Jennifer Jane Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 (edited) Celia, one of our ex-batts, is poorly with a blue-tinged comb and laboured breathing when she is nesting. I really didn't expect her to last the night, but this morning she was up and about, though subdued, her breathing seems ok (when she is standing up anyway) and her comb seems to be a little redder. Apart from her breathing, comb and being generally hunched and quiet, Celia looks reasonably healthy, eyes and nostrils clear etc. No sneezing, although she does have a messy bottom, and no sign of mites. DH is taking her to the vet this evening, but I wondered if any of you had any experience of similar symptoms. I suppose I just want reassurance. After over a year of healthy hens we do seem to have had a run of off-colour ones lately. Maud, one of our original ex-batts was whipped off to the vet a few weeks ago with entirely different symptoms. For a while we were ready to read the last rites, but she made a full recovery after a course of Baytril. Edited June 2, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Sorry to hear about it - on what you say, it could be heart problems or it could be a simple respiratory infection. Afraid I can't offer much help, your planned trip to the vet is your best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Jane Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Thanks Olly, that's what I was thinking and I'm hoping it's the infection, especially as her comb is not so blue now. Although we are off on hols in a few days and don't really want to leave the chicken sitter to give medication. The only person who can tell our girls apart is me and then with difficulty. They always choose the best times, don't they? Our other thought was that she might have swallowed something, but I can't see anything obvious. And the fact that she is worse when sitting down seems to indicate against that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stedic Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Sorry to hear your girl is under the weather. I've noticed that one my ex-batts has had similar issues over the last week but had also been a little less active than usual over that period. When I saw the blue tinged comb I thought she was in trouble, but she seemed a lot perkier as I left for work today. Interestingly, when I searched other forums there were a few others with similar things - I did wonder if it was related to the weather or time of year putting extra strain on the girls and the weaker ex-batts showing symptoms more readily than the stronger girls. With telling them apart, we bought a box of leg rings for our ex-batts from Pets at Home, makes it an awful lot easier when people chicken sit (and for us at times!). Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 How does her abdomen seem? Is it swollen and is she waddling with a wide legged John Wayne style gait? Difficulty in breathing when sitting down can be a symptom of peritonitis..... if she also has the symptoms mentioned above, that sort of clinches it. Good idea to take her to a vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 How does her abdomen seem? Is it swollen and is she waddling with a wide legged John Wayne style gait? Difficulty in breathing when sitting down can be a symptom of peritonitis..... if she also has the symptoms mentioned above, that sort of clinches it. Good idea to take her to a vet. I was thinking the same; with the increased laying due to longer daylight hours, there's a lot of it about right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Jane Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Thanks for all your input and sorry I have been offline - so busy at work and just to make it worse, my boy cat decided to get into a fight and tore his ear, so I had another visit to the vet with him The vet said her heart sounded fine, and thought it was respiratory infection, so we have Baytril again. My pet sitter is going to have a go at dosing her. We do have leg rings on them, but two of them have managed to lose theirs, and Celia is one of them. Mind you it is easier to tell her from the others at the mo as she is the one with the blue comb. My friend, another hen keeper (who lives too far away unfortunately), blames the magpies for these infections - poor birds, they do get a bad press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 spray her feathers with purple spray? Many ex bats have tinged purple combs.. one of mine always had it... but the breathing needs investigating for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 If it is peritonitis, it'd not unknown for there to be secondary infection - the vet may be treating the secondary infection. If so, it's nothing against the vet, but chickens can be so complex and are so amazingly good at hiding illness, it can be difficult to get any accurate diagnosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Jane Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Sadly Celia died yesterday. The vet was treating her for a respiratory infection and prescribed Baytril. I found a spare leg ring out (though the purple spray was a great idea) and our pet sitters were able to identify and dose her while we were away. She was much improved when we got back, her breathing was fine and her comb back to its normal colour but she was still not right. I took her back to the vet last week and was told to keep an eye on her. She seemed to be maintaining the status quo, but when we got home last night she was on the way out, and we were both with her when she died. She was a beautiful and free-spirited ex-batt, and I'm happy that she had nearly a year of freedom. RIP my sweet girl. I am grateful for all your responses. It does seem quite possible that the respiratory symptoms may have been secondary to another infection or even peritonitis, although she didn't seem to have the signs I would have expected. It is worrying me that we have had a bout of illnesses and this is the second death we have had in just over a week. We lost Esme last week shortly after getting back from holiday, and Maud was also poorly just before Easter though she seems right as rain now. But I am concerned about something going round - DH said this morning that Matilda was a bit quiet and I am already fearing the worst. I am going to stock up on supplements. We always put acv in their water and poultry spice in the food. They have been wormed and no sign of mites/lice. I am desperate to get more hens, but want to make sure they are coming in to a healthy flock... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Am so sorry to hear that , but you did your best for her and she got to be a real chicken living with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Sorry to hear it, you tried your best. It's probably worth remembering that in 'hen years' she lived a pleasant, free life a fair bit longer than it seems compared to one human year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 It's probably worth remembering that in 'hen years' she lived a pleasant, free life a fair bit longer than it seems compared to one human year. That's a lovely sentiment Some ex-batts are hardier than others, it really depends on the farm they come from. Unfortunately (as you know) the enforced laying takes a lot out of them and they find it harder to fight off infections than a healthier hen would. You have done really well to get them this far give them the best chances that you can, but bear in mind that it can sometimes be a bit of a lottery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
