quirkas Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I have just lost my first chicken (she was 2)to the above. No signs of anything wrong until this morning when she didn't come out to breakfast, and was obviously not comfortable, we shot to the vets with her and she died before being examined. First time this has happened in over 10 years of chicken keeping and am in a state of shock, what can I do to recognise this problem before it is so advanced. The vets said that it was the biggest chicken killer. Any help gratefully received. Quirkas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Sorry to hear about your girly. Sending hugs xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quirkas Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 Thank you. I brought her home and buried her with due rights and grave goods, corn, water and straw. Kept wanting to hug the others and they were most unimpressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Sorry to hear that. It seems to be very common with chicken keepers on the forum. I wonder if it is perhaps more common in the spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 So sorry to hear about your girl . If you handle your hens frequently, I find it doesn't do any harm just to have a feel of their abdomen when you pick them up, just to check for any swelling or tightness. If you have the time to chook watch, check their poops for size and wateryness, also their will be a lack of eggs from said hen. I have also noticed that to disguise their illness from their coop mates, they seem to pretend to eat food, by this I mean they still seem to scratch and peck around but don't actually pick anything up to eat. This is just what I noticed with my hens, I say this as I have lost 3 hens to peritonitis and currently have a fourth hen with this dreaded ailment . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 If you handle your hens frequently, I find it doesn't do any harm just to have a feel of their abdomen when you pick them up, just to check for any swelling or tightness. If you have the time to chook watch, check their poops for size and wateryness, also their will be a lack of eggs from said hen. I have also noticed that to disguise their illness from their coop mates, they seem to pretend to eat food, by this I mean they still seem to scratch and peck around but don't actually pick anything up to eat. . Good advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quirkas Posted April 16, 2011 Author Share Posted April 16, 2011 Many thanks for the advice, the remaining three all laid this morning, thank goodness, I was on tenterhooks. Shall aim to pick them up and have a feel so I now how it should be, they are quite flighty so this will be fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enpekt Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 Sorry to read about your loss, quirkas. We have an ex-bat who laid most of an egg yesterday but has been quiet. We've noticed her vent is quite red in parts, but have found it hard to compare her with others as she is largely unfeathered around her rear, unlike the rest. Does any one have any images of this? or could you please provide a link if one exists on here? She'll probably see the vet tomorrow, but we wonder if there's anything we can do ourselves? Any help will be gratefully received... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
