kevf1 Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 looking for advice... We got 6 new hens about 3 weeks ago.. they all seem to have settled in ok apart from one... but i'm not sure she's ill or not. She is a leghorn and she just stays in one place apart from when she goes to bed... i have checked her over she seems clean no lumpy crop as far as i can tell.. she lost a few feather in the intial intros, she does seem to be losing weight shes about 25 weeks old i'd guess got from wernlas... I don't want to give her something if she isn't ill... i really can't see anything wrong with her... apart from what i would say is not moving she either sits hunched up or stand a bit hunched.. what would you guys advise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Everyone must be out for mothers day lunch today. Is she eating and drinking......Is she being bullied by the others........She sounds sad and lonely.....I would bring her indoors and see if she cheers up with some TLC If your not happy then a visit to the vet may be in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Have you tried tempting her with mealworms? - if she's just under the weather it might bring her out of herself. My bunch go mad for them. Good luck with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 i think she's eating... but when i picked her up.. she does feel a little boney.. but most of them are.. she doesn't seem to be getting bullied they mainly ignore her... i have a feeling she may be a bit lonely as well... just not sure what to do.. i may bring her inside tonight ... I don't want to give her stuff if she doesn't need it.. i've done all the checks i can think off yeah to the mealworms I have even grapes the rest go mad she does even have a look in .. i tried picking her up and feeding her grapes she wasn't interested... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Mine aren't bothered about grapes but love cherry tomatoes. With mealworms at least they are getting protein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 It might be an idea to put out several food bowls, as it sounds to me as if the others are not letting her eat properly. See if that helps, and keep an eye on her - I would be a bit worried about the hunched stance, as it normally indicates that all is not well. Is she laying yet? Maybe ring Wernlas for advice too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 yes i was thiniking about ringing wernlas.. i have 4 food bowls around the pen for that very reason.. i've brought her inside for tonight and will ring wernlas tomorrow.. someone suggested she may be eggbound.. but as far as i am aware she hasn't laid any eggs at all yet.. could she still be egg bound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 only thing i can see is she seems to have dilated pupils.. compared to the others... sometimes i wish chickens could speak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 how is she today? did you ring wernlas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 she is much the same ... i moved her back into the WIR as we can't leave her all day in the cat carrier... she didn't seem to eat anything and she didn't poo as nothing in the cage... wernlas aren't open until 10:30 so i'll phone shortly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 can't phone them today they aren't open... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 If I were you I would take her to the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Oh dear I am sorry to hear that. Let us know how she is doing. I would leave her in the pet carrier with some food and water as the others will pick on her if she is ill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Hope she's feeling better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 got her booked into the vets tonight... so hopefully they'll find something. they haven't been picking on her so far they just leave her alone.. fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 I hope all goes well at the vet. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Just wandering how you got on at the vets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 ok vet couldn't find anything either... breathing fine /temperature find no full crop not egg bound.. feathers etc all good condition so she suggested she may have a slight infection.. so injected hr with anti inflammatory and gave me 5 days of baytril.. if no pick up i need to go back to her.. she is now in the eglu on her own.. fortuantely not sold it yet.. bit worried she maybe lonely now.. so hopefully she'll pick up.. apart from pur food down her and water not sure what else i can do... so finger crossed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 no chnage this morning she didn't even come out of the eglu... fortunately i still had my old eglu.. i have put food for her and water... but i don't think she wants it.. sadly i think she maybe have given up... I don't know what else i can do for her.. apart from force feed her... i'll keep with the baytril but i think the lack of eating and drinking is going to get her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Keeping her hydrated is really important. You can gently syringe feed her with Oxbow Critical Care & smooth syringeable foods such as baby food. May swear by Nutri Drops. Keep her warm and quiet and out of the wind. Keep us posted, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I hope she picks up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 have ordered nutridrops may try some mash with her later.. i'm going to pop home at lunch time and check on her... she is in a nice quiet bit out of the wind.. is frustrating the vet couldn't see anything wrong no symptoms at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 It is possible that it is egg related as she is about the right age to start laying. New hens can eat little in the first few days following the stress of moving +/- some bullying issues. If she is stressed, syringe feeding etc may make things worse. Perhaps leaving her with something really tasty like mealworms, sweetcorn, porridge, weetabix, even a few worms or maggots just to get her started. She shouldn't really go for more that 24 hours without fluid though Definitely keep her separate but in view of the others if you can. (the dilated pupils is often a sign of fear or stress) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 i thought egg related.. and bullying.. but no signs of either.. she has been in the walk in run for 5 weeks .. so i would have expected. I haven't really got anywhere i can put her in view of the others, i think she is drinking just not a lot... as i say the vet couldn't find anything physically wrong with her.. i have tried mealworms .. make make some porridge for her today.. thanks for all your suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted April 6, 2011 Author Share Posted April 6, 2011 nutri drops arrived so soon as i get home i'll try them.. she still seems lethargic but no worse than yesterday so it doesn't seem to be down hill... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
