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

[gongladosh]

Hi,

 

 

Our one year old Miss Pepperpot, Kent has always been a healthy hen (and top of the pecking order). Three days ago, she started standing unusually still and when moving, walking like a cowboy, so we assumed she was eggbound (she'd not laid for two days).

 

The next day she was no better, so we took her to the vet. He couldn't feel an egg but gave her a calcium injection, a shot of antibiotics (enough to last 3 or 4 days) and something to induce contractions.

 

No egg appeared, but the next day she became more uncoordinated, falling over frequently when walking and having to use her wings to keep herself in a straight line, her appetite had also diminished. We took her back to the vet who recommended an anti-inflammatory - he explained that whilst it won't fix the problem but should give her an appetite. By the end of yesterday, she looked to be on the mend a little - walking and eating.

 

Today she literally can't stand up, and we've had to hand feed her.

 

We're starting to suspect the worst - has anyone had similar, and if so, what do we do?

Edited August 30, 2010 by Guest

[Redwing]

It sounds like Peritonitis

 

There is some info here that may help

 

viewtopic.php?t=23148

[gongladosh]

Cheers for that!

 

Kent looked *very* sorry for herself this afternoon when we decided to take her to the vet for the third time in as many days - head buried deep in the box, breathing getting increasingly shallow.

 

The vet was very helpful; while we still don't know the nature of the problem, she did point out that Kent was running a temperature, so we cooled her down with some wet cotton wool on her comb, feet and under the wings, Kent seemed to like this!

 

What the vet did suspect was 'female problems' - we now have a 5 day supply of anti-inflammatory drugs, which helped yesterday. They take an hour to kick in, and that buys 12 hours of relative comfort. We'll need to give her food and water for a few days as she can't get these for herself.

 

So basically, Kent needs to be able to heal herself within 5 days.

 

Fingers crossed.

[Christian]

The most important thing is to keep getting fluids into her. Hens can dehydrate very quickly. Adding honey or sugar to tepid water can help to give her some energy. Feed her anything that she will eat, sweetcorn, cucumber, cat food, layers pellets mixed up with water to make porridge etc.

 

Fingers crossed she will be ok.

[legend21]

How is she this morning

[gongladosh]

Hi,

 

Sadly Kent passed away this morning. I suppose both Kent and Kiki realised what was happening when Kiki refused to leave Kent's side in the Eglu during the morning. We got them out of the run at 10 (Kent couldn't leave the nesting box), and we fed Kent, got her to drink some water and she put her wing out as she bathed in sunshine on my lap for several minutes.

 

Shortly after, she could no longer control her bowels, so not realising what this meant, we put her back on the nest.

I think she'd probably already died on me, as seconds later, she had massive muscle spasms, and lurched out of the nest.

 

We covered her eyes, and she was gone.

 

We're gutted, as is Kiki...

Edited September 1, 2010 by Guest

[Plum]

I'm so sorry. What a lovely mate Kiki was to her.

[scarlettohara]

So sorry but you did your utmost to get her right - she was much loved

[hippy chick]

Oh dear i'm so sorry You really did do your best and gave her every possible chance.

Rip Kent sleep tight little one

Hugs to you and poor lonely Kiki

 

Jilly xx

[gongladosh]

Cheers for the good wishes guys.

 

Does anyone know where in the Greater Manchester area I can get Kent cremated at a reasonable price?

I've just been told by my vet that the pet cremation service they use charges an astonishing £117.50 to cremate her and return ashes!

[Millie-Annie]

Ring round all the vets. My own vet said £17.50 but another one only charged £8.10. Make sure they know you don't want the ashes back, you just want her disposing of safely and quickly

 

Sorry to hear about poor Kent, she went exactly the same as my Annie. Fly free sweet Kent xx

[the bradley bunch]

rip kent, you're a little angel now x

*hugs to gongladosh & kiki* bless her loyal heart

[MedusA]

So sorry to hear about Kent. She couldn't have had better care from you. RIP little chook.

 

Hope Kiki is OK and not too lonely. Will you get her a new friend (or two)? *hugs*

[gongladosh]

Kiki's a bit lonely at the moment (though pleasingly she's started laying again, for the first time since Kent became ill).

 

Fortunately, today she'll meet two new friends for the first time - one Cream Legbar, and one Poland (don't know the names yet), both POL.

 

I think she'll be really excited - we'll see how quickly we can safely integrate them.

[the bradley bunch]

ahh that's lovely to hear, thanks for the update gong.

good luck with your 2 new girls & i'm so happy kiki has 2 new friends to play with i'm sure they'll bring both you & her some much needed comfort.

let us know what you decide to name them.. polands are my favourites hubby has promised me a trio of them next year so i'm hoping santa will bring me a new house for them for xmas

[Plum]

Congratulations on your new girls. Sure they will bring as much joy to you as you had with Kent Good luck with the intros.

[gongladosh]

We now have two beautiful new POL girls! Kiki's absolutely ecstatic and has spent a very happy evening mooching around their run.

 

We bought them from Happy Chicks near Blackpool, a lovely place, and they were very helpful in showing us which hens would go best with Kiki.

 

From what we were told, Gingernut Rangers don't mix that well with some breeds of hen, so for us to have Polands, we'd really need a separate eglu and two Polands. There's a similar situation to a lesser degree for Cream Legbars - they'd be fine mixing in but we'd need two of them. As we can only really look after 3 birds right now, we'll have to get those at some point in the future.

 

So, what we've got is a grey Speckledy (AKA Speckled Star) and a Blue Ranger (AKA Bluebelle), and even we've got names for them - Barnaby and Troy! We watch way too much Midsomer Murders...

[gongladosh]

Ring round all the vets. My own vet said £17.50 but another one only charged £8.10. Make sure they know you don't want the ashes back, you just want her disposing of safely and quickly

 

Sorry to hear about poor Kent, she went exactly the same as my Annie. Fly free sweet Kent xx

 

 

Forgot to say - I found a place (Sleepy Meadow in Sandbach) that will cremate Kent and return the ashes for £40+VAT, so that's what we've gone for - we want to sprinkle the ashes over Kent's favourite places in the garden, amongst others, her favourite bush, the potato patch which made for many a leafy snack etc.

[MedusA]

So, what we've got is a grey Speckledy (AKA Speckled Star) and a Blue Ranger (AKA Bluebelle), and even we've got names for them - Barnaby and Troy! We watch way too much Midsomer Murders...

 

Congratulations on your new girls. I love the names. My Mum and I are big Midsomer Murders fans too. I'm so glad Kiki has new friends to play with. Please post some pics soon.

[gongladosh]

Sure! Will do - I'll get some uploaded tomorrow!

[the bradley bunch]

We now have two beautiful new POL girls! Kiki's absolutely ecstatic and has spent a very happy evening mooching around their run.

 

so pleased to hear that it's been a happy ending for Kiki

x

[gongladosh]

As promised, here are some photos!

 

Kent (RIP) and Kiki (Kent is in the foreground)

 

Barnaby (new arrival - Speckledy)

 

Troy (new arrival - Blue Ranger) - she's a little flighty so it's hard to get a good picture right now!

[MedusA]

Thanks for the pics. They look lovely, Gong.