Thalia Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 (edited) My new Cream Legbar chicken, Iris, is unwell. She has had a mucky behind for a couple of days now so I took her to the vet on Thursday. She said that it was most likely worms, although I did say that the breeder had told me she had been wormed recently when I got her. She said to worm her with Flubenvet, which I've been doing, and come back if there was no improvement and get some baytril. She actually seemed to be pick up slightly yesterday, but I'm wondering if this was just her faking it well now. This morning I came down to let them out of their house and she was obviously much worse. I've put her in a cat carrier and she's currently inside sat by the backdoor looking very quiet and sorry for herself. I'm off to the vet in about an hour to get the baytril. I've been syringing some water into her beak (with some tonic added to it), but I'm not sure how much she's getting as I'm not very expert. I don't know how much water I should be trying to get into her at this stage, and any advice would be appreciated. She doesn't seem to be eating any of the food that I've put down for her. I'm really worried that I'm going to lose her. Is there anything else that I can do? Edited October 3, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 You don't say how old she is. I'd see what the vet says re other advice at this stage. If she is at POL, she could be working up to laying her first egg, or a soft one, and that can make them feel ill. However, don't take that as a diagnosis! Just an observation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 Sorry, Egluntyne. She's 18 weeks and a Cream Legbar so I wasn't expecting her to come into lay for another couple of weeks, if at all this year. She's currently sat in the cat box with her eyes shut, looking like a very ill chicken. The water I gave her did seem to help a little, she's was a little more lively, and had a half-hearted peck at me at my second attempt at syringing, which I take to be a good sign. OH has gone off to get some probiotic yoghurt so that I can syringe that into her. She was totally uninterested in the meal worms I tried to give her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 I'd have a word with the vet. She sounds as if she isn't improving. Does her chest sound rattly at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 She doesn't sound rattly and there's no discharge from her nose. The vet seems to think it may be a gut infection of some type. I've given her the first dose of baytril and some yoghurt. She did bok at me when I picked her up, which she hasn't done all day, so perhaps the water has helped a little. I'll just keep syringing water and yoghurt into her and cross my fingers that and the antibiotic will sort out the problem. What would your advice be about keeping her inside? I was considering putting her in the garage tonight in the cat box to keep her isolated from the others. It's well ventilated but not too warm in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 I wouldn't give her too much yoghurt as they aren't really designed to cope with dairy products. You may be able to tempt her with some warm weetabix mash or porridge. You are quite right in trying to keep her hydrated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 mine seem to like runny ready brek made with water, they seem sometimes to react to it if they can see it moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 When flora had Cocci and wasn't eating the vet said to syringe baby food in to her. She did take some but got a bit messy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 I just persuaded her to drink some water on her own by holding the bowl to her beak. I made a watery porridge out of some layers mash and managed to get a few bits into her, but it was a messy job! She did peck at some of the bits that spilled on the floor but not with any real vigour, still better than this morning. She is looking a little brighter and actually standing up to look at things. I'm really hoping that this means she's on the mend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 It's more important to get the water and medicines in at the moment. Hope she has picked up again in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 Unfortunately Iris passed away this morning. She was much worse again this morning and very sleepy. The only thing that makes me feel better is that she had a happy time running around the garden this last week, and I did everything I could to help her. Even though I only had her for a couple of weeks, I'm really going to miss her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Oh dear, that is sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I'm so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Oh Thalia, I'm so sorry to hear about Iris Sending you lots of hugs. Having also recently lost one of our girls I can understand what you're going through. We'd only had Lottie nearly three weeks, but we'd already grown so attached to her. May Iris be playing happily with Lottie and all the others in that big dustbath in the sky xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
