lord-harry-bantam Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Hello there fellow chicken owners, I'll cut to the chase. One of my chickens isn't well at all. Before I take her to the vet, I was just wondering if you have had any similar problems with your chicken, and know what this might be, or any information that could help My chicken is a Gingernut Omlet hen, and has been ill now for just over 3 weeks, and i'm having lots of trouble trying to identify, whats wrong and help her get better. Here are the symptoms: - Small green poos, (dark green, with yellowy white patches) - Still eats, but not as much as normal, and still drinks, but not as much. - Hunched and withdrawn to an extent (She will still move if treats are being thrown, but then returns to her hunch-spot) - Clucking has greatly reduced, but she will still cluck now and then - No eggs for several weeks - feathers near tail have gone curled and oddly shaped - She shakes her head frequently - Her crop is barely full and rather soft at the start AND end of a day - she no longer wants to dust bathe, but still grooms - still rather alert but WILL NOT allow us to handle her. She will run and flap away if we even try (normally very tame) - No signs of mass feather loss, so I don't think it would be a moult. - she still seeks shelter in bad weather, and still forages for food, but only forages rarely. - no signs of infestation of any lice or mites of any kind. Vent looks clean. - 2 years old, so maybe not age related problem? And that's pretty much it Any tips, help, or similar stories would greatly be appreciated. I'm just praying she will be ok... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 When was she last wormed? The green poos and lack of eggs make me think of a worm infestation. Does she feel hot or swollen around the abdomen? If so it could mean peritonitis. It all sounds like she needs to see a vet. She sounds rather poorly. Hope you get an answer soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord-harry-bantam Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 They were wormed several months ago now, about December time, possibly just before, using the special pellets in the food. However, it may be time to worm my three again actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I'm afraid our Gingernut Ranger recently had, at much the same age, very similar symptoms which turned out to be peritonitis. We had her PTS last Friday. I hope it's something less serious but maybe you need to be prepared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Crikey, ill for over 3 weeks and only now contemplating the vet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord-harry-bantam Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 If it is this deadly disease I've heard lots about, I think I might actually cry The previous weeks didn't show all these symptoms however, and she only had the feather issues. There didn't seem to be any signs of swelling either back then... I think I may have made some terrible mistakes judging this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord-harry-bantam Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 We just had yet another check of her symptoms a few mins ago - There didn't seem to be any swelling on the underside, and the vent looked fine. However a trickle of whitey-yellow poo was released... could this be a sign? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Oh please you mustn't feel guilty whatever the outcome is eventually. Even if it is peritonitis they can apparently have it for weeks or even months and not show drastic symptoms. Chickens just don't show they're ill until it is often too late. I think I would be inclined to take her to the vet if you are able to though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Have you wormed them?..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord-harry-bantam Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 I last wormed them several months ago. About half a year. It's coming up to their re-worming time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 What did you worm with? I worm every 4 months on flubenvet. She may well have worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Did you use Verm-X or Flubenvet to worm them? I gave up on Verm-X (it seems to be more of a herbal preventative) and haven't looked back since I started using Flubenvet (a chemical cure!). I treat my girls roughly every 3 months. It might be worth cutting down on her FR time and cut out all treats so she's on a diet of pure laying pellets - add warm water to make them into a sloppy porridge if that seems more appetising to her. If she's had too much long grass, it maybe stuck in her crop. I'd be going to the vet - they can tell if it's stomach/crop or egg-laying tackle. Good luck and fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord-harry-bantam Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 I just read some articles about this petronitus disease, and I think that she could possibly have the sterile version. She is still eating and drinking, however, and doesn't seem to have a fever. Maybe it is this? I do hope she will recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Keeping my fingers crossed for you. I am sure you will do all you can for her. I have only had my chickens for a few weeks. They have already had colds which I panicked about. Try to stay positive and don't blame yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I just read some articles about this petronitus disease, and I think that she could possibly have the sterile version. She is still eating and drinking, however, and doesn't seem to have a fever. Maybe it is this? I do hope she will recover. She wont recover on her own. You need to get her looked at by a vet. By the time hens show illness they are beyond DIY nursing at home most of the time. They do need Flubenvetting if they haven't been done since December but I doubt it is worm related given her symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladybird Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 At the risk of sounding all doom and gloom, this does sound exactly like the symptoms one of my ex-batts had these last few days. They were having a regular Flubenvet dosing this week. Green poos appeared in the run on Wed/Thurs but I wasn't sure who they'd come from as Chicken Licken and Myrtle both seemed their usual selves. Yesterday morning Myrtle spent ages in the nest box (even though we've had only 2 eggs from her since January) and didn't seem very lively when I tried to get her out. She came out around 1pm and had some water but went straight back in again - and there was some yellow-white liquid around and in the nest box. She didn't feel too hot but just seemed to want to sleep, so to give Chicken Licken some nest box time, I moved Myrtle into a cardboard box on the patio with food, water and some bedding. She just sat with her head in a corner sleeping and by 6pm had died. I was surprised at how quickly she went downhill. I hope your vet can do something to help your Gingernut - if she's still eating and drinking then that's a positive sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Sorry she's not well but if you really want to save her you need to get to a vet it could be easily treated when diagnosed and if not then you really ought to end her suffering. They are reliant on us for their wellbeing and she's showing signs for a long time. You can make your decision when there about how far you will go and how much you will pay. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord-harry-bantam Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share Posted July 31, 2011 I thought i'd give you an update on my poorly hen, before I head her off to the vet to see what he says. She no longer seems to slump about, and has perked up abit. She happily had a walk around the garden with the other two girls, which is more than she did the other few days. However, I looked on the eglu bars this morning and found a horrifyingly deformed egg, a splodge of yolk in the corner of the eglu, and a small minority of green poos. She hadn't been laying for about 3 weeks prior to this rather disturbing discovery, and it seems to me like she is trying to lay good eggs again, but is lacking enough calcium or some other vitamin to do so. The "egg" looked horrible. Like she had layed a kidney out or something But i'm sure the vet will know what to do in the check up tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Don't worry too much about the deformed egg, it may have broken and been partly reabsorbed and then passed and they do look revolting, but it sounds as though she could have an infection or peritonitis if she doesn't pick up straight after passing it. Good luck at vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Sounds as if she needs to see a vet, Lord Harry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Any update on your poorly chook? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord-harry-bantam Posted August 7, 2011 Author Share Posted August 7, 2011 Hello again everyone, thanks for all the tips I had previously. I called the vet and had a conversation about what the mysterious illness could be. He said that he would see her if she was in bad shape, and...weirdly enough, the very day we were about to take our poorley hen, she was acting differently. The day before we planned the vet trip, she was acting a whole load better. All the symptoms I listed at the start of the topic here, had literally gone overnight. waddling, sleepy ways, runny yellowish poops, slumped behaviour, quietness, all completely gone! it was like a miracle! My girl (Tikka) came scooting out of the eglu at top speed, sqwuarking and chirping, acting as normal as ever. Alert, much less fluffed up, and generally more happy. I honestly think this madness was caused by something she shouldn't of eaten, but i still might get the vet to check her soon. What do you lot think? i'm rather baffled myself! Still no eggs yet, and some feathers are abit tatty still, however i'm positive she will start laying soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Smashing news . I'd give her a tonic like lifeguard to get that plumage in good condition and address any deficiency that made her feathers curl. Can't remember if you wormed her but that would be something to do in a bit just in case and I'd keep a good eye on her if she really is back to normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
