Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[JillJ01]

Hi,

 

My 14 month old , Amy, ended up at the vets on Friday eve, diagnosis egg peritonitis. She's on antibiotics (Baytril) and has perked up today. If the diagnosis is correct, any estimates of how long until her time is up? Also, she's sleeping in the kitchen, having been totally ostracised by head hen. I tried putting her back in the run with the other 3 ladies today, but head hen saw her vent and was a woman possessed, I had to swiftly remove Amy and then had her on my lap for a while to calm down... Amy is the chicken who refused to be near humans until this.

 

Ultimately she can't stay in the kitchen, but she also can't go back in the run.... or can she? I'm on the lookout for a small second house/run for the garden so she can be outside whilst we're at work, but safe from other beaks...

 

Any suggestions, or words of wisdom gratefully received. We've had our ladies since late April 2010 and this is the first problem we've experienced.

Edited March 26, 2011 by Guest

[gongladosh]

Really sorry to hear this about Amy - we lost our first hen last year to peritonitis.

 

It depends on the type - there are two types, sterile and septic.

 

Sterile doesn't necessarily end in the bird dying, but septic, even if treated aggressively is usually fatal. Sadly it's the design of chickens - sometimes the egg doesn't get into the right pipe. There's nothing you can do to prevent it, sometimes it just happens.

 

If it's septic, then it is usually quick - ours went from being a very strong lively bird to passing away in 5 days - by day 1 she was walking like John Wayne, and despite 2 vet visits, by day 3 struggled to move much. By day 4 she was paralyzed. The problem is (apparently) when they get an infection, because the internals of chickens are so compact, their kidneys, egg-laying equipment and nerves controlling the legs are all next to each other - if one of them gets an infection, it can spread very quickly.

 

We found that the antibiotics helped a bit (as did the anti-inflamatory) - a side-effect of Baytril is it often temporarily restores the hen's appetite.

 

If you do keep her in the kitchen, you may want to keep an eye on her temperature - ours had a temperature towards the end.

 

The other thing of course is that the diagnosis may not be correct - vets are generally pretty knowledgeable but chickens are complicated beasts who try to hide symptoms which makes accurate diagnosis very difficult.

 

Here's hoping things improve, and to good luck with Amy.

[staceychristie]

To keep her separate but with the others, we've used a cat basket in the run, and put food/water in there for her - YOU MUST KEEP AN EYE ON WATER & FOOD! This way she's safe from attack, but still part of the flock.

To be honest though, if they're poorly they should really be isolated and kept warm and dry stress free.

 

Good luck

 

Stacey

[JillJ01]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the words of advice, I have this morning bought a wooden house and run so Amy can go in there from tomorrow during the day. I'm outside with them all FR (thank goodness for wireless net and ability to work from home!), but Amy's just made a run for the Cube and is now in the nesting box.... oh gawd!

 

I know Amy will be OK in her new house during the day, but I'm concerned that leaving her there at night will not be warm enough, would a hot water bottle be sufficient or does she really need another chicken to snuggle up to? What are the chances of her being accepted in the Cube at night, but separated by day? Poor lass, our kitchen has stunk where's she's stayed in overnight, DH is understandably getting a bit frustrated (as am I, too).....

 

She has decided beef in jelly (cat food) is delicious, is drinking, her comb looks brighter, can't see a John Wayne style walk, but her vent absolutely honks. Is there anything at all I can do to help her vent smell a bit fresher? I'm giving her a shower twice a day to clean her feathers (she's so bare now from her vent down), but looks like poo/wee is encrusted, won't come off, and the smell would give a farmyard a run for its money - appreciate that's probably part of the problem with her but can I help, or just not stand downwind of her?

 

Jill

[JillJ01]

Confused.com - Amy's just laid a perfect egg..... which will be binned because we can't eat it. Should this happen?

[gongladosh]

I'd say it's positive that she's laying, I'd just keep an eye on things for the moment.

[JillJ01]

Thank you. I've just tried her in the run, aren't chickens just so black and white with their logic?! Any comment on the idea of Amy sleeping alone in a wooden house overnight, would a hot water bottle help or would she be too cold? Night temps here forecasted to be 3-6C....

 

Thanks, Jill

[Chucky Mama]

Confused.com - Amy's just laid a perfect egg..... which will be binned because we can't eat it. Should this happen?

 

How did the vet reach the diagnosis of peritonitis?

[JillJ01]

She looked at Amy's vent, also had a feel inside and said she could feel something in tummy. Just got in from school run and there's lots of yellowy liquid on the floor - don't know if that's her clearing out her insides, dripping off her feathers now. Her vent smells so bad....

 

I'm torn with knowing what's best to do - keep an eye on her and give her the benefit of the doubt, as she's up, walking and her comb looks red, or back to the vet..... Sounds like her tummy's gurgling.

 

Jill

[lovebugette]

I posted on the previous page about peritonitis and how I "saved my hen". So my sorry tale is there for all to see, Henrietta was much better and has gone for over 7 weeks without a problem. HOWEVER, it seems the tell-tale signs are coming back and she has a swollen abdomen again, uh, oh

 

Next stage for me is a hormone implant which apparently gives them 6 months to a year of relief. I will keep you updated as hoping to get her in this week - so it is not always The End when they get recurring peritonitis, an implant is the next stage if you are happy to pay the money..... Luckily my husband is incredibly tolerant of my love for my hens and doesn't question my inclination!

 

Of course, not all vets do these but it is worth enquiring. I do not have very helpful local vets, they advised me to have her put to sleep, but luckily Sandhole Vets near Maidstone in Kent have an expert in implants so I am more than happy to drive over an hour to see how we get on. She also undertakes courses for vets interested in the implant process so if anyone's vets want to know more then recommend Kate Everett at Sandhole vets in Snodland - if we spread the word then more hens can be helped.

 

Good luck and I will keep you informed of how Henny gets on x

[Chucky Mama]

If her vent smells bad I would take her back to the vet, it is not a typical symptom of peritonitis plus laying an egg with it doesn't quite add up either. Not saying that she doesn't have it but there may be something else going on too. I would keep the area clean and bathed with dilute salt water. It is getting warmer and it would not be out of the question to get fly strike if there is smeller matter around her back end.

[JillJ01]

I have been reading posts here about peritonitis, so many different stories, and also about the implant. It is something I would consider, I'd rather have a non-egg laying chicken than one that can't quite do it right. I've also read today about vent gleet, and wonder if that could be a factor, I think Canestan and probiotic yoghurt were mentioned as tonics.

 

The hen house/run I bought earlier.... it's got to go back - half the parts were missing Amy decided she wanted to sleep in the Cube tonight. Some concern at not being 100% sure what's wrong with her, and that head hen may go for her, but fingers crossed in the morning they are more tolerant of her.... I know the chances are near enough zero, but I can hope.....

 

I am concerned about fly strike. It's one thing after another, I'm shattered, I just want things to be sorted and everyone to be happy. Let's see what the morning brings... along with an unexpected day's A/L (hope that's OK'd) and a phone call to the vets.

 

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

Jill

[joybelle]

I lost a hen a couple of weeks ago, she had egg peritonitis, was very poorly and couldnt

stand, didnt eat or drink for days. The vet examined her and the smell from her vent was

disgusting, also said she could linger for days so I decided to have her PTS

 

Joy

[gongladosh]

what sort of poo is she having?

 

When I lost a hen to peritonitis, her poo was very light brown (almost orange) and very smelly - this only happened towards the very end.

 

I've currently got a hen on antibiotics with a gut infection (she was walking fine but had a smelly vent and was unable to bend over, running a temperature) - her poos right now are almost clear, smelly and largely clear.

[JillJ01]

Hi, her poo is more normal looking, so wee on top of dark poo, but it's quite loose compared to the little mounds we normally get. She is becoming feistier by the hour, I found her after the school run with her head in the basket of eggs on the side in the kitchen, poo up the cupboard (how??!).... I have to because she really is doing nothing a toddler, kitten or puppy would think twice of; you have to own pets or have children to get that though. SIL is Amy's in our kitchen during the day when we're out, but that's what you do!

 

I shall get probiotic yoghurt and give that a try, nothing to be lost in trying to work out what's going on. The hen house, turns out we had box 1 of 2, so tonight we shall build Amy's house, forever to be known as Amy's house.

 

I am looking forward to reclaiming my kitchen, washing Amy's bum and she can sleep with the others, then at first light go in her own house to eat, sleep, poo and be a chicken without fear of head hen, Rose, going near her vent. Hopefully this will work out, will keep a close eye on the other chickens, also on Amy, take it day by day.

 

Thank you! Jill x

[JillJ01]

By the way - I'm sorry to read about poorly hens and those that don't make it. I have told DS that the first time will be hard, but that the good times, and memories of cheeky moments will far outweigh the sadness of seeing them go.

[gongladosh]

Good luck!

 

It sounds to me more like an infection than peritonitis incidentally.

[JillJ01]

Well, Amy now has "Amy's house" and has spent yesterday and today in there whilst I've been at work, and sleeping in the Cube with the others by night.

 

She had perked up a fair bit, certainly was confident enough yesterday to FR on the lawn with the others. Today, however, she didn't look very happy, I don't know if it's because it was misty and cool first thing. Her vent's still smelly so am showering her when I get in from work. She can't "plop poo" normally and I'm not sure if she thinks she should be laying an egg - she has been in the nesting box but there's nothing there.

 

We'll be going back to the vet for another check-up and discussion, find out how much the vet knows about chickens... and keep getting ideas from here as well. Thank goodness for t'internet!

 

Jill

[JillJ01]

Rang the vet yesterday to get appt for this morning. Amy was very down yesterday, she slept by herself in "Amy's house", I didn't expect to see her this morning - as has been said on here, you do know when it's time..... Amy came out of her house, drank some water, huddled up. I sat with her on my lap in the garden whilst dawn became day. Took her to the vets and asked for her to be put to sleep. I held her whilst she had the injection, was over very quickly, no struggle. Won't forget the amount of water that left her lungs afterwards.... absolutely made the right decision for her.

 

The last week with her was such a turnaround in her behaviour. She was the one that couldn't be held, once ill she came to me for protection from the others, and we had lots of cuddles in the garden. She also found her voice and talked a lot!

 

RIP Amy, with us for 11 months, now digging flowerbeds in chicken heaven, finding the biggest worms, jumping up on every Glug, and eating more mealworms than I could ever have bought. Sleep well xxx

[Henslaved]

am really sorry to hear about Amy.

[Plum]

Sad news I am so sorry.

[coco]

So sorry. RIP Amy.

[staceychristie]

Oh how awful for you. You did the right thing - it's hard to make the decision, but even harder to keep them hanging on.

Glad she had a happy life with you.

RIP Amy ((X))

 

Stacey