Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[txswanie]

Ginger was really sick last week, her white cell count was 68,000 when it should have been 10,000. The vet said that this indicated a virus. She was rasping and wheezing so they thought it was respiratory. She is on Baytril and has been in quarantine for 8 days. 2nd blood test yesterday showed the white cell count now at 36,000, so its coming down. In my opinion she is much better, no wheezing or sneezing, she has put on weight and is eating well. Thing is, after spending almost 600 dollars I still don't actually know what is wrong with her. They are saying I should keep her on baytril for another 10 days and keep her quarantined and then bring her in next week for another blood test (another $250). She is a very sociable chicken and I fear that keeping her apart will hurt her more. She makes a huge fuss when I leave her and I think she is going broody.(first time I have ever seen her sitting on an egg) When I told the vet this she just said "well its your call". Yeah.thanks for that..

I really don't know what to do about this. I hate bringing this down to money but its getting too expensive.

Should I put her back in with the others and just watch them? or should I leave her in the quarantine and risk her getting depressed.

To cap the whole thing off we are in the middle of a terrible heat wave. I have 3 fans going in the garage now.

help.

Thanks

Colette.

[stoice]

I baulked at the £40 i was charged at one vet to get a poorly hen put to sleep!

It's a tough situation as you clearly love your chook but I think spending over $600 (£380ish) on this problem is a lot already, even before the addition of another $250 (£160ish) If she's looking better do you really need to test her? I'm also not sure antibiotics will help against a virus (Just thinking back to whenever i visit the doctors only to be told it's a virus and go home, drink plenty of fluids and rest - I'm guessing it's the same with chickens?) My vet said my 'chesty' chook had either a bacterial infection or a virus (Really long name but not Myco) which would have an incubation period of 10 days. Maybe a few more days in quarantine may be prudent for the sake of your other hens (On the assumption it's the same thing of course - I'm no vet) and carry on with the baytril as it's been prescribed. Personally I think your vets may be taking advantage of your caring and concerning nature and it's time to step back from paying them more money. Some garlic or citricidal in her water is a cheap natural remedy to help her back on form once her prescribed medicine has been used.

[txswanie]

The cost of vets here (California) is completely ridiculous. She was just so sick looking I didn't want to take a chance. (I shouldnt really say this but she is my favourite )

Anyway I sat with her for an hour today and we went for a walk down the road. She wasn't wheezing or snotty and she was eating well and so fed up at being in the garage that I decided to put her back in with the girls and continue the course of Baytril. I figured that if anyone else shows symptoms I can give them Baytril. I am not taking her back to the vet as they couldn't even diagnose a specific illness or even give me a clue as to where it may have originated (I have been scrubbing furiously all day just in case)

She was so happy to be back with her gang and what did the "Ooops, word censored!"s do? They decided to put her back at the bottom of the pecking order. Poor thing has been getting picked on all day. Hope it settles down.

I did get Citracidal and am putting it into the communal water. Should I do this continuously or is it week on week off like ACV?

I know that I am a sap when it comes to my animals I just cant help it. The dogs have better insurance than I do!!

Hey, I wonder if you can insure chickens???

Thanks

Colette.

[Egluntyne]

I'm not surprised you are thinking twice about the cost.

 

As she is improving, I'd take a risk and slowly reintroduce her to the flock. There might be a few squabbles, as they may see her as a stranger

[Chucky Mama]

Raised white counts are generally indicative of a bacterial infection rather that a viral infection (to know for sure they need to look at which white cells are increased). The fact that your hen has responded to antibiotics would also indicate a bacterial infection. If you want to save a bit of cash I would continue the antibiotics but ask for no further blood tests to be done. I would try to have some Baytril in your back pocket ready (or Tylan which requires no egg withdrawal) and slowly re introduce. Good Luck

[Plum]

You don't need the blood test on a chicken with symptoms to know it has an infection. They're taking you for a ride so I would get another vet. Hope she picks up and those girls let her be.