her and she was hunched up with her beak tucked in her back, looking very sorry for herself. I tried stroking her to get her attention (which didn't work) then offered her a bit of grape, which she hastily snatched from my fingers and gobbled up. I'm a little bit reasurred by this because at least it means she's still interested in her favourite food but I'm going to have the most awful nights sleep tonight I just know it!

I'll be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to check on her. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for your advice Tutti Frutti, it's been really helpful

[Tutti Frutti]

Please let us know how she is in the morning

[sparkysmum]

Hi eggie, it does sound as if she's trying to pass a softie. I know Boris can be pretty miserable for a day or two until she manages to "lay" it. On one occasion I put her in a basket with a hot water bottle. It seemed to help and she was back to her usual self again.

 

Fingers crossed for her. Allixx

[Chucky Mama]

If she is still poorly tomorrow and hasn't passed anything, have a gentle feel around her rear end to check that it isn't tight and fluid filled.

[Eggie232]

Thank you Sparkysmum and Chucky Mama.

I'll post back tomorrow and let you all know how my little lady is getting on, my fingers are very tightly crossed. She is such a sweetheart.

[SusieB123]

Good luck Eggie - I hope she will bounce back to her cheerful self very soon

[Tutti Frutti]

How are you today Eggie? Funnily enough, a broken softie greeted me in the poo tray this morning - with two naughty girls pecking down between the bars to eat it

[Jools]

Ex-bats don't have very robust immune systems as they're kept in such "sterile" conditions, so when they come out into the big wide world, it's quite a shock to them. I'd be concerned that she's contracted something tbh, though obviously I don't know what. It's not unusual for them to come down with Coccidiosis, though the white frothy droppings sound more like Bacillary White Diarrhoea (BWD). I'm sure I read something in one of the magazines about this recently, so I'll see if I can find it again. Fingers crossed for her.

[Eggie232]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your advice.

I'm really relieved to say that she's definitely perked up today! I gave her some poultry spice at breakfast and a bit of ACV in her water. She's moving around, feeding and her poos are looking a little more normal and substantial. She's not passed a softie yet, or a hardy for that matter but I've noticed her rear end (which is totally bald) looks rather bulbous and her vent is pulsating quite a bit. I don't think she's out of the woods yet though, am very worried by things like coccidiosis and BWD. But I am really appreciating all your good advice! So thank you all!

[Eggie232]

Just wanted to update you all about my little battery hen who seems to be responding very well to plain old TLC and lots of good grub! She even had her first hobble round the garden on Saturday and was so excited she popped out an enormous egg! Thank you to all those of you who offered advice and support in my time of worry!!! As a newbie it's invaluable having the wisdom of so many seasoned chicken mummies (and daddies!). My little hen says thank you too!

[Egluntyne]

That's good news. Perhaps the enormous egg was part of the problem.

[hippy chick]

That's wonderful news, I'm so glad she has perked up for you.

[debby123]

So glad she has improved

[Tutti Frutti]

Yay!!! That's such good news! :dance:

[Eggie232]

I'll have to learn how to post piccies on here, so you can all see the gorgeous little lady I'm talking about!

Thanks for all your support, you're all brill!