Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[madamding]

 

One of my girls just isn't right.

 

We first noticed it about 2 months ago as she appeared broody for a few days but then she started acting a bit odd so we checked them all out and noticed that we had a red mite infestation which we have successfully dealt with after two attempts. Anyhow she appeared to be quite happy, if a little thin and we figured she'd pick up which she did for a while.

 

She has good days and bad days and is still laying every now and again but she doesn't come out of the house immediately when I open the door in the morning and she spends a lot of the day just staring out the back of the run away from the other hens (in exactly the same spot every day) or going in the hen house a lot. She shows enough interest when I go in with treats but today she wasn't really eating and she feels considerably thinner than the rest. I have noticed any unusual poops from her.

 

I'm quite new to chicken-keeping so I'm not sure what this could be or if I should be getting her looked at?

 

Advice would be very much appreciated.

[Plum]

It could be that you still have red mite. I don't know if you realised but you have to treat the housing and repeat it to reduce the numbers of mites as well as treat the chicken. She could be aneamic which would make her pale and fail to thrive.

It could be something else so if no red mite in the house and with the weight loss I would take her to be checked at the vet. I didn't quite understand if you said she had unusual droppings or not but if they are I would take a specimen with you as well.

Poor girl hope you can sort her out.

[madamding]

Sorry, I made a typo, I meant to say I hadn't seen any unusual poops from her but have just been out to see her this morning and she's just done a very liquid yellow one. She's sitting at the back of the hen house today, eyes closed, not moving.

 

She's had really mucky bum feathers recently but aside from being a bit antisocial she has seemed relatively okay if a bit under the weather but she's definitely taken a turn for the worse today.

 

I'm pretty sure we got all the red mite, we treated the hens and the house thoroughly, three times, moving them into a new house whilst we disinfected the other. I've checked several times since for mites and seen no trace of them.

 

Really silly question, but can you take your chicken to any vet?

[alet_chicken]

Hi madamding

 

Sounds like she has diarrhea, so a vet visit may be a good idea. Any vet is better than no vet in an emergency. However, many vets are not that knowledgeable about chickens, so I would suggest that you check that the vet is happy to treat chickens when you book an appointment. There is a list of chicken-friendly vets here, or if you could tell us where you are then somebody might be able to suggest a vet.

 

Best of luck with Beryl.

[madamding]

Thanks. I'm in Solihull, I think I've found one nearby.

 

Just been out to check and she's huddled up like she's cold, in the house. Checked her crop and there's nothing in it, she's literally a bag of bones. We're going to put her in her own house tonight and this afternoon we're going to try and hand feed her some water and liquid mash and see how she does

[alet_chicken]

Pleased to hear there is a chicken-friendly vet close by.

 

In my experience they can go downhill very quickly, and it's worrying that she's not eating, so the sooner she can get to a vet, the better.

[Plum]

Just a thought has she been wormed? The vet may give you flubenvet or similar. It could be something easily treated so I would definately take her but with weight loss as you describe I don't think you can afford to try things without advice.

Good luck.

[madamding]

Hi, yes she has been wormed.

 

I couldn't get her to a vet today. To be honest, I don't think she's going to make it through the night

 

We've hand fed her some mash today and water which she took but she's not walking or even moving now and not opening her eyes. It's very sad but I think she might be at the end of the road.

 

I've brought her into the house tonight for a bit of warmth and comfort and she's sleeping peacefully. I'm not expecting her to be alive in the morning

[Plum]

She's quiet and not suffering. So sorry.

[madamding]

I'm kind of hoping that she does go overnight, I feel bad that she might carry on for a few more days in this state but she doesn't seem distressed, there's just nothing "there" if you know what I mean.

[Wolfie]

Sorry to hear about Beryl. You are doing your best - keep her warm. Let us know what happens.

[madamding]

Sadly as expected Beryl didn't make it through the night

[jill the potter]

so sorry.

[alet_chicken]

So sorry to hear about Beryl.

 

I know it's scant consolation, but she was comfortable in the end, and as you say, it came mercifully quickly.

[Donna C]

Really sorry to hear about Beryl. Just for future ref, i live in solihull and we use Amicus vets by retail park

(number is in phone book) and a few times I've gone to 608 vets(by lode lane car park again in phone book) in an emergency and both are great. Sorry for the loss again

[beach chick]

sad to hear, but I dont really think you could have done much else. at least she went gently.

[Plum]

Sorry to hear it