Chicken boarders

[spencerwood]

Hello All,

I could do with a bit of advice please! We got 3 new point of lay hens yesterday and they seemed lovely heathly hens! However, yesterday afternoon, two of them seemed a bit sneezey and one of the two is also a bit snotty. The third one seems fine, at the moment! What should I do? Advise would be much appreciated! Thanks!!

[sjp]

It might just be down to the move and new surrounding in which case after a few days they should be fine

but if not something like Herban Liquid Poultry Tonic or Citricidal in the drinking water should help

[MarkBevBen]

Hiya Spencerwood, I've no advice unfortunately as we're very new to owning chickens, but hope your ladies will pick up and get better soon.

 

It couldn't be to do with the weather going colder perhaps could it?

 

Did you get your hens from Omlet?

 

Ours are arriving tomorrow from Omlet

[Bertrum]

Ours were exactly the same. Fine when we got them, snotty the next day.

It took a few weeks for them to get over it completely but they did in the end. We put garlic in the water which helped (just one clove peeled and chucked in), and now use Apple Cider Vinegar with garlic.

[chicken bark]

If it continues you can get something called Respite or Ropadair which is meant to be good. Not had to use it myself yet though. (keeping fingers crossed that the ACV is helping them stay healthy). It doesn't need a prescription.

 

What bedding are you using? Just a thought that it is best to use dust extracted stuff.

[Egluntyne]

I'd be on the look out for mycoplasma. It isn't normal to be sneezing and snotty just because of a move.

 

I'd keep them in isolation if you have other hens.

 

I'd have a word with the breeder too, in case his/her other hens have come down with it.

[lizzywood]

Hi All,

 

Thanks so much for the advice, its much appreciated!

 

Garlic has been added to their water and I'm keeping a close eye on them. At the moment, they all seem quite perky and are still eating and drink normally. I did contact the breeder and she has assured me that none of her other birds are showing similar symptoms, so hopefully all will be well with my news girls!

 

I did call my local vet. He has Baytril but he said he'd have to see them before it is prescribed. Can you buy this 'over the counter' or do you always have to get it from the vets?

 

I'll keep you posted!

[Egluntyne]

Baytril is prescription only.

[amc]

I would still be cautious about mycroplasma. Some of mine came with this virus a while back and the breeder told me the same thing. I subsequently found out that the breeder was being quite straight with me.

Do be careful, I left it too late before I realized that we did infact have mycroplasma. Worth giving the antibiotics to cover all bases. Can I ask where you got your hens from?

[spencerwood]

Hi All,

 

Thanks muchly for everyones advice/info. It's so nice to know that you're not alone and that you can come to the forum for help. I really really do appreciate!!

 

Today, my girls are still eating and drinking well and seem to be happily scratching around. I've seen two of them sneeze occasionally and one of the two is still a bit snotty (it seems to come out in little bubbles from the top of her beak) that said, I've decided to take them to the vets for a once over. If it's nothing, then great, if not, I'll have to get it sorted... and having read various threads on the forum describing similar symptoms, I've a feeling their going to need antibiotics.

 

I did speak with the breeder and they were happy to swap my girls for new ones but as we're already getting attached and they seem to have settled well into their new environment I didn't really want to do that.

 

I'll let you know how we get on!

[Bertrum]

Our Petunia had the whole bubbles from her nose and sneezing thing. It wasn't Mycoplasma because both our hens were vaccinated against that. Ariadne even had bubbles coming from her eyes which is a 'classic' Mycoplasma symptom. So don't get too scared, they might just have the sniffles.

Clearly, I only have a positive experience of two snotty, but fully vaccinated hens, other folk on here have a LOT more experience than me

[spencerwood]

Hi,

 

That's good to know, thanks! I'm feeling a little less anxious now but I'll have to see what the Vet says!

 

Fingers crossed all will be well though...

[spencerwood]

Hi All,

 

Apologies for not updating this post sooner ...but it's been a bit of a stressful time and a very long story ...but I’ll do my best to keep it brief!

 

We’ve been backwards and forwards over the last few weeks (from going to the Vets, to giving the girls back to the breeder to ‘put right’, to getting the girls home) and I had thought they were fixed ...until on Monday, one of my ladies seemed sneezey and snotty again.

 

Although they all seem very happy in themselves, eating, laying well and scratching away, I couldn’t let these symptoms continue, so I took her to a local Vet who apparently dealt with Poultry fairly frequently. He was fabulous and prescribed a course of Baytril.

 

Now, this is where is gets tricky, as he has asked me to ‘crop feed’ it to her. He demonstrated the technique to me by giving her the first dose but now it’s over to me (gulp) and I’m terrified of getting it wrong, as her head wiggles all over the place. Does anyone have any tips? Can I put the antibiotics on feed and give that it her directly or does it not have the same affect? I just don’t want to her hurt her...

 

Thanks in advance...

Edited September 28, 2010 by Guest

[Plum]

It's best to make sure they get the treatment because laying problems can follow after respiratory infections.

 

I wrap my girls up in a towel and tuck their body under my left arm then can hold the head with my left hand and syringe medicine in with right hand. It would probably be easier with help. Good luck.

The most effective treatment is in water over the day but if they are off it they don't drink so giving it in divided doses is next best thing.

[spencerwood]

Hi,

 

Thanks so much for that, I''ll give the towel technique a go later on this afternoon!

 

I hadn't read the post until now, so this morning, I squeezed the insides of several corn kernels out and then squeezed the antibiotic into that. It seemed to go down well but I think going directly into the crop is better but I'll let you know how I get on this evening.

 

They have only really just come into lay, say the last two weeks or so but do you think this will affect them going forward?

 

Thanks x

[Plum]

No you are looking after them well but don't eat the eggs for a bit

[amc]

Hi,hope it is going ok with the treatment. My hens which came with mycroplasma from 'surrey poultry' did get better with the antibiotics (the hens we kept, most we took back as they were so ill) but have never laid....would be really interested to know if your start laying again and how long it takes. I have almost given up hope of ever getting an egg from mine now!!