Cube Mark One Run

[holz]

...My little Plymouth Rock Bantam has been ultra sleepy for a couple of days. She is approx 24 weeks old, and has been laying for a good few weeks, but yesterday she sat in the nest box nearly all afternoon (def. not broody) and when we got her out, she then just sat in a flowerpot and dozed.

 

Her comb and wattles are still very red, and she is drinking.....I hadn't seen her eat much, but she ate some warm mashed potato this afternoon.

 

I have put a few drops of citricidal in one of their water containers and there's a garlic clove in the other...I'm not sure what to do, or what could cause her tiredness?

 

She is the bottom of the pecking order....perhaps she's just tired of being bullied?! I hope it's nothing serious?

Edited August 18, 2010 by Guest

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Is the weather very warm or humid?

 

That makes my hens sleepy.

[holz]

No, not particularly...it's not cold (about 21 degrees) but there's quite a strong breeze.

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Are any of the other hens doing this?

[holz]

nope!

[Plum]

I would do a general health check to see if you get any clues .

Check her breathing by putting your ear on her back and listen for crackles. Check nose and eyes for any discharge. Look down her beak and throat for any plaque. Look at her vent for signs of soiling swelling etc., feel her tummy is it soft or hard, check her crop in the morning is it empty, feel her legs and feet for any heat and swelling. Look under legs and wings for lice, sores etc., by then she is going to feel so fed up with you she'll run off and stay awake

 

Hope she picks up

[holz]

Thanks Plum... I'll get on that when I'm in from ork this evening.

 

She did look a little perkier this morning, she had some food and a drink, but I noticed she was on her own in the coop last night, whereas normally she's huddled up with the others..She looks so sad I hate it!

[holz]

Well....When I got home from work today, Ginger looked very worse for wear....She was puffed up and breathing heavily, and seemed to keep dozing off, when the others were eating their treats (normally she's stealing it off them!).... I was a big girl, and just burst into tears as I was so worried about her.

 

Needless to say, we were at the vets within 20 minutes - where she strangely perked up a bit. They gave her a thorough examination, got a 2nd opinion and came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong. (I explanied that I was concerned she may be egg bound but apparently not).

 

So....We went away with some wormer (as it's about that time) and I'm just hoping that she really is going to be okay. She definitely has not been herself....and the other chooks are being particularly intolerant of her, I just hope she perks up again. They're such a worry, if you'd have told me I'd shed tears over a puffed up chicken a year ago, I'd never have believed it, but they're just such a part of the family!

[Plum]

I would have been just as worried as you, guess all you can do is watch out for any more symptoms. Perhaps it is worms

Hope she picks up

[holz]

Thanks Plum.

 

I went out to see her this morning, with really high hopes, and she just looks awful. Wouldn't even touch the meal worms I tried to give her.

 

I'm convinced, whatever the vet may say that she's egg bound. We're going to ring againthis morning as soon as they're open, but I fear we may lose her.

 

I'm pathetic too, at work and keep crying! Everyone must think I'm a right fruit loop

[holz]

Further to my last post, my mum took Ginger to the vet again this morning for me (as I'm stuck at work).

 

We saw their chicken "expert" (although my faith in vets is still not great), I feel I should have pushed them a bit last night, in my heart of hearts, I know she wsn't right.

 

The vet thinks she may have some sort of infection, as she was reaching, and there was some blood, and she also had a runny eye this morning. She also (and I realise this sounds awful) smelt a bit funny....which could be the reason she was being ousted by the others, although we don't know what or why she smells (perhaps sour crop - is this a symptom?)

 

Apparently the vet is going to try and "crop feed" her, give her some antibiotics and worm her, they'll keep her in for 24 hours and monitor her. I categorically stated that I would do anything to help her, but if she was suffering or in pain then it would be best to have her PTS. I'm just hoping that she will be okay. In the vets words "she has a lot of life in her yet"

 

I'll keep you updated. It just goes to show that we know our chooks better than anyone.

[MedusA]

I hope Ginger feels better soon. They are such a worry, aren't they? *hugs*

[holz]

I know, it's just awful.

 

I actually just called the vet to see how she is, and they said she was up and wandering around, but they're not sure what it is still.

 

I suggested that they look into sour crop (it worries me that I even have to suggest this!) so hopefully they will look into that. From what I read on the internet, she is displaying a number of the symptoms.

 

I just hope that they are able to help her. There is definitely a call for more chicken friendly vets in my area.

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

I really hope your chook gets better.

 

Your lucky to have a vet that will do a check up on hens. I have "Ooops, word censored!"ody to turn to for professional advice when it comes to chickens. All my vet does is give me an antibiotic for my girls, tells me where to inject it. And thats about it

[holz]

Thank you!

 

The vets are keeping her in overnight she thinks it may be an upper respiratory infection (sounds awful). They have given her antibiotics, and she was up and eating some corn when they rang. She did talk about us bringing her home tomorrow, so am praying that she will be okay but still not going to count my chickens (sorry).

 

The others are making a right old racket, I think they are looking for her, as they have all been in and out of the coop all day.

 

IF she does come home, would it be worth asking for antibiotics for the others as a precaution? Vet said egg withdrawal would be 30 days (which doesn't bother me if it ensures they won't get the same infection).