Eglu Cube Coop and Accessories

[loumabel]

One of my ex batts Daisy is poorly. She was fine yesterday but this morning when I let them out she jumped out of the cube and just stood still doing the poorly hunched chicken stance. I cleaned the cube out and there was a weird kind of thick pale yellow paste on the newspaper and also some orange jelly stuff. Its very weird! She did free range for a little bit but kept returning to the WIR. When I visit my vets he always gives me a combo of Baytril liquid and Metronodozole tabs (excuse the spelling) for any chicken ailment and I have some left over meds so I gave her half a tab and 0.3mls of baytril, I also have some metacam, should I give her a dose of that?. I am not an advocate of self medicating but I have spent over £700 on vets bills for my chooks this year and really can't afford another bill. I will of course take her if she worsens (I won't let her suffer) but is there anything else I can do for her and does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with her. Thanks

Edited December 23, 2011 by Guest

[majuka]

Does she lay, she might have a softie on the way? Maybe she kept going back to the run to try and pass it. The yellow paste, does it look like egg yolk colour, if so that combined with the hunched stance I would be suspicious of peritonitis (I hope I am wrong) Is she waddling?

[loumabel]

Hi Majuka, she is waddling a bit but I am pretty sure she doesnt lay anymore. She has got a dirty bum and I am not too sure about the paste it didnt really look egg like. If it is peritonitis does that mean she has to be PTS? I am a bit concerned as we are getting so close to christmas and the vets will be shut except for emergencies.

[Egghead68]

Does it feel as though there is fluid in her abdomen? If so, this sound like peritonitis.

Peritonitis does not necessarily mean they have to be pts. They can have hormone treatments (e.g. suprelorin implants) or in some cases just live with it. There are quite a few threads on it. Good luck.

[loumabel]

well so much for me not going to the vets I took Daisy this morning and he thinks she has a bacterial intestinal infection and he is going to check for worms too. I did worm them with flubenvet about 6 weeks ago but the vet said that Flubenvet does not kill all types of worms and he has another product that is better. I will let you all know what it is when he tells me. It seems that she doesnt have peritonitis which is a relief He has kept her in for the day as she is dehydrated and he can give her some fluids, he also said if she hasnt improved he will keep her in for xmas and not charge me, just bill me for her meds. How nice is he!!!! Hope she won't miss her friends too much, she is top hen and they look a little lost without her.

[Egghead68]

Sounds like she's in good hands. Hope she picks up soon.

[majuka]

That is good news. We've lost five to peritonitis, despite antibiotics, one pulled through initially but didn't pull through when it came back so it is a relief your vet doesn't think it is. Your vet sounds lovely . Really hope your girl makes a full recovery.

[sandyhas3chucks]

any news??

[loumabel]

Hi all, picked Daisy up from the vets on Christmas eve after a night spent at the vets. She wasnt really any better and after another couple of days I took her back again and he kept her in again for two days. he was worried it may be her kidneys so he did a blood test (half price!) and her kidneys were fine but she does have an infection as he suspected. She is now in the dog crate in my office and she has a high dose of antibiotics to have twice a day and I also have to crop feed her with critical care food 3 times a day!! Very scary procedure but the vet showed me how to do it and I had my first go this afternoon and it went ok, just have to make sure you get the crop not the lungs I hope she will recover, not sure at the moment and just have to keep up the supportive care and see if she can fight the infection off. Fingers crossed

[sandyhas3chucks]

good luck, they often pick up once the anti biotics kick in.

2 vets have told me to give probiotics at same time... as you have her with you and they are twice a day, you could if you've a mind give it 2 hours after and not before the next one. You say strong ones .. if they are the ones mine have had they are really do give their tums a hard time.

[majuka]

Sorry to hear that poor Daisy has been so poorly. Everything crossed she pulls through.

[Plum]

She's got every chance with your care. Hoping for better news.

[loumabel]

Daisy looks a little brighter today and she is actually eating all by herself so have given her a break from the crop feeding to see if she can get a full crop on her own. She still has horrendous diarrhea, its very watery and she is drinking loads too. I have put some avian electrolytes in her water but I would really like to get some probiotics like 'Sandy' suggested. Any idea where I can get them from and what they are called. I think the medication is really harsh on her little tum.

[sandyhas3chucks]

the fastest would be some live yoghurt and any probiotic would help until shops are back to normal. had an intersting discussion with a vet regarding these... he gives heaps npre than nost would suggest his rationall that nop one knows which is normal and good for animals for sure and what is the worst that can happen? nothing!!!

He also agreed with me regarding Beryls Bacteria, I tried it but it does not list what is in there, therfore they and also Retfords will not use supply or recommend it. Retfords recomended Entrodex, but there are a few out there , also your vet will probably have some that they would leave out for you, they often use sachets of it for dogs.

Glad she is eating on her own. I add CC to the food they do eat too when they are poorly and whilst recovering

good luck

[sadietoo]

Glad to hear Daisy is heading in the right direction. She is very lucky to have you fighting her corner with her! Let's hope the coming days bring more improvements.

[Egghead68]

Good luck. It's good that she's eating. You can order Avipro probiotics on the internet.

[loumabel]

Thanks again to everyone for the advice. I have ordered some probiotic online and have been giving her some natural youghrt in the meantime which she gobbles down happily. She is eating a bit more now and is eating about a small ramekin sized bowl of food a day, also a few dried mealworms and a bit of corn. She still has the runs and it is just like water, she is also drinking a huge amount of water which I am still adding the avian electrolytes to. Going to call the vet again today and see what he thinks but I was hoping for a bit more improvement by now and am also worried she is lonely living on her own in my office.

[sandyhas3chucks]

is it worth sending a sample off poo to retfords for analysis. there are several bacteria that do not respond to amoxycillin and baytril. one sent 1st class today would get you results by Saturday maybe (ring for results Friday and they will tell you time to call Saturdays)

I would say the fat she is eating what sounds like a good amount to me is an improvement but understand concers over watery poo still.

[loumabel]

Sandy you are brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sent a sample off to Retfords on your recomendation and they called me on Friday with the results. Daisy has a bacterial infection and the antibiotics my vet has prescribed are not going to do the trick. They are going to post some different ones to me and I was hoping they would turn up today but I guess it will probably be Monday now. I am so pleased to finally know what is wrong with her and hopefully these new meds will sort her out quickly. The lady at Retfords said Daisy would have picked the problem up while freeranging Thank you sooooooooooooooo much for your help!!

Louise X

[sandyhas3chucks]

well glad to hear, a positive whilst not ood is good isn't it as it gives you something concrete to work with.

As you will have guessed I have been in a similar position more than a few times...

does she have Brachyaspira by any chance?

If so they will probably send Deneguard to put in her water.. which tastes foul and they don't like to drink.I mix up 1/2 litre at a a time and add some fruit juice or dissolved sugar and drinking water in coop cup, and make ready brek with some and a little in some bread.

HTH and good luck for a speedy recovery when the right meds kick in. keep her strong with the cc etc etc in the mean time.

[Rosey Supposey]

Fabulous to hear Daisy's got a diagnosis and can get back on the mend x

[Egghead68]

How's she doing?

If you get a moment to update it would be really helpful to know what bacteria they found and what was prescribed. Did your vet have to fax permission to Retfords before they sent out the antibiotics?

Hope she's on the mend.

[loumabel]

When I get the meds and details of what bacteria it is I will post on here to let you know. The lady at Retfords did tell me but I instantly forgot the name and what the medication was too I am hoping the meds will arrive tomorrow, Daisy is ok but still drinking 4 coop cups of water a day and still got runny poos but she is eating on her own now which is good. Retfords didnt ask for my vets permission, she did say will your vet be cross if we supply the meds and I said that I wasnt worried about my vet being cross just wanted my chicken cured!

[loumabel]

Got the meds today via Fed Ex. It is Denagard that has to go into a litre of water and also some powdered probiotic that I have to give her when she has finished the course of Denagard. She is not drinking much of it, after guzzling galons of water over the last few days she is turning her beak up at this . I have put some squash in it to encourage her to drink it but its not working yet. I still don't know what bacterial infection she has, but have emailled Retford poultry to get an answer so will let you know when they get back to me.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have found tsp of sugar dissolved to a litre of water is working for this lot. Also making up the CC with it or ready brek gets a little more down them. everyone finds it hard getting them to drink it I also soak some bread in it, but not if they might be going sour...

my girl has perked up a bit and the vet has put her on amoxycillin.

I know lots do but he does not like metacam with baytril something to do with both being protein binding?

However she has a lump