2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[fluffypigs]

Hi all,

A week after one of my chickens passed away I have a second bird ill.

 

Her symptoms are sitting on her own, not eating, runny green poo, slight balance problems and finally today I noticed that she was pecking about 2cm too high when trying to eat some corn. I wondered whether there is something wrong with her vision? I am taking her to the vet tomorrow but don't have a lot of faith as he did not know what was wrong with my first ill girl. They were wormed with flubenvet about 3 weeks ago.

 

I have separated her from my other 2 remaining bantams who are now in a temporary home made out of a cat basket and bits of 2 mini greenhouses made into a run. The problem I have is that I am due to go on holiday in a week and I can't leave the bantams locked in the run all day as it is too small for them (I can't ask my friend to let them out to free range as she won't be able to catch them again!). I'm terrified that if I put them all in together I'm going to lose my lovely bantams. I also feel that I can't put them in a hen hotel in case they are incubating the same illness. I feel like I can't let the kids out in the garden in case the hens have all got something that they could pass on to the kids. I'm so upset by all this and it has really put me off keeping them. Sorry this has turned into a real moan .

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it. I doubt that the hens will have anything that will affect the children, so I wouldn't prevent them from playing out, especially as the weather is decent at the moment. Lets hope that the vet can find what's wrong.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time, so early on . You've been really unlucky . I hope the vet can help and that you can go on holiday without worrying .

 

Do you think your girls came from the woman you bought them from already ill?

[fluffypigs]

We went to the vet this morning and he said that the symptoms were consistent with enteritis or possibly Salmonella, he thinks it is less likely to be a parasitic infection. He has given an antibiotic injection and a follow up course of oral antibiotics. He said that we could send off a sample for analysis but said it would cost £75 and would be unnecessary if the antibiotics work.

 

I am just about to do some research into Salmonella as I thought that even if you recovered from it you could still be a carrier. £75 is a lot to find out if she has got Salmonella but I don't really want her in the garden with the kids if she has got it. I guess I shouldn't have rushed out and bought chickens who haven't been vaccinated against it.

 

On the plus side, the bantams are still well and rolling about in a very sunny dustbath together

[Ain't Nobody Here]

At least you know what it might be now. Let's hope the medication works .

[Chucky Mama]

You may be able to send a sample off yourself for less. Maybe a forum who uses Retfords would be able to confirm or deny whether they test for salmonella. If this is a possibility it might be worth taking a sample now and keeping in ready in case.

[sandyhas3chucks]

yes that is one of the many things they test for and it costs something like £28.

yo can send one sample from the ailing chook, or a mixed flock sample. I think if it is a mixed poo it is same cost as one but not sure.

Pop a sample on the post first class.with covering letter Monday they get Tuesday, you may have some result on Wednesday. Campylobacter takes longer as do some othes.

You will then be told( ring it is fastest and essential really) exactly What they/she has AND importantly what treats it.

You can then either ask your vet to provide it (they should be able to phone Retfords, mine did) Or they can fax a prescription to retfords so they can post out meds same day!

If they have bracyaspira it needs Denegard and none of the vets in a 20 ,mile radius of us have this. So faxing a script to Retfords is really our only option.

 

good luck, and don't worry about the children playing outside.

[Plum]

The expensive test will be for parasites, bacteria, yeasts, virus but you can ask your vet just for a salmonella test for around £20 to put your mind at rest but now she is on antibiotics it will affect the result. I would wait for a time after treatment is completed. Hope she's well soon.

[sandyhas3chucks]

£28 at retfords includes worm tests, and all of the above. strep, campylobact kleibseller, candida, salmonelle, brachyspira, to mame but a few

[Plum]

Good value then

[fluffypigs]

Thanks for your posts. I wanted to give you an update. My Aracuna responded to the antibiotics, the next morning she came out of the eglu straight away, has perked up and is eating again (although it's hard to tell how much). However, she still has horrid runny green poo and I noticed last night that her crop felt like a water balloon.

 

Anyway, we went to the Ideal Home Show today and happened upon some lovely people at the Omlet stall , and whilst discussing my poorly chook Christian told me about Soar Crop. So I have been reading all about it this evening and I'm thinking that there are 2 possibilities - she could have soar crop as a result of the antibiotics or it could be as lovebugette says "It would seem Hen had peritonitis and, whilst her body tried to fight the infection her intestinal system shut down thus causing the food to stay in the crop and not move on". I can't find any references to soar crop causing bacterial infection only fungal infections.

I've looked at the cures for soar crop and am happy to try her on some yoghurt and bokashi bran. However I'm wondering whether I should try to empty the crop first or whether that might just be adding more stress on her already weak system? (I have to admit getting her to be sick is not something I am keen on, but will try if it will help her). Do you think I should give it a go?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I followed Christian's great advice for Sour Crop here and it worked a treat .

 

I would try to empty her crop. Follow the advice above, it's quite easy to do.

 

I used the Daktarin Oral gel (easy to get from a chemist) too.

[fluffypigs]

I checked her crop first thing this morning and it wasn't a water balloon anymore but it wasn't completely empty . I feel like a complete hypercondriac chic!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hmm, perhaps it's not sour crop after all then . I suppose you'll just have to keep an eye on her .

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh what fantastic news. your research though will stand you in good stead (just incase!)