Part 0800.0005

[beach chick]

well off to the vet at 3.20 today - good chicken vet is in. Ditto is no better and no worse - she's eating and drinking, but still hunched and her eyes are oval rather than good and round and open. so we will see what vet has to say!

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have just got back with my todays 2year release henniversary girl. a whopping egg thin shelled just sitting there!

fingers crossed for your girl x

[beach chick]

just back from vets, rather inconclusive. not myco, as no resp symptoms, but on the other hand nothing clear to make a diagnosis of anything else. she has been nursed indoors with baytril for 5 days now - initially rallied then plateaued. vet thinks she could just get better; could get suddenly worse; or could just fade gently. he says she shows no sign of any pain.

following a long chat with the vet I have decided to keep her in tonight and give 2 more doses of baytril, then put her back with the others in the morning so she can be a chicken again. any problems and she will come out and to vet to be PTS; if she hangs in there and fades then perhaps she'll go in her sleep. or maybe she'll just keep on going.

she's had nutridrops, rescue remedy, tuna, poultry spice etc etc over the last few days. will try some lifeguard as well.

ho hum.

[sandyhas3chucks]

have you sent a sample to retfords? she might have something that does not respond to baytril like brachyaspira which seems very prevalent just now and needs a specific antibiotic called denegard. then ther is Liebseilla which responds to erythromycin not baytril

[beach chick]

no, I havent, that's a good idea I will do that. what do I do, just scoop some poo into a plastic bag? I will google them to find out... thanks Sandy!

[Egghead68]

Yes write them a letter giving as much detail as possible about your hen and her symptoms and send it with you contact details and the poo in a bag. You can phone them a few days later to get the results and pay by credit card. They were really helpful with my chickens, suggested the appropriate treatment and talked to my vet. Good luck!

[sandyhas3chucks]

I use old pill pots, those old 35mm film cases are good. anything small and light.

depends how much of a hurry you are I usually want results yesterday

I send guaranteed next day del. costs under a fiver.

then tests approx £28

then meds what ever, these days they want your vet to send a prescription if you want them to send out meds, unless you don't have a vet or you can get your vet to get meds. some still insist on seeing the chook and charging an extra consultation charge, mine don't.. they are stars.

send a covering letter age breed symptoms then ring 3 days later to see if their are any results

 

good luck

[beach chick]

sample taken and sent off with covering letter.

I've put her back out with the others - Chardonnay started having a right go at her, so she is now in the tortoise cage inside the WIR to give her a bit of protection. although it's cold out there, she is a lot more lively than she was indoors, and seems very happy to be in sight and sound of her friends again. fingers crossed now!

[Plum]

Sounds good, will be interested to hear what shows up

[beach chick]

popped her into the cube lasst night so she could get the warmth from the others, and this morning they are one big happy flock again, she's been outside pecking the frost, seems pretty good at the mo!

[Egghead68]

Glad to hear she's doing well.

[sandyhas3chucks]

what did the tests say?

[beach chick]

sorry - not been around for a few days!

all clear, nothing apparent. she's doing ok at the moment, seems happy enough in herself tho I am not 100% per cent convinced she might not go downhill again.