Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[ClaudetteDay]

hi there, this is our first flock of chickens.

so i'm not an expert on sick chickens. i would appreciate some advice.

 

sookie our ex batt is looking sick.

her tail is down, her poos are like water, she's not eating and she's moving very slowly (practically staying still).

my mother has a tendency to give the chickens far too much spaghetti.

i've always moaned about it to her. but she still insists giving huge amounts to the chickens.

 

could this be why sookie is ill?

 

do i need to take sookie to the vets?

 

her egg laying has been fine until today.

we've also wormed the chickens recently.

 

many thanks

[Tutti Frutti]

I'd be inclined to take her to the vets, she sounds very unwell so well done for being so vigilant Yet it could be something simple like a softie on the way but, if she's not laid them before and unusual for her, I'd definitely go to the vet for a professional opinion.

 

I took one of my rescue girls to the vets recently who TOLD ME OFF for giving them a tiny bit of spaghetti (no grass or grapes either!) Apparently it can get stuck in their crop and lead to all sorts of problems Mine was diagnosed with sour crop So anyway, all my girls are off treats and back to basics - layers pellets, a little bit of corn and mealworms.

 

I hope you can get an appt soon. Meanwhile, have you checked the basics - for lice and mites? How does her crop feel? It should be firm, not floppy and sloshy (like a baggy, let-down balloon full of water). Is she eating pellets and drinking normally? Did you worm her with Flubenvet? How's her breathing, coughing? Running nose or eyes? Rattly?

 

Sorry to fire these off at you - it's everything I watch out for and I've not owned chooks for a year yet so hopefully a guru will be along soon Please let us know how you get on, fingers crossed eh?

 

|Edited to add, the vet said ex-batts can only handle plain and simple grain food - what they've been brought up on and eaten all their lives and their stomachs are delicate and can't handle anything too different (like spaghetti!). I'd been giving my ex-barnies goodies like spaghetti but have since stopped - makes sense to me now!

[Roobaloo]

I'm not an expect at all but...It's really not a good idea to let them have too much spaghetti...a little bit as a rare treat would be ok but it may have caused a problem. You really need to emphasise this to your Mum.

 

It could be she has or is about to lay a soft egg...this often makes chickens feel very under the weather and can be caused by a lack of calcium in the diet (if she's eaten a lot of pasta...rather than her layers ration!)

 

Otherwise, check her crop isn't solid (it should be fairly firm and empty every night) or squishy...both indicate problems.

 

Hope she improves!!

 

EDIT: Tutti said exactly the same!!

 

RE: Grass - grass is fine for chickens to eat!! ...but it must not be long, if they free range on grass is should be short...or if you pick it for them, cut it up into small pieces!!

Edited July 29, 2010 by Guest

[ClaudetteDay]

I'd be inclined to take her to the vets, she sounds very unwell so well done for being so vigilant Yet it could be something simple like a softie on the way but, if she's not laid them before and unusual for her, I'd definitely go to the vet for a professional opinion.

 

I took one of mine to the vets recently who TOLD ME OFF for giving them a tiny bit of spaghetti (no grass or grapes either!) Apparently it can get stuck in their crop so my girls are off treats and back to basics - layers pellets, a little bit of corn and mealworms.

 

I hope you can get an appt soon. Meanwhile, have you checked the basics - for lice and mites? How does her crop feel? It should be firm, not floppy and sloshy (like a baggy, let-down balloon full of water). Is she eating pellets and drinking normally? Did you worm her with Flubenvet? How's her breathing, coughing? Running nose or eyes? Rattly?

 

Sorry to fire these off at you - it's everything I watch out for and I've not owned chooks for a year yet so hopefully a guru will be along soon Please let us know how you get on, fingers crossed eh?

 

thanks a lot for the advice. i've booked an appointment. i'll be taking her down later.

she's drinking water.

but she doesn't seem to be eating.

 

she also keeps going into her eglu and just wants to stay there.

 

i did worm her with flubenvet.

her breathing seems fine. no coughing. no running nose or eyes.

not sure what rattly is. but she seems to be fine apart from the things i stated in my first comment.

 

i'll keep you posted.

again, thank you so much for the help. and i've told my mum off for giving too much spaghetti.

 

thanks again

[Tutti Frutti]

Good luck at the vets

 

Sorry, yes, short grass is OK in moderation. Unfortunately, I either have dead grass or 6" tall grass, nothing in between I was chasing Tallulah around the lawn the other day (they're fenced off it now but she somehow flew over) as she had long grass sticking out of her beak but I couldn't catch her She looked like she was sprouting it!

 

PS I like the saying, "Everything in moderation - including moderation"

[ClaudetteDay]

I'm not an expect at all but...It's really not a good idea to let them have too much spaghetti...a little bit as a rare treat would be ok but it may have caused a problem. You really need to emphasise this to your Mum.

 

It could be she has or is about to lay a soft egg...this often makes chickens feel very under the weather and can be caused by a lack of calcium in the diet (if she's eaten a lot of pasta...rather than her layers ration!)

 

Otherwise, check her crop isn't solid (it should be fairly firm and empty every night) or squishy...both indicate problems.

 

Hope she improves!!

 

EDIT: Tutti said exactly the same!!

 

RE: Grass - grass is fine for chickens to eat!! ...but it must not be long, if they free range on grass is should be short...or if you pick it for them, cut it up into small pieces!!

 

 

thanks so much!!

i'll check her crop now.

my mum has decided to go for a coffee. i'm stuck here with the chickens!!!!

and since i've just turned recently 17. i have no way getting to the vets!!

 

thanks a lot everyone