the_martian Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Didnt put this under existing 'poorly hen' threads as I didnt want to gatecrash, and it might be a different problem. We've had 4 goldlines for 18 months, no major problems. Two / three weeks ago, one starting looking poorly, hunched up, not each much, tail feathers down. Checked her crop - didnt feel full, and felt round tummy and vent - couldnt feel any thing hard, so I assumed she wasnt eggbound - gave her warm bath just in case, also cleaned up her bottom which was a bit mucky. Didnt think worms a problem, but wormed them anyway with flubenvet. Did notice that some poo looked 'eggy', so I assumed it was her. She died four days ago and now looks as if same symptoms are starting in another hen. I cant separate them as I've no other coops or runs. I could go to vet, but we've asked two other local chicken keepers and they've never used one, so no recommendations on local vets. Any suggestions as to problem? They are kept in a cube, but they can wander round an area of about 20 square metres that I've fenced off. The cube is cleaned out once a week and disinfected and I put diatomaceous earth in the bedding. Any suggestions welcome - I'm just hoping that they aren't passing an infection to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Sounds like gut infection, try any vet or you can send a sample to Retfords and then they'll send medication Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Sorry to hear about your girl. In terms of the other hen, if it's a gut infection, you'll need to get her to a vet. Baytril doesn't fix gut infections - she'll need alternative antibiotics. Maybe they've both eaten something funny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Is she eating and drinking and when did she last lay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 One of my Indian Game hens was proper poorly a couple of weeks ago but she rallied dramatically after some Nettex Nutri Drops. The Nutri Drops gave her immune system the strength to fight whatever was ailing her. She was on them once a day for nearly a week until I was satisfied she was back to normal and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. I got mine here and they arrived the next day. Just to clarify, I'm not recommending them in place of professional vet advice but if you can't get that for whatever reason, they are worth trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 I've had chooks rally dramatically after being dosed with Nutri-drops as well. At the first sign of a chook with a runny bum, worm them if you haven't done so recently. Then exclude all treats, feed just pellets, natural live yoghurt with Bokashi Bran, add ACV to their water. If they're not improved after 36 hours, then take them to the vet with a recent poo sample. TBH this regime sorts out most dodgy tum problems, but isn't a substitute for proper vet treatment if they have a true bacterial infection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_martian Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share Posted May 4, 2011 Thanks for all the replies. The girls have been wormed recently and they have been getting ACV, although I haven't used much recently, so I'll restart that. The Nutri-drops look good and I'll get some Bokashi bran as well. They'll be upset to miss out on treats, but I'll tell them I'm being cruel to be kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffypigs Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 I'm interested to read that you say Baytril doesn't fix gut infections. Retfords have said that my chooks are suffering from an infection of Proteus and Streptococcus bacteria. They have been on Baytril for over a week now and it doesn't seem to be having any affect. Pippin is gradually getting thinner and thinner and I don't know what else to do. Are their any other anitbiotics that you know of that are particularly effective against gut bacteria. My vet doesn't really know what he is doing unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 A few gut problems can be/need to be fixed with antibs, but do bear in mind that you will need to support their gut flora with ACV and some probiotic powder in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffypigs Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 I've got some I've got some ACV but it says on the bottle that it is for horses, I wasn't sure if it might be too strong for the chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 That's fine, just add a teaspoon per litre of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_martian Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 The surviving poorly hen perked up after giving her some nutri-drops a couple of weeks ago (although whatever the technique is for getting a hen to open her mouth, I definitely haven't got it). But yesterday, when I put them back in the cube, I noticed an object about the size of a double-yolk egg on the ground. This object was pale-coloured and mostly hard - can this be a lump of calcium that has been inside the hen for a while? There was a small piece of something that might be internal tissue next to it and she has a very sore looking bottom, so I'm pretty sure it came from her. I half expected her to die in the night, but she's up and pecking this morning. Any thoughts what that hard object might be - I'm just totally puzzled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 It's probably a lash which is reabsorbed egg, bits of gut lining and stuff. Anyway better out than in, hope she stays perked up now. Claret will direct you to pictures of a lash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Tough, rubbery like over-cooked chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_martian Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 Thanks claret. I hadn't heard of a lash before, but the pictures and description are sort of similar to what I found. If this is a lash, does it mean that the hen cant lay any more eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Mine's still laying normal eggs, wonky eggs, soft and shelless eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 They will usually carry on laying eggs, although, as Plum has said, they may not always be brilliant ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
