Groovychook Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) One of my girls has had runny poo's for a while. I brought forward their Flubenvet treatment by a month but I saw no sign of worms when emptying the poo trays. Although there's been a slight improvement, I still think she's got a bit of a problem- I'm having to give her bottom washes about once a week. She seems perfectly happy in herself and is showing no other signs of illness but she's also the only girl not to start laying after her moult. I've bought some avipro and for the past few days, have been making them a porridge out of oat bran and yoghurt, with a sprinkling of avipro on the top. I thought it would be less wasteful this way, rather than putting it in their water. I'm just wondering if I'm sprinkling the right amount. I've been using about half a scoop between the three girls. Does that sound about right? I'm wanting to add to the flock this spring, so want to make sure that she's okay before introducing any more girls! Edited May 23, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I wouldn't worry too much so long as you're not using loads. I use it regularly as a preventative and in the bunnies' water too. I never have my specs on that early in the morning so just add a sprinkle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Thanks Claret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Just checked and the recommended dosage is 4g (one scoop, as provided) per 100ml of drinking water. There's also an identical product produced by Crossgates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Thanks for the linky Have bookmarked that for next time. I was just a little unsure of the dosage as I was putting it on their food rather than in their water... thought it would be wasteful in their water as I end up throwing most of it away every day. Phyllis has a job to reach down into the glug if I don't fill it! I suppose I could buy a smaller drinker for times like this when I'm treating them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 You could use other drinkers; I gave up on glugs ages ago and use a gravity drinker, but they also like drinking out of the sipper bottles - either bunny bottles with the long nozzle or those plastic/metal sippers (see below) that you pop onto drinks bottles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 I've got a gravity drinker that I use as an extra when we go away for the weekend... think it might have been damaged in the frost this winter though. It would be a good idea to ditch the glug ... it's so wasteful! I might try one of those bunny bottles & a smaller drinker too. I'll be needing more when I get some new girls anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 Well, after little improvement with the Avipro, I sent off some dropping samples to Retfords last week. I've just rung them to see if they'd found anything, and the tests reveal mild Brachyspira. I should have the report and prescription in a couple of days... the lady I spoke to mentioned something to treat it with beginning with a 'T'... could have been Tylan but note sure- she said I'd have to put it in her drinking water. Just wondered if this is an easily treatable problem- is it quite a common thing? Hilda seems perfectly happy in herself, it's just that she's got a permanently mucky bottom and isn't laying. I'm presuming I'll have to treat the other girls too I'm hoping that a course of medication will have her back to full health... in the meantime, I'm just heading out to give her bottom a quick wash... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share Posted April 7, 2011 I may be being a little impatient here, but could anybody tell me how long it normally takes Retfords to send out their written reports? I was given the results over the phone on Monday and rang today to ask when I could expect to receive their report and was told I should have it within the next few days. Is this normal for them? I'm just keen to start treating the girls- my post only arrives after 3pm and even if it arrives tomorrow, the vets will be closed until Monday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 9, 2011 Author Share Posted April 9, 2011 I received my report from Retfords this morning, so I can get the meds I need on Monday. They've recommended a course of Tiamulin, possibly with a follow up course a week or so later. I'm hoping it's not going to break the bank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 9, 2011 Author Share Posted April 9, 2011 I can't quite believe this- I'd just finished posting about receiving the report from Retfords, went to let the girls out, only to find Elsie lying dead in the run She'd been a bit under the weather for the past couple of days and I'd thought she was trying to lay a softy. I'm not sure what has happened to her, but she had a little yolk on her bottom feathers when I found her. Poor Elsie, she was obviously in a far worse state than I'd realised. When I checked on them earlier, there were no signs that she'd deteriorated any further I'm absolutely gutted... just my two araucana girls left now, hopefully the course of tiamulin will solve their problems. Feeling like a really rubbish chicken mum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I am sorry to hear that But please don't beat yourself up. I don't know what brachyspira is so I'll go and have a looksee. If she had been my girl I'm pretty certain I wouldn't have gone the Retfords route, so she would have deteriorated and one day I'd have found her dead and put it down to one of those things. You've done a lot more and then helped the rest of us by posting your experiences and broadening our knowledge. Thats being an extra good chicken Mum I'd say. RIP Elsie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 so sorry don't give yourself such a hard time, you did all you could Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 sorry to hear about Elsie - but you really did all you could x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 So sorry it's hard to lose them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 Thank you for the kind words It was a bit of a shock as I'd been concerned about Hilda rather than Elsie. I was just upset with myself for not noticing how unwell Elsie was Anyway, I'll hopefully get on top of the brachyspira and then get some new friends for my remaining two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Just a quick update... My two remaining girls have completed their course of medication for the Brachispira and Hilda is looking loads better! No more dodgy poo's or mucky bum. She's not started laying again yet, but I'm not at all bothered about that! We gave the run & house a very thorough clean out after the treatment had finished and are now looking forward to adding a few more girls next week- can't wait! A 7 day egg withdrawal was advised with the Vetmulin but Phyllis laid a day after that. Wouldn't there still be traces of meds within that egg? I'm a bit cautious about eating it, but with only 2 or 3 eggs a week at the moment, I'm loathed to throw it away!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 If you don't want to eat it, then just scramble it up and feed it to the chooks. I should think you'd be safe though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Thanks Claret, Think I'll feed it to Mr Groovychook instead... I'll let you know if he keels over after lunch tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I always give any dodgy eggs to the dogs - they love raw egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Sorry to hear about Elsie, but glad Hilda is so much better Well done for investigating her problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Well, Hilda's still not right. We completed a second course of Vetmulin- the Brachyspira having returned after the first one... only to find it's back again Retfords suggested that we try a course of Tylan this time and thankfully, my vet has been able to prescribe it rather than have to wait for it to arrive from them. I forgot to ask if there is an egg withdrawal period with this though... anybody have any idea? It's the soluble version. My vet also said that it should be okay to introduce my new chooks to the original girls and to dose them all together. We got them before the Brachyspira returned last time- thinking that Hilda was cured . They've been in segregated quarters since they arrived and I've been dying to get them all together. Hilda seems fine in herself- apart from the squits and a croaky voice. I hope I'm doing the right thing! Fingers crossed that Tylan will do the job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 brachy is an absolute bu####r . it does return again and again I am afraid. many people add any left over treated water to wet food to ensure they get a good dose. you might like to research something called oregostim... it may help prevent a return. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks Sandy It's hard to find anybody who knows anything about it! I'll take on board that tip about using left over water and make them some porridge up with it every evening. I'll look into the oregostim too. I seem to remember that when we originally got the araucana girls, the breeder gave us a dose of that to give them for their first few days to boost their immune system. Meanwhile, I've ordered another huge container of stalosan and am preparing to give the cube and run yet another thorough sprucing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Hmmm, I'm no vet but I can't understand why they didn't give Tylan in the first place - it's an excellent antib and brachyspira is nasty enough to warrant it. Hopefully it ought to knock it on the head now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
