Spinning Top Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Our 'baby', a buff sussex was introduced 4 weeks ago with a RIR. They had both finished vaccinations so were at least 16 weeks at the time but the Sussex still has little sign of a comb. The existing girls were 4 hybrids we got in Sept and 2 other girls from early Dec. The hybrids started picking on her and as it wasn't settling down and in fact getting worse after the first 2 weeks, we separated them. Now the 4 big girls have the Cube run so they can get in to lay and the newest 4 have the extended run. I let them mingle to scatch for corn about 20 minutes before going to bed and they all go in together happily enough. While they were together, I tried gentian violet on the exposed red skin around her neck, anti-pecking spray on her feathers, vicks vaporub (as recommended by a chap at Omlet) to put them off the smell around the raw area and squirted them all with weak vinegar so they all smell the same. They only get corn just before bed. Perhaps I haven't given any of the treatments long enough but I'm so deperate I'm trying anything. She's still sleeping a lot, hunched into her neck with her eyes shut but not wheezy and I've checked her for lice or anything else obvious. She gets on fine with her 3 'friends' and tries to burrow herself under the RIR, her best buddy. She eats and drinks well, especially if I make the pellets into mushy porridge but it's heartbreaking to see her looking so pitiful. Today she was standing against the run and the big girls were pecking her through it - she didn't even seem to have the will to move away. I'd love her to make it but can't bear to see her suffer - does anybody have any ideas please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I wonder if she's younger than you were told and not yet mature enough to stand up for herself. She does sound poorly may worth a trip to the vet to get her checked. If she was just afraid she'd disappear into corners but being hunched would indicate illness to me. Wonder if she has had redmite before you got her and she's anaemic. I'd give her a spray just in case, I do with all mine the first day I get them. Hope she picks up but as I said I would try the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Top Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Willl try the red mite powder in the morning - thank you for the suggestion. What comb she does have is pale but I didn't think of anaemia. Is there a tonic or anything we could give her that might help? Don't know if we've got a chicken frindly vet locally although the breeder has said he'll take a look at her (and dispatch her 'professionally') if we take her over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 How do you feel about that? A breeder should replace if they give you an unwell hen. Difficult for you, but they may give a course of antibiotics to see if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Top Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 She's actually already a replacement for one we lost on Boxing Day - I think from the same 'batch' but I thought as this one was 4 weeks older, she'd be stronger.... The RIR was not a planned addition but obviously I did not want to introduce one girl on her own. I've just read the reviews of the Nettex fast acting drops and ordered a bottle and sooooooo hope we won't need the trip to the breeder. He's already offered antibiotics if necessary but she's not snuffly or chesty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Could be a gut infection or cocci. If your other was the same and died then I think you may be safer taking the antibiotic offer up and if you lose her use another breeder in future. The drops may give a boost but I don't think they treat underlying problems but could be wrong:? To be honest there are so many diseases/illness that affect chickens, as many as humans that unless there are clear symptoms its really hard even for vet to know what's going on. They just haven't been researched in the same way because farmers will just cull as chickens as pets is fairly new. I'd try the antibiotics. Shes still eating and drinking so worth trying if she hasn't picked up by herself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Poor little sausage... Lewis suggested I try my Pansy when she was poorly on mixed corn soaked in lifeguard and that went down a treat...I do hope she picks up soon...xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
