Mercedes55 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I see already today I am not the only one with a poorly girl. We've had our ex batts since the beginning of July and when my OH checked the run today he couldn't find our head hen Bella, seems she was just standing in the Cube nest with her head on one side. We have brought her indoors and right now she is in one of those cat carriers, which is way too small, so OH has gone back to work to try and find a big box. She ate a little bit of corn that I put in the carrier, but she is still just standing there with her head on one side. This is the first time we've had anything like this and I'm really unsure what to do. I am tempted to take her to the vet, but my OH says there is nothing the vet would be able to do. Should we just keep her in the warm and see if she is better tomorrow, just so confused with it at the moment as don't know what to do for the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Ahhh bless her. Hope she feels better soon. As long as she's out of the draft and in a nice dark comfy quiet place, she will hopefully just go to roost for the night. Give her access to food and water, and maybe check her again in the morning. If she still isn't right after a night in normal temperature conditions, maybe a trip to the vet would be a good idea. Don't worry, you are doing the best for her, hope she feels better soon. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 Well we have put her in a big cardboard box with towels on the bottom of it and put some food and water in there too. She seemed to perk up for a bit as she was looking over the top of the box for a little while. We have now put the box in the TV room where it's dark and quiet and I've put an elasticated towelling sheet over the top of the box just in case she decides to try and jump out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Ah bless her, can just picture her poking her head over the top! It sounds like she has the perfect set up there and I hope she feels better in the morning. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 This cold weather must make them vulnerable to problems. Have you checked the usual things, droppings, listened to breathing, looks for discharge from nostrils and eyes, looked at vent, felt crop, checked for creepy crawlies and that and signs of soft egg? Hope she's ok in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 This cold weather must make them vulnerable to problems. Have you checked the usual things, droppings, listened to breathing, looks for discharge from nostrils and eyes, looked at vent, felt crop, checked for creepy crawlies and that and signs of soft egg? Hope she's ok in the morning. Well we did notice her droppings were very runny, there is no discharge from her nose or eyes and her comb is nice and red. I did try to look at her vent but quite honestly I'm not sure what I am looking for and I didn't even think to feel her crop or check for creepy crawlies. She is one of our hens that lays an egg every day so it is possible she may have a softie there, although I 'think' she laid an egg already this morning as there was one in the nest first thing and she is usually the first one to lay. I have been advised to get a syringe and give her half live yoghurt and olive oil and also to put sugar in her water, don't have a syringe so will pop down to Boots shortly and see if I can get one. She is still standing up in the box and when we take the cover off she is still quite perky and is looking over the top, which I guess is a good sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 You can use a teaspoon if you haven't got a syringe. Take care going out in this weather. When you look at the vent check for infestation, prolapse, and any unusual redness in vent sign of infection. If the droppings are really loose still it may be worth worming or sending a sample to Retford if she hasn't picked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 all the above advice is very useful. I would second the being careful about going out in this weather! if you haven't got a syringe do you have a dropper at all? I'm thinking one of those ones you get in ear drops or similar. a teaspoon is a bit of a fiddle, especially if she puts up some resistance. if you have a straw, you could suck some water into that, put your thumb over the top and drip some water in that way. water is more important than food, if you can keep her hydrated then she will be ok til you can get to the vet. if you cant drip/drop any water into her, try making a really wet mash? eg tuna liquidised wiht water, very wet weetabix/porridge etc - sometimes its easier to spoon something like that in. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 hubby is wrong, and you instincts are good,there is a lot a good vet might suggest, if no different in the morning I would take her before you get into the weekend and wish you had! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 Well we got the syringe and we just checked on Bella and she is sitting down in the box and seems okay. Also got the yoghurt and olive oil but wonder if it's now a bit late in the evening to be getting her out of the box and getting the stuff down her and checking her out. Does anyone know if it would be okay to wait till the morning or should we just mix the stuff up and give it to her now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Glad to hear you've got all the bits you need. Ultimately you should do what you feel is right, but I think if she is settled for the night it may be best to wait until daylight, when she would be awake anyway. If you are really worried about the dehydration thing, then you could try to wake her up and get some liquid into her if you like. Otherwise, why not see how things are at 7am tomorrow, let's hope she is a bit perkier after a comfortable night's sleep. Good luck skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share Posted December 4, 2010 Well we did end up giving Bella the yoghurt and olive oil mixture last night as when we checked on her she was awake and as soon as she saw us she got up and started drinking her water with sugar in it and the mealworms that I had put in earlier on. In fact she was so thirsty she drank a whole ramekin of water. She did not like the syringe at all and refused to take anything from that so we had to put the yoghurt mix in a saucer and she ate it from there. OH checked on her about 7am and she seems fine, touch wood. We will move the box into the conservatory today as we realise it's not good for her to get used to the warmth of the house. I will try and check her over once it's light and she is settled. I think the weather is a bit milder today, it's about zero degrees here. Not sure how long we should keep her indoors though, if she is okay all day should we put her back in with the others today or wait till tonight and put her into the Cube nest Here she is in the box last night, I don't think she looks too bad. I keep thinking if she were really ill she wouldn't be so inquisitive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 She sounds good now. I'd give her an hour or so in the conservatory to cool down then put her out with the others. You can always bring her in if she changes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share Posted December 4, 2010 She sounds good now. I'd give her an hour or so in the conservatory to cool down then put her out with the others. You can always bring her in if she changes Well we did that and she seemed fine at first, but after a few minutes she just started fluffing up and standing still again, so OH has brought her back indoors. Right now she is jumping out of the box onto my conservatory furniture, so I am guessing there can't be that much wrong with her. She's also devoured a bowl of porridge and raisins too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 She doesn't sound quite right. I think that you need to continue to support her by ensuring that she eats and doesn't get cold. She will find it quite a shock going out after being inside in the cosiness of your house which may make her fluff up and look miserable. However she may have a respiratory infection or similar which is more difficult for her to cope with out in the elements. If she doesn't return to normal in the next 48 hours it is worth popping her to a vet as she may need some antibiotics to get her back to good health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Hope she continues to improve, Mercedes, but perhaps it is worth keeping her slightly warmer than the conservatory for a bit longer to get her strength up and eat plenty. She looks very cute in that box! skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share Posted December 4, 2010 Well at it's a Saturday and most likely the vets will be closed tomorrow we have made an appt for this morning at the vets. I had to phone around 3 different practices before I found one who said they have a vet there who is knowledgeable about hens, so hopefully they will have an idea as to what is wrong. I just can't sit here and fret about what might or might not be wrong with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share Posted December 4, 2010 Apparently she has peritonitis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 (edited) couldn't find delete option, editted a new post Edited December 4, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Sorry to hear she has peritonitis, Mercedes. Did the vet say it was just a bout of it which could be overcome, or more serious? I think ours had peritonitis bouts for about her last year, but between bouts she seemed perfectly fine. Did the vet prescribe anything for her, and what did they say about whether she should be in warm, in cool or out altogether? skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 She doesn't sound quite right. I think that you need to continue to support her by ensuring that she eats and doesn't get cold. She will find it quite a shock going out after being inside in the cosiness of your house which may make her fluff up and look miserable. However she may have a respiratory infection or similar which is more difficult for her to cope with out in the elements. If she doesn't return to normal in the next 48 hours it is worth popping her to a vet as she may need some antibiotics to get her back to good health. that was what I was going to say,it will also save er energy for recovery not keeping warm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 4, 2010 Author Share Posted December 4, 2010 Well the vet said she will either be okay or she won't which isn't much help, but I guess she was being honest. Apparently when she examined Bella there was something in her vent that the vet pulled out and since she's been home she's laid a softie, which she then ate and we weren't sure whether she should do that or not. We have some calcium drops that we have to give her every day in some mashed potato, but she won't eat mashed potato. We tried her with layers crumbs mashed up and also mealworms with raisins, both with the drops added, but she wasn't interested. In the end we just had to use the syringe and put the drops directly into her beak. She is drinking lots of water but will only eat off my OH's finger, so she isn't getting a lot of food inside her. She has been in the conservatory but we are both sitting here watching her from the living room and the poor thing looks so unhappy that we have brought her into the living room. I know it's most likely too warm in here, but we can't bear to just see her being so unhappy and not well. We are both feeling quite sad to be honest as the more I read about peritonitis the more depressing it all seems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 I think the thing is pet chooks are a new thing for many vets and they don't really know. I have pm'd you, but please don't worry, as long as you don't stick her back out inthe cold after being warm, she will be fine I have 3 that will not be living outside again this winter and I DO know others that are doing the same (these are disabled ex bats, but honestly she will be fine, have lots of bog roll ever ready and enjoy getting to know your girl, very well. the guy at the bird care company will give you excellant advice with regard to the calcium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Merc, is she not better/brighter? I would expect her to improve after a softy- praps another one on the way.... She is an ex- batt iirc, so she maybe trying to retire from egg-laying and this is the unfortunate result. Try giving some cod liver oil to aid absorption of calcium, but won't matter if she is trying to retire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 I would expect her to start improving now that she has laid the softie. I wouldn't get too stressed about getting the calcium down her. It can probably be added to drinking water. Does it have a name? Keep doing what you are doing by keeping her out of the extreme weather without getting her overly warm as it will be quite a shock going back out again. Food, fluid and TLC are the most important things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
