Unsecure chicken perches

[Jophenna]

Hi,

 

We have a bantom RIR who has always been a bit quiet, and has always been at the bottom of the pecking order.

 

For the last couple of weeks she's had what sounds like a bit of a cough, but we didn't think much of it, until a few days ago when we noticed that her feathers are everywhere... in the pull out trays especially. She doesn't look bare though. She's generally hanging out in the cube rather than with the others at the moment which is unlike her.

 

She is now doing some strange things... leaving her beak open and looking up whilst sounding like Darth Vader. We have one hen who loves to peck feathers out and Buttercup has always been able to run away, but tonight she just took it until I had to intervene.

 

She is eating and drinking ok as far as I'm aware...

 

I've put a video of her strange Darth Vaderesque behaviour up on YouTube

. I'd appreciate any feedback as to what may be up with her.

 

We've only had the chooks for around 3-4 months so I may be overreacting, and this may be seasonal/moulting behaviour..?

 

Any help appreciated!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hmm, she doesn't look/sound right to me . Have you checked her crop? Is it empty in the morning and full at night? Has she been wormed recently? Might she have something stuck in her throat - has she been eating long grass?

 

Perhaps someone else will have seen this behaviour before and can help more than me .

[gongladosh]

I'd recommend a vet trip, probs antibiotics too.

[Green Tea]

Has she been wormed recently? Could it be gapeworm? Looks a lot like this one to me ....

 

 

I would still say take her to the vet though.

[Jophenna]

Thanks for the replies - really helpful. She's now in a cat carrier and we're leaving for the vet.

 

I use the Verm-X internal parasitc control monthly (for three day per month in their food), so they are wormed regularly.

 

The YouTube clip of Gapeworm looks very, very similar to Buttercup's symptoms though, so I'm hoping that's not too serious...

 

Will update later...

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That could be your problem. Flubenvet is the wormer most people rate as successful. It's also the only licensed wormer for chickens in the UK.

[Jophenna]

Ah... that may be the issue. I'll try get hold of some of that.

 

We took her the the vet who put some worming solution of some sort on her neck, and gave us some antibiotics. He wasn't sure of what was up with here, but he didn't have much hope for her.

 

Will let you know how we get on...

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Might it have been Ivermectin? That kills lice/mites etc. Won't treat worms though, I don't think, so Flubenvet would be a good idea.

 

If they have gapeworm, they need a double dose of flubenvet, and there is a egg withdrawal period, during the course and for a week after.

 

Keep us posted .