Mrs Potts Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Hi everyone. Florence has always had the most feathers and the best looking comb of our four ex-batts. The end furthest from her beak was blue from time to time in the last fortnight, so I have just about managed to put petroleum on it every few days. I think she does not like the cold because she never comes out to supper in the dark, unlike the others. Flo's comb colour seemed to recover well until yesterday. She appeared very slowly from the coop, comb had half collapsed, but pale pink. It looks like a very old comb, if that makes sense. Also, Flo just drank and drank and drank, inner eyelids (?) rolling up from time to time as her head sank back into her feathers, then she would drink again. She spent about half an hour drinking and was not interested in food at all. I read on the forum that it may be worms. I wormed her with Verm X on a bread cube then changed and Verm X'd water. Persuaded her that mealworms, grapes and mince were what she needed (had to imprison the others in the Eglu for a bit). Her crop is nice and soft, can't see any mites on her on in Eglu (but am no expert). She was a bit perkier today - but again, spent about half an hour drinking this morning. Her rear end seems clean. Any help greatly appreciated as to what this would be? Is it her kidneys giving up? Thank you, Mrs Potts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 As a starter for 10, I'd change the wormer from verm x to flubenvet then see how she is. Verm x is more a preventative measure, whilst flubenvet sorts any worm problems. But as an ex batt, it may be her time The blue comb could indicate heart problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 lots of ex bats have bluey bits, 2 of mine ever since they came 2 years ago,some it comes and goes. I would be most worried about the drinking which in my experience has always been one of 2 things a softee imminent but more worryingly a temperature cos they are ill. It is their way of cooling down, drinking and releasing it. You may find a trip to the vet and a simple course of anti biotic and she will be right as rain. good luck ETA OMG just looked you only got them this year, no!!!!!!!! not her time at all, 9god willing) please take her to the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hi to you all. Florence passed away this morning. We'd had to go to hospital today as my husband is a chronic asthmatic. We've all had flipping flu over Christmas, only his developed into a chest infection and we had to get to his consultant to get IVs. That's a six hour round trip and it was Florence's turn at the vets tomorrow. She didn't come out for porridge when I got home and was curled up in the egg compartment. She looked very peaceful but had obviously been dead sometime. Someone had laid an egg on her ... I felt her all over and could not feel any obstructions and there wasn't any leakage around her vent from what I could see. I wish I had known more what to do. We'll bury her under the apple trees tomorrow. Mrs P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 It happens. I have lost 2 ex-bats, one after 5 weeks another after 7 months. The other 5 are still going strong. Some are just more worn out than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Sorry to hear it and often you just don't know what happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catherinedon Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Really sorry to hear that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Sorry to hear that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Sorry to hear it ... and sorry to hear that you have all been ill over Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 So sorry about your hen and your family illness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 Thank you for all the kind messages. I found it very difficult caring for the other three the next day. All my oomph had gone and I felt like I was sitting in a bubble. I'm normally very good - not sure if that is the right word - with pet deaths. When our cat needed to be PTS at the age of 21, I had the vet visit and we had a walk up the garden and a stretch in the sunshine before she laid on my lap and the deed was done. My husband had to go and have tea at our friends down the lane, he just couldn't handle it. So for me, I don't think I handled Flo passing very well and feel guilty that I didn't manage the vet on Wednesday. I just couldn't be in two places at once. The nursing has been pretty constant and New Year's Eve was my first sleep of more than two hours in ten days, so I was probably just tired. Have to say I am much enthused about my hens again and they have been cleaned out, loused, newly woodchipped and sweetcorned! Leia seems lonely, though, and I am convinced she knows Florence has gone. Florence was a benign boss and seemed to calm the other two, who are just crackers, bless 'em. Mrs Potts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 It is really horrible when they die. She had a wonderful retirement with you, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Very sorry for your loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 Hello. It turns out that Leia's being a bit down is probably the same as Florence's illness last week. Leia has been a bit off her food (she'll eat if you put it under her beak just don't ask her to walk to the bowl) but this morning, popped out of the coop to start drinking, and drinking, and drinking .. I have taken her to the vet, who can find nothing wrong in that her lungs are clear, her stomach isn't distended/discoloured and no sign of stuck egg. Her temperature was 107.8, however, which the vet said was within .2 of the max on the thermometer. We have been Baytrilled, and will be Baytrilled for the next 5 days. We also have 3 syringes of levacide for worming Leia and the other two. I'm feeling a bit feeble. My husband has had swine flu+another unidentified flu + has two bacterial lung infections. He is on intravenous antibiotics and the cat has just plucked a pigeon on the lawn in front of me. It had half its tail feathers and the rest of it looked table ready but managed to fly off when he looked up and meowed at me. And today is Christmas tree putting away day. I sound about six years old, don't I?! At least I haven't got a temperature of 107.8. Can someone say something cheery about what you think her chances are, please? If not, please be truthful so I can prepare myself now. Also, if anyone has any thoughts on best to Levacide her today or perhaps tomorrow, letting the Baytril have a few hours clear to get working ? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I am sorry you are having such a terrible time of it. I have been looking after sick chickens while I've had flu this week and that was pretty grim but nothing compared to what you are going through. It's not surprising your hen is drinking so much with such a high temperature. Fingers crossed for her. Sounds like you are doing all you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Better than the pigeons What a rotten time you are having. High temp would indicate infection and if she's getting antibiotics and you are getting fluid down her then she must have a good chance so chin up and keep nursing the pair of them then when they're better make sure you get a pamper and a bit of time to recover yourself. I'd ring the vet to clarify when to worm. It may be better to wait a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Oh Mrs P...no words of wisdom at all, but just wanted to send buckets of sympathy - you really are going through the mill & I'm so sorry. You're doing all the right things for Leia - and you really can't be superwoman and save the world before tea time, so don't beat yourself up about Florence. You gave her more care than she'd have believed possible before her rescue and that's wonderful - and your OH did need care more than a chook.....so no guilt allowed. I'm another who gets depressed at the departure of the Christmas tree too - am always tempted to hang on to it, so it's just as well there's an official "last date" or I might try to keep it up all year (and then think of the needles!) Hope you can have some sort of a treat to make you smile this evening - glass of something yummy? Christmas chocolate? - and that things look much brighter in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 How are things today? Sending you good thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 i know i keep posting this , but I would pop a poop sample in the post to retfords. Libby has saved the lives of many, di ring after day3 of them receiving it (I always pay for next day delivery) there really IS nothing like having a definitive answer as Baytrill will not cover everything, but also might fix her and or buy you some extra time... if she will not eat try tempting her with grapes Melon cucumber, you could also try putting them trough a garlic press mad as it seems they like the mush and might drink the fluid. mine will often peck at a little scrambled egg or bit of my boiled egg. Could also be she is mourning here friend??? good luck, it sounds kike you are having a rough time of it. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Hello to you all. Thank you very much for all your good wishes and advice over the last few days. You have all been very kind and cheered me no end. I was relieved/astonished to see all three hens wander out this morning, but they just looked at their porridge and wandered off. Hetty was wheezing like a squeeze box and Blanchette, who can be relied on to peck 24 hours a day, looked only vaguely interested (*). Leia, whose last in pecking order, just looked as hesitant as usual BUT she didn't sit and drink the glug dry. Actually, she had a dust bath! So I locked her in the coop and fed her tuna and sweetcorn and then whipped the other two to the vet, got them checked and more Baytril all round. None of they will eat cucumber or grapes, unfortunately and frown on greens unless they are cooked. They all ate some pellet porridge for tea, though only a little. The Christmas tree is still up, I'm beginning to count syringes before I nod off each night but I am hopeful that having survived the night, she might just be ok ... Kind regards to you all, Mrs Potts (*)Actually, we have started to call Blanchette the Robochicken. She just runs up and down the run all day, pecking at everything - gently at Leia and Hetty, but also at anything she sees, even thin air. I think if you physically tried to stop her (course I wouldn't) she would implode. If anyone has food, she whips it away - she's tiny but is like some automatic eating machine. She was totally feathered but all of them white when we got her, so we have a theory that perhaps she didn't get enough protein when she was growing. That or she has mega worms ... Florence really balanced her frenetic energy out so well). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 PS Thank you for the hint about Retfords and garlic. They didn't poop in the coop last night and insisted on performing half way up the run this morning (it's a classic with a 4m run) so I'll ask Retfords for a kit and as soon as I can scoop some up, I will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 you don't need a kit, just a small container like the old 35mm camera cases or an old medicine pot. send covering letter. ring 3 days later. voila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
