Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[MaxBaz]

Haven't posted for ages - although I'm regularly log on. Have a problem with my Speckledy Margot - which I can't find any other posts on.

 

she is 3 - stopped laying about 6 months ago and have often found a "lash" in the nesting box. Took her to the vet in October as I thought she may have had an obstruction and the vet suggested a Calcium injection to help. Since then she has been relatively fine.

 

Last weekend though and during the course of the week she has got slower and slower and her comb more and more pale and floppy with nasty green poo and lots of smelly white discharge. I thought at first it may have been worms as she had been digging in the garden and eating every slug so started her on a course of Flubenvent on grapes. After about 3 days - Thursday afternoon - she wasn't any better so put her on a course of Baytril (1.1ml twice a day) which is what I was prescribed the previous October.

 

YEsterday at the vet I took a sample of her nasty droppings - he took one look and said "KIDNEY PROBLEMS" and told me to continue with the Baytril for the usual 7 day course and gave her a Calcium injection as he said a floppy pale comb was a strong indication of Calcium. He suggested mixing extra grit in her food (I use 4mm oyster shell so maybe I should get a finer grit?)

 

She is going back on Tuesday and probably next Saturday for a 2nd and 3rd calcium injection. I presume that the long term future isn't brilliant but not giving up on her yet.

 

My question is - what on earth is the connection Calcium definciency and Kidney problems? Today she is still looking much the same - she isn't really eating much but pecking on occasion and following the other girls around the garden with her tail up albiet very slowly.

 

Is there also an "official" word for a lash? She laid a small one this morning which I was going to take to the vet on Tuesday. One last thing - do chickens lose their voices as they get older, both Margot and Carol (who is also 3) barely hoot/chirp but they used to be quite loud in their early days.

 

sorry for the length of this - but really grateful for thoughts. Have ordered some Barrier "calcium and D3 supplement" for delivery next week from my usual supplier.

[lillybettybabs]

Kidney disease causes imbalances in bone metabolism, I think vitamin D helps this so as much daylight

as you can give her may help.

Just thought:

Also high calcium can cause kidney problem and weaken bones.

could you get a second opinion?

[sandyhas3chucks]

My personal experience is that out of 17 girls ONLY 1 has ever, so far, laid a lashes and then been fine.

Once their reproductive tracts go up the spout seems to be bad news.

In my experience the only way to save the chooks life is to take one of the 3 options to stop her laying ever again!

 

I know this is not what you wanted to hear and there will be a barrage of people that have odds ones and no problems.

You will notice that I have ex bats and this may well be the difference.4

The lashes themselves are ok IF they can expell them.

 

I have seen 4 Vets one of which one of the top Avian specialist (got the hole in wallet for oit too )

Without exception they think they are "eggs gone wrong" , the reasons or rather theories are various.

 

I wish someone COULD/WOULD give a definitive answer.

 

The absolute bane of my life and wallet, and most important, my girls lives

Happy to say the option I have taken IS to date saving lives and allowing a good quality of life in their retirement

 

Oh and had many a good result now with the Calcium injection helping the muscle contractions and helping expel the lash.

The wet poos though I would send to Retfords for testing as various infections do effect normal egg laying anyway.

As well as making her ill of course...

[Plum]

I've got one who lays lashes, wonky chains of eggs and allsorts and has been doing it for over 2 years. Luckily then come out and not yet got stuck more than we can manage.

 

The green droppings can be starvation but can also be infection. They often chuck out a lot of urates (white droppings) when they have an infection. One of mine had them coating her feathers for some time following a gut infection. If it is that then you have the antibiotics but it may be worth asking your vet to have a culture done of her droppings.

 

The smelly white droppings can be urates if it smells of ammonia but also it can be an infection in itself (vent gleet) but that really is stinky not just smelly.

 

Are you sure you were given calcium for the kidneys, I think it is more likely that you were given it to improve the contractions to pass wonky eggs and form shells

 

This is just from my experience (similar to Sandy).

[sandyhas3chucks]

Was telling someone about Plums, and she asked if they were ex bats...

I see that they are not..

As I had one posh girl lay a huge lump without showing any signs of being ill...

I wonder if they are just stronger and more able to pass them many times without problems.??

So many unknowns.

[Plum]

Yes Sandy she's an omlet ginger hybrid so same as an exbat without having led a stressful life.

 

How's Margot MaxBaz did the vet explain anymore?

[MaxBaz]

Margot is due for her second Calcum injection today - her comb is a tiny bit redder but she still looks blimin miserable. she is eating (I can feel a bit in her crop) but don't actually see her eat/drink.

 

Very very slow in the morning.... she hasn't laid any more lashes since Sunday morning (day after her calcium injection and just a tiny lash) but the vet did say her internal "bits" were in a bad way with lots of fatty deposits.

 

Will report back after tonights appointment.

 

she isn't sitting about with her tail down all day - but does look so so sad.....

[The Dogmother]

I hope that she rallies, but it doesn't sound too good.

[sandyhas3chucks]

It took one of mine a whole month to get rid of all her meat lumps..

And each one however tiny stunk of the antibiotics she had at outset!!!!!

She has had an injection to stop her laying altogether and is now enjoying her retirement.

good luck

[MaxBaz]

Sadly lost Margo about a week or so ago - she was about two and a half and a lovely girl.

 

Like all of us, I did everything I could to keep her comfortable and part of the "flock" despite her finding it difficult to move about much as she had very wobbly legs the last month or so. But her last afternoon she was happily sitting in the garden with the others around her and she just didnt wake up the next morning.