Omlet cube and run

[DebC]

Dear All

 

I need some advice please. One of my girls isn't well. On Friday night I noticed that she had a really pooey bum, and it's getting worse. The poo is the colour and texture of double cream! and is just dribbling from her bum. Yesterday and today she's been looking off colour and is sat huddling in a corner. She laid an egg on Thursday and was perfectly normal.

 

Any Ideas? I'm just off to give the run and cube a total hose/scrub down. I clear out the poo regularly and wash the water containers/feeders every time they're filled, but I only clear out all the hemcore and hose down every month. should I be doing it more frequently?

 

The other thing that I have noticed is that for the last week or so three of my girls have started to sleep on top of the cube. As I have a fox proof WIR I don't close the cube door at night, so they go to bed and get up when they feel like it (it stops them making too much noise early in the mornings). But do I need to be making them go in at night? The poorly girl isn't one of these rebels.

 

Thanks for your help

[MarkBevBen]

Awww Deb, just wanted to say hope your poorly girl is feeling better soon.

 

We're very new to chickens but have found this forum and website really helpful, so I'm sure someone will be along real soon xxx

[jellykelly]

Sorry to hear of your poorly girl.

 

My first thought would be to check for red mite in the cube. If the others are relucant to go in overnight it could be that red mite are feasting on the one girl that is in there - thus making her unwell.

 

Have you given her a thorough check over? Give her abdomen a feel - is it enlarged and fluid filled (compare against another chicken) - Is she eating and drinking at all?

 

I would bring her in and keep an eye on her just to monitor her food and water intake.

[the bradley bunch]

hi deb,

 

i have no idea about the creamy poo, but i know that we clear & replace all the hemcore bedding weekly (also giving a sprinkle of diatom over the fresh bedding weekly to keep any little critters at bay from my girlies ), and do a big hose down fortnightly. i know the advice we got was that a monthly hose down was adequate, but because we have close neighbours we like to really keep on top of the cleanliness! i would definately recommend replacing the bedding more frequently than once a month tho...but i'm still a newbie myself so may not be right in saying this i think what works for each person is different, but i'm just worried that this could be a contributing factor to the dirty bum... although hopefully somebody else will be along soon to give you some more experienced advice

 

i'd also advise locking your girls in the cube at night - there have been 2 threads since friday where suspected 'mink' attacks have been occuring (they are able to get through very small holes the same as a rat, but unfortunately have the killing power of a fox), one poor member found one of their girls covered in blood and missing a leg when a suspected mink reached through a small 2 inch gap and grabbed at the chicken, who unfortunately had to be put to sleep the next day . i know this is an awful thing to tell you & to talk about, but with your girls sleeping on top of the cube they are especially at risk of such attacks. one they have got used to being locked in at night the noise shouldn't be a problem so long as you let them out at a reasonable time in the morning once it is light...it's much better to have your girls safely tucked up in their cube at bedtime the little rebels will just have to find another way to be mischevious, i'm sure they won't have difficulty thinking of something!

 

hope your little girly gets better soon x try and keep her bottom nice & clean by regular bathing incase she's at risk of Fly Strike

[Christian]

She could be egg bound, as the egg would stop normal droppings and only the urine part of her droppings could get through?

 

Or egg peritonitis? Have a look in the FAQs chicken health section for details. If she isn't better later, then a trip to the vet might be in order. Keep her warm, by bringing her inside with food and water.

[DebC]

Thanks for your help.

 

I've just finished cleaning the cube and run. I'm really embarressed as I found a small clump of what I think might be red mites. As I was jetting in the gap between the grey base and green side a large clump of some thing came out and on closer inspection it didn't look too good and seemed to be moving! But how would they have got there. The run and cube are kept clean. I feel like a really bad chicken mummy. Clearly the other girls are quite clever , because they weren't going in. I'm just off to get some spray, even though the cube has been hosed and scrubbed.

 

However, I also spotted in their free ranging area some mushrooms growing and they seemed to have been pecked. I've cleared them all, but I wonder if she's eaten them and made herself ill?

[the bradley bunch]

don't feel like a bad chicken mummy! (that's a 'stop right there' hand not a 'talk to the hand' hand!) Lol

you've been doing what you think is right for your girls, and everybody hits bumps along the road and has to change the way they do things.

i've only been a chicken mummy for 4 months and i've already had to change the way i use diatom, change my cleaning routine, i've found out about knew illnesses and things i should be checking my girls over for regulary, and not to mention the 3 different bedding materials i've had to trial & error and the floor to the run which i'm still not entirely sure how to line and keep clean . the run i bought is so inpratical that we're currently having to shell out more cash to build a wir for the girls to shelter & play in over the winter

i think being a chicken mummy is one unrelenting learning curve for both the chicken newbie & the experienced chicken keeper! but at the end of the day the chickens don't care about any of that stuff, they just thrive on your love & attention and your worry & guilt is clearly proof of how much you care for your little monsters

 

diatom is great for keeping red mite at bay & also for getting rid of any already there, puff it right into all the cracks & crevices of the cube and they'll soon be a problem of the past

 

and how is your other little girl doing? is she doing any better now? hope so