dancing cloud Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 (edited) It never rains etc - they were all well till yesterday ! The eldest of my girls, Chance has been looking unhappy for the last week or so and I put it down to missing her friend Roxanne, who died two weeks ago . By yesterday lunchtime it was clear she had sour crop, so I've been massaging regularly and she's been making gurgling noises and drinking lots of water, but it's still not cleared and she's now looking very unhappy indeed. Yesterday just before bed-time, I saw a couple of girls chasing another and went out to see what they were up to. Lady and Lola were chasing Little Chicken, who was trying to hop away from them on one leg . I can't find any obvious signs of injury, but she is holding up her left leg and unable to bear weight on it. She has actually extended it to the floor today, but is still hopping and not able to walk. I've kept her in the conservatory with Chance all day and she has been eating and drinking OK (especially cat food!), but again it's not exactly getting better quickly. It didn't stop Little Chicken shouting her head off when I tried to keep her in the conservatory rather than putting her to bed in her - so I had to give in and put her to bed in her usual spot next to Lola. Assuming Chance survives the night and barring any miraculous recoveries, it's off to the vets for both of them tomorrow. They say everything comes in threes so, just to add to the drama, Loki-cat came in dripping blood this morning . Thankfully his was only a small injury to his chest (probably either barbed wire or the mouse bit back) and the bleeding was soon stopped, but it's definitely been one of those weekends. Here's hoping everyone gets better soon ! Edited October 29, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Perhaps Little Chicken will be ok tomorrow morning, I hope so. Good luck with Chance and tell your wicked cat to leave them mice be. Cat's heal pretty quickly if it's not infected. Hope you have a better week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Good luck at vets. Sour crop can be awful (and very smelly). Hope little chickens leg gets better. Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 18, 2010 Author Share Posted October 18, 2010 Thanks for the goodwill messages and positive vibes. Back from the vets with both girls and £45 lighter. Chance has been given Baytril and a "maybe" diagnosis . I'll get some live yoghurt at lunchtime and try to get some into her. Although she's still very sleepy, her comb is more pink (it did go purple) and her eyes are brighter, and she did have a little peck at the cat food I gave Little Chicken for breakfast. Little Chicken has nothing broken and has been given Metacam for pain relief. I'm borrowing a dog crate to keep her resting and she is now extending the foot to the floor more often, though still hopping. She still has her appetite and her voice - you should have heard the yelling for her bed last night ! I'm much relieved to have brought them both home, as I was particularly worried about Chance having no propsects of recovery, and the conservatory makes a good infirmary. Chickens eh - it's a good job we love 'em ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 Wishing her a good recovery. Poor you having such bad luck. Lots of fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 Good news and not so good and still seeking omleteer positive vibes for both please. Chance looks a little more lively, though her crop is still not clearing. I managed to syringe most of her medication into her beak along with some yoghurt this morning, and she was drinking and had made a very squitty poo before I left. Not so good is Little Chicken, though hopefully no real harm done. Rather than shut the conservatory door, I had barricaded it with the washing airer so all the hens could see each other but not get to each other - a barrier I have used in doorways all summer. I think Little Chicken had tried to get over the barrier as, when I got home last night, it had fallen over outwards and she was trapped underneath it, and the other horrible hens had pecked at her and made her bleed . Obviously I released her and there was much soothing, cuddling and bathing of wounds, but I still feel terrible, as as she'd been trapped, frightened, in pain and attacked and I hadn't been there to help her. I know hens don't really have expressions, but you could sense the relief she felt when I arrived and as soon as I held her on my knee she just snuggled up. The nasty little blighters have ripped all the feathers out of her right shoulder and pecked raw about a 4cm length that's about 2cm wide at its widest point. It's been bathed and looks clean and dry this morning, but it must have hurt . She was also slightly drooping the wing that had been trapped last night, but I couldn't find any injuries to it and that's all back in its usual place this morning. She was also extending and hobbling a little on the injured leg, so hopefully that is on the mend. Whilst she slept happily in the dog-crate with Chance last night, Little Chicken is now (understandably) frightened of the others and made scared noises this morning until I shut the conservatory door and she was clear they couldn't get in. I think once her injuries are fully healed there's going to have to be some very careful re-introductions and her close friendship with Lola - best friends since they day they arrived - may now be at an end. Little Chicken did however hobble to the front of the crate this morning and looked like she wanted to be picked up and, when I put her on my knee, she snuggled in and purred when cuddled, so I may have a new best friend. Keep those positive vibes coming please and here's hoping all the trauma is over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Crikey, how awful for you and Little Chicken. Lots and lots of positive vibes still coming your way. Chin up you were trying your best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Oh no, poor you and Little Chicken We're all keeping everything crossed and sending our very finest pinkest positive vibes to you all xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Poor little girl - keep up with the hugs and I hope she continues to improve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 more positive vibes from us x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Thank you for all those lovely positive vibes, they seem to be working well Little Chicken is increasingly mobile and putting her foot to the floor a lot more often. She's still hobbling badly and cannot go very far, but she managed to move quite quickly when she saw cat food coming this lunchtime . I've let Lola have a couple of supervised visits and there was no attacking, so I have hopes that the friendship may be restored (unlike Lady asbo-chicken who immediately tried to peck Little Chicken's sore shoulder and had to be removed ). Although Little Chicken wanted to come up on my knee this morning, it was mainly so she could look out of the window and see what the others were doing rather than for a hug, and I would happily trade scared cuddly hen for my spoiled demanding little madam back all fit and well. Chance has done some more poo's, mainly water but at least that means something's getting through, and she was also interested in the cat food and managed to eat some without any regurgitating (sorry if that's too much detail ). I'm seeing the fact that she's eating and drinking as positive, and she's certainly looking brighter though there's no obvious reduction in her crop yet. There's bokashi and live yoghurt in her pellet-porridge, which should assist the baytril in moving things along. Please keep sending those special omlet positive vibes , they're certainly doing the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 They're still coming your way. Well done Little Chicken and Chance keep getting better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 Many thanks for all those positive vibes and very cautiously optimistic for both girls Little Chicken is still limping though she's definitely on the mend, now out and about in the garden with the others. She can manage to get herself in and out of the and has laid an this morning. None of them seem to want to attack her any longer, even Lady thug-chicken is leaving her alone . Chance is not yet out of the woods and is very weak, but is still with us. For the first time today, she has taken herself out of the conservatory/infirmary and is currently in the garden in the sunshine. Her crop seemed a little more empty this morning and, although her comb was purple and she seemed very cold initially, she perked up quite quickly when I brought her in and popped her on my knee and a snugglesafe for a while. Her comb's now a lot pinker and she's had a little pureed cat food, and it's still a case of wait and . Thanks for all the support and positive vibes - please keep them coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 has she got Nystatin? maybe ask your vet for some on Monday? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Sending lots more vibes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Just to say I do hope Chance and Little Chicken continue to improve. Your "before" and "after" pictures of your hens are quite something! Best wishes from my three ex-batts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 29, 2010 Author Share Posted October 29, 2010 Yet another update, 'cos if you're like me you always want to know how the story ends . Chance is still with us - very thin and frail, but taking herself slowly around the garden with the others (well, she is top chook). Her crop is far from OK and her comb is very floppy and pinky purple, but two weeks on she is still alive and still taking an interest in remaining so. Fingers very much crossed for more improvement. Little Chicken is very much better and with only a bit of a limp now. I knew she was much-recovered when she tried to avoid being picked up and struggled to get away like a teenager not wanting a hug! She and Lola are now best friends again too. Many thanks to you all for your advice and support, and for being people that are never going to say "it's only a chicken"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Bless her..she'll get there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 have you considered that Chance may have something that Baytril will not kill? I would be inclined to pop a sample off to Retfords. I sent one spec delivery Monday and had result on Thursday, may have been sooner but as girls very much up and down I did not call on Wednesday. She only has one thing of note and only one thing will kill it. As it happens my vet did not have this in small quantity so he gave them perm to post and it came next day. Cost £11 meds for all girls and recorded del. £28 for full range of tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Sounds like good advice. Will continue to hope that Chance and Little Chicken make a full recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 not to high jack, but just to add I have had iffy poo on and off for some time, re wormed and got a tad better |(i thought) day 2 of the "right med" ALL good all time by now , so actually after 30 hours an obvious visaable improvement!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 not to high jack, but just to add I have had iffy poo on and off for some time, re wormed and got a tad better |(i thought)day 2 of the "right med" ALL good all time by now , so actually after 30 hours an obvious visaable improvement!!! Did you consult a doctor ?? If not, you should................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 31, 2010 Author Share Posted October 31, 2010 Thanks for all your encouragement everyone. Chance is looking a little better this weekend and is definitely happier mooching in the garden with the others than on her own. She's very slow and sleepy and only eating tiny amounts, but she's been out of her cage now for two years and five months, so is quite an old ex-batt lady and not likely to bounce back quickly. Being top-chook for the last six months is something Chance has very much enjoyed, especially since she started out as bottom hen of the original six! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 that is a good age... the bird care company, sell something called guardian angel, all sorts of good stuff in it, really really helped 2 of my old girls in their recovery. (next day delivery, but del charge regardless of order, so worth maybe having a look see if you want to stock up on anything) I use their calciboost and Poultry essentials and all have a long shelf life on them (something not all places are good at!) is she also moulting again? this really takes it out of the oldies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
