Mercedes55 Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I can't believe after taking back 3 hens this morning that one of our beautiful pure breeds is now sick (Previous thread Here) They have all been fine all day and when OH came home from work we went to look at them in the run. I noticed right away that Chloe our Cream Legbar had one eye half closed and I was sure there was a bit of discharge from her nose. She sat down and just sat there with her eyes closed, which is very unlike her as out of all our girls she is as mad as a box of frogs and always on the go. I phoned the vet down the road right away as I had already spoken with him yesterday regarding the other hen. Took her to see him and he managed, with great difficulty, to examine her and he is sure that it's not myco as the symptoms have come on too quickly, but he does think it's an upper respiratory problem and that she would have caught it off the hen that was sick. So although we don't exactly know what she has we are picking up some Tylan tomorrow to treat all 9 girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Your vet sounds a bit useless - why was it difficult to examine her especially as she is ill Why do you have to wait for her antibiotics ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Your vet sounds a bit useless - why was it difficult to examine her especially as she is ill Why do you have to wait for her antibiotics ? Well in his defence he isn't an avian vet but the vet we use for our dog. Chloe is probably the only hen we have never been able to handle, even at night. I think this is only the 7th hen the vet has seen and she did go absolutely mad when he took her out of the carrier, hard to believe it was the same girl who was sitting there with her eyes closed looking so miserable. We did have the option of having some Baytril straight away, but he gave us a few options and between us we decided Tylan was probably the best way to go as it's water soluble and we can treat all the hens quite easily with that. I think he said there is enough powder in the bottle to treat tons of hens, so hopefully won't matter too much if we waste some of the water. At the moment not sure whether to just put it in the Glug or to buy some smaller dishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 Well this morning we have another 2 girls who are sick, can't believe how quickly this has spread. Our Araucana and Favorelle now have it and our poor Favorelle's eye is really swollen and has pus in it, looks awful. Have got the Tylan and mixed it with the water but did syringe some into the Favorelle to start her off as she didn't seem to want to have a drink. Wondered if I should leave them in the main WIR rather than let them go into the other run at the back so that they are always close to the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 If the medicated water is their only water source then they will drink it regardless of the space they have Dont feed them any 'watery' treats such as veg If they get so bad they arent drinking then isolate the bird and syringe water in to it fingers crossed things will improve soon x And dont go back to that breeder!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 If the medicated water is their only water source then they will drink it regardless of the space they have Dont feed them any 'watery' treats such as veg If they get so bad they arent drinking then isolate the bird and syringe water in to it fingers crossed things will improve soon x And dont go back to that breeder!!! Thanks for that, wasn't sure if I should keep them as close to their water as possible. The ex batts have been drinking the water but they seem fine anyway. I may have to isolate the Favorelle and possibly the Araucana too as both seem very quiet. Although our Cream Legbar still has her eye half closed she is more alert today, which was a surprise. We have 100 grams of Tylan, enough to medicate about 200 litres of water Will not go back to that breeder ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Following the health problems with our girls catching something off a newly bought hen last week we have been told it's more than likely that she has Fowl Coryza. Our vet has a friend who is a poultry specialist and he has been liaising with our vet and after seeing pictures of our girls and reading what has been going on this is what he has told us There is a possibility of Haemophilus in these birds (Fowl Coryza). (I think the new name is avibacterium paragallinarum). Quite rare in the UK, Common in Ireland but can cause severe facial swelling and death. We had a spate a year or so ago. Pretty hard to culture and most labs are awful at it as needs to be cultured in a gas jar in conjunction with staph aureus as the staph breaks down the blood in the plate offering nutrients to the haemophilus. We seem to be fairly good at culturing it. And would tx with oxytetracycline. Today we have had some pet chickens in- which we performed a PM on and it looks as though they may have fowl pox- pretty disastrous. Don’t think you could get this diagnosed without tracheal histopath. I'd never even heard of this condition before and from what I read it doesn't sound very good. I have tried to get a response from the breeder who sold us the bird that we bought, but no response. Feel gutted that I have allowed this to happen to my girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 I hope your other girls are OK, good that your vet got some other advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Hope they respond to the antibiotics here is a bit more about it Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 Hope they respond to the antibiotics here is a bit more about it Link Thanks Plum for that link, I must be having a thick moment as I don't understand this bit Morbidity is high but mortality low if uncomplicated although it may be up to 20%. This morning the 3 of our pure breeds are no better, in fact 1 seems worse. I really don't know what to do. It's so hard to see them suffer like this. The rest of our girls seem fine at the moment, but I'm worried they could catch it too. Our ex batts are separate in the Eglu and we still have the run divided into 3, which means there is a gap of about 8ft or so between both lots of girls. If I could be sure it was safe to do so I would move the 3 healthy hens who are in the Cube with the sicks girls to the Eglu, but I am scared that I would be moving possibly infected hens in with hens who are not infected. The supplier we got the sick Bluebell from did talk to my OH on the phone yesterday and has washed his hands of us, saying it's nothing our hens caught from his hens and that the Bluebell is fine. We are 100% sure our girls caught this from that hen and are very angry with his attitude. I recall in my other post asking about this supplier and if anyone had dealt with them and someone did say they had bought hens that had died and I so wish I had taken notice of the warning signs there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Thanks Plum for that link, I must be having a thick moment as I don't understand this bit Morbidity is high but mortality low if uncomplicated although it may be up to 20%. Morbidity high means that a high number will catch it when exposed is high and mortality low means refers to the number that will actually die from it is low. In this instance 20%. So, morbidity indicates how infectious it is (hope that makes sense - it did in my head ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I would bring your sickest hens inside in a dog crate or pen where they can get lots of tlc and you can see whether they are eating drinking etc. Keep the others split up in the WIR, fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 We have brought in all 3 who are ill and they are in a huge cardboard box with one end cut out and some mesh put over that. Not ideal, but will do for today. At least we can see what they are eating and drinking. We have just taken them out one by one and held their beaks open and given them some medicated water from a syringe. I have to say I really don't enjoy doing that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I can't really add anything useful, I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear you are having all these problems. I seem to remember you started out at about the same time as me last year with some ex-batts and I have been in awe of the way you have "expanded" your flock and adapted your garden accordingly. I really feel for you, you sound like a very caring chicken mum so it must be heartbreaking for you to have these problems. Sending hugs to you and your chucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 Awww ty Bramble, yes I do remember we started out with the ex batts at the same time. Will post an update on my sick girls when I have any news on them. I am just sitting here in the living room watching them in the conservatory and right now they are actually having a drink which is a good sign I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Sure it is, they are getting the antibiotics which prevent the complications like secondary infections. Wishing your girls a speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Awww ty Bramble, yes I do remember we started out with the ex batts at the same time. Will post an update on my sick girls when I have any news on them. I am just sitting here in the living room watching them in the conservatory and right now they are actually having a drink which is a good sign I think. That is a good sign I have a poorly ex-bat who needs to go to the vet tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 That is a good sign I have a poorly ex-bat who needs to go to the vet tomorrow Hope that goes well tomorrow and that it's nothing serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Hoping it's not peritonitis, collecting antibiotics in the morning as can't get appointment till Sunday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Oh no, hope she's ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Well this morning we went out to pick up a dog cage from someone on another forum who very kindly offered to lend us one. Got back home and our Sussex Ranger now has it. I just can't believe it, she was fine first thing. This is now 5 out of 6 girls, only have the little White Leghorn left in the Cube. Devastated and don't know what to do. Our Favorelle is breathing in such a laboured way it's really upsetting to hear her. Think even more now that it isn't Myco as the Sussex Ranger and the White Leghorn have both been vaccinated for that and I am quite sure all the paperwork we have for them is genuine. Could just sit and cry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I'm so sorry to read what you're going through. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Do you want to give my vet in St Albans a try - Mr Dean has chickens in the practice garden and is very experienced. It's Heath Lodge if you do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Do you want to give my vet in St Albans a try - Mr Dean has chickens in the practice garden and is very experienced. It's Heath Lodge if you do We have an appt there for 12.50, apparently Mr Dean isn't there, which is typical but we are seeing a lady there who they said is good with poultry. Going to try and cram as many into the cages we have borrowed as we can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Best of luck. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
