2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[happy_monday1984]

One of my silkies (19 weeks old) is sick and I don't know what to do for the best - shes very floppy but there are no other outward signs of illness aside from her not eating or drinking today - no nasal or eye discharge, wheezing etc. Her crop does feel a bit squidgy and she feels a little thin - she has been eating and drinking normally up until today though. We found her lying in the run in the rain making no attempt to move to shelter (or at all for that matter) so we've brought her inside and shes currently swaddled in a towel in a pet carrier in the warm. Her three hen-friends all appear super healthy and alert, I've disinfected the run with nettex ground sanitiser and cleaned out their eglu - I'm not sure what else to do!

We can't get to the vet tonight so any advice would be much appreciated...

[Tweety]

Sorry to hear about your poorly girl, but she really needs to see a vet in the morning.

 

In the meantime you are doing the right thing, keeping her warm and dry. I would also try to get her to drink and eat something. Mine have always loved Weetabix, soaked in warm water and mushed up.

[Redwing]

Is she able to move? are her legs and wings normal?

 

Its also worth checking for mites and lice (usually around the vent)

[happy_monday1984]

I will take her to a vet asap tomorrow morning, I'm just worried she won't make it through the night. Shes showing no interest in food at all...

She is able to move, just doesn't seem to want to. Checked her wings and legs and they seem fully functional and she is louse-free. Her vent is clean as well, there seems very little outwardly wrong aside from the malaise... I guess I'm just going to have to keep my fingers crossed till morning and I can get to a vet :(

[Egghead68]

Can you syringe a little water into her beak?

 

I hope she pulls through for you. Good luck.

[Tweety]

How is she this morning?

[happy_monday1984]

She seemed a bit brighter this morning, but still listless, not eating/drinking/moving very much. I got a little water in her via syringe and she picked at some live yogurt and mealworms. She was definitely not a happy bunny though.

Managed to get her an appointment at the vets this morning and severe sour crop was confirmed - as it was so severe so quickly and she was so young, the vet reckoned there must've been a nasty underlying cause which she was probably born with. We had her put to sleep.

I feel so guilty for not spotting it sooner, feels like I let her down

At least shes not suffering anymore.

[Tweety]

So sorry to hear that, but don't blame yourself. If, as the vet said, it was something she was born with, spotting it sooner would not have made any difference. Sadly, these things happen all too frequently with chickens, and you did the best you could for her.

 

On a positive note, at least it was not something infectious and your other hens should be fine.

[Egghead68]

So sorry to hear that. You did the kindest thing for her.