Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[sadietoo]

I posted sometime ago about Mabel my Dark Brahma Chick and how I thought she wasn't quite right...

 

Well things have been distracting me in the Sadietoo household which have yet again led me to have my eye off the ball...and so at the weekend I finally really noticed how far Mabel has fallen behind...and I'm ashamed to say she is very very thin...and very very lethargic... So a trip to the vets...no diaorrhea...no temperature, no sniffles, no wheezing...all positive...but also no weight gain..so she is about half the weight of her "sister" now...and well under what she should be. Went to the vets today, and he has started panacur over three days by tube...he doesn't think that she has an impacted crop, but I am to check again in the morning....spent this afternoon digging worms which she enjoyed...Lifeguard in the water.. extra mealworms, fishmeal, already being offered....also we are poo collecting over the next two days to send off for analysis...I've got some ex-batts crumbs which I'm going to put them all on for the next few weeks in the hope that we build her up....I can do tuna or cat food too but don't want to swamp her with too many new foods, anyone have any regime suggestions? praying hard that I can build her up... if anyone has any other suggestions , these would be gratefully received...feeling like a pretty useless Chicken Mummy at the moment .....

Edited February 23, 2012 by Guest

[sparkysmum]

Sorry to hear about Mabel. What is her general appearance like Is her face, comb and wattles a good red colour, or is she looking pale I'm just wondering about viral infections. Some viral infections have no symptoms other than the hen just not thriving as you have mentioned accompanied by the face, wattles and comb losing colour. Red mite If your hen is below par she would be more susceptible to red mite. With regard to building her up I, she would do fine with the ex batt crumb or better still perhaps growers pellets/mash. I would also give her mixed corn ad lib and some carbs. I know its hard but you are doing your best. Good luck and let us know how she does. Alli x

[sadietoo]

Sorry to hear about Mabel. What is her general appearance like Is her face, comb and wattles a good red colour, or is she looking pale I'm just wondering about viral infections. Some viral infections have no symptoms other than the hen just not thriving as you have mentioned accompanied by the face, wattles and comb losing colour. Red mite If your hen is below par she would be more susceptible to red mite. With regard to building her up I, she would do fine with the ex batt crumb or better still perhaps growers pellets/mash. I would also give her mixed corn ad lib and some carbs. I know its hard but you are doing your best. Good luck and let us know how she does. Alli x

 

She was quite pale of face, but doesn' have comb or wattles to speak of as she is a Brahma... but I think is looking a better colour today. Also not in lay yet, so not sure if that makes a difference? I haven't seen any sign or red mite, but not entirely sure what I am looking for...no one seems reluctant to go to bed at night ... I am giving her lots of mixed corn, but the others are scoffing that this morning...First thing today, her crop was three quarters empty...felt very grainy at the bottom...is that normal or could she be impacted? Not eating at all so far today.....perhaps not liking her new diet?

Unfortunately I have to go to work today, but I have another appoinment with her at the vets and will try to get back early....Am also going to try to locate some Nettex Nutri-drops today......!They are such a worry...

[sandyhas3chucks]

their crops are meant to be empty first thing however I have had 2 that have been through prolongd spells of not quite empty, which I decided as they were extra greedy was normal for them, but they both empty fully now?

I swear by maggots for protein and to help break down crop contents, I also feel that some yoghurt at bed time helps keep things easy to flow, it seems to help, but it might just mak me feel better doing something about it

I also use Critical Care formular to lace a poorlies food, so that if they are only eating a little they are getting all their nutrients.some seem to swear by Kaytee exact baby parrot feed.

Mine don't like food laced with this though

good luck

[sparkysmum]

Hi sadietoo, just wondering how your lady is doin 'It's encouraging that her colour seems better Poo sample analysis will rule out things like coccidia and other parasitic infestations. Unfortunately vets can't test for viruses, they just have to rule everything else out. Expensive business. Keepin' fingers crossed for a happy outcome. Alli x

[sadietoo]

Well back from the vets after her third dose of Panacur and things really not looking very good for poor little Mabel. She has lost more weight, and this afternoon is just very very sleepy (she wasn't too bad this morning when I went to work). The Vet has started her on a course of Baytril I think because we can't think of anything else to do, but he isn't hopeful of a good outcome. I have tried tempting her with porridge, etc, but she isn't having any of it...I've left her to sleep. The vet wasn't sure if it was even worth sending off the poo samples for testing but I feel I have to give her every chance and so he is going to and may have some anwers by tomorrow. Another Vet appointment made for tomorrow evening for more Baytril, but I'm not sure she'll be with us in the morning

I know that some of you have nursed your girls through illness when all seemed lost, and I'm willing to try anything. I have avipro should I try syringing some of that in to her, or not? Her crop was partially full early so she has eaten today, and she has now had a cocktail of panacur and nettex drops so possibly she just isn't bothered by food because she isn't hungry?...Also it seems cruel separating her from her "sister" tonight but I don't think she really cares about anything just now....and I don't want her expending the extra energy trying to stay warm in the coop, that said would she be better off with the others as that is all she has known?

Any thoughts or suggestions welcomed

feeling very sad tonight

[sandyhas3chucks]

i would keep her in. also leave her some fav foods and drink overnight.

Yes!!!!

I know everyone sats they don't eat and drink at night.

But they do....

For 100% sure as I have witnessess now on lots and lots of occasions.

The first couple I had simply not taken it off the carrier doors.

I now leave it there on purpose.

And yes folks it IS totally dark rooms they have been in...

good luck...

yes they can sometimes make almost miraculous turna rounds.

then sadly others just don't, depends what it is I guess.

[sadietoo]

As the title says, sadly we lost poor little Mabel at about 7.00 am. I still have no idea what was wrong with her, although the tests should come back to the vets today and tomorrow and I will update then.. She had spent the night quietly in the cat crate (open) in my DS's room. I checked her at two thirty and she was fine. At 6.30 she was laying on her side and clearly on her way out. She died in my arms.

 

I feel quite defeated by Chicken Keeping today....so far I've not managed to get a single chook beyond about 2 years, and poor little Mabel was only nine months old.

 

I'm not planning to replace her at the moment, so I am down to two again....

[lillybettybabs]

One i treat for now if i see a hen looking down is Crop Stasis - i think i have lost a few in the past

as i knew rabbits got it but not hens.

It seems to be more of a gradual thing in hens with few syptoms.

[sandyhas3chucks]

really sorry...

It really gets you xxxx

It would be good to know , as it sort of helps... the not knowing is hard xxx

take care of yourself and the other 2.

Sounds like she drifted of peacefully xxxx

[Pikey]

Sorry to hear about Mabel......it is awful when this happens. Big hugz xxx

[sparkysmum]

sadietoo, I'm so sorry to hear about mabel. You did your very best. Sometimes these things just happen and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. Take care. Alli x

[Duncan08]

So sorry to hear about Mabel.

[cathybc]

very sorry to hear about Mabel. But you clearly did all you could for her. Hugs x

[mollyripkim]

Really sorry to hear about Mabel and really feel for you too. It's such a sad time, hope you find out what was wrong with her.

[soozie1964]

Sorry this is a late posting, but I am sorry to hear about Mabel. I am felling exactly the same at the moment ..its 1pm, and I have an appointment at the vets this afternoon at 10 to 3 and I know I have to have my Dolly put to sleep. (((...I posted on her few weeks back about her 'waddling' and swollen underneath, but she was still perky - eating and drinking and waddling aound the garden - vet said it was a slow growing tumour and until she seemed distressed or in discomfort, she could come back home. Last couple of days she just sits with wings down and not moving too much, and she is labouring with her breathing and does look so sad...so have just made the dreaded decision and phone call to take her to vets this afternoon and do 'the right thing'....

 

Seems almost every 'proper' chicken I get doesn't live very long ( Dolly is only 2 and a half ) and nearly all either get this type of thing or an E.P...yet the ex-batts I rescued were great - lived a nice long life and just died in their sleep ! Dolly was one of 4 from a local chicken supplier, got them at p.o.l - about 26 weeks ..lost one within 6 months..next one not long after that with E.P..last one died xmastime E.P..now this one ! Poor old Twiggy will now be alone until she goes, as I can't bear to get any more and have all this upset every time. (

 

Daft question, but what do 'most' chooks die from ? as I seem to have been pretty unlucky ?

 

Soozie

[LottyJ1]

I am feeling the same too - lost one of mine last night and gonna post now for advice. I have ex-batts and in the last 17 months we have lost 3 out of five for one reason or another. I think the first had a very bad case of sour crop so I took her to the vet and the only thing they could do was PTS, then lost one of the new ones only two months after rescuing her from what might have been egg bound or peritonitis - tried everything at home (warm baths, olive oil, kept her inside in the warm, massage) then when she didn't respond I took her to the vet who couldn't feel anything so put her on Baytril but a few days later she has a seizure in my arms and died. Then last night one of the older girls looked a bit sad and we took her inside and she died in the night. Feeling very sad.

 

I was thinking about getting non-rescue next time but if they are just as bad? http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&f=11&t=85768#

 

Feeling like a bad mum and i'm gonna book myself on a course.

[soozie1964]

Sorry to hear all that Lottie..we get so attached don't we ? But you're not a bad mum at all..we all do our best and give our girls as much attention and love that we can. My vet said that all chooks are prone to 'lumps and bumps' and that there is little that can be done in a lot of cases.

Very traumatic at the vets last week...1st injection didnt do anything, even though he gave her a big dose....so had to do a 2nd one...he gave her the same amount he would give a small dog ....and she slipped away in a minute.

Regarding getting 'regular' chooks as opposed to ex-batts...I have found that the ex-batts I rescued did far better than the ones I bought from a local farm ...

I think its just swings and roundabouts really. I had my Mabel for 6 years and was told she was almost 2 when I got her !! she was happy and healthy the whole time and died in her sleep with no sign of illness, others I have had for only 8 - 12 months and have had EYP, or this awful belly swelling ....good and bad to be said for all types I guess.

So, my poor little Twiggy is now on her own - looking a little lost, so I will see how she fares on her own. I am spoiling her rotten at the moment tho !!

Best wishes,

Sue

[LottyJ1]

Ahh i'm sure Twiggy will be being spoilt rotten . They do pull on the heart strings a lot of the time but I do enjoy having them in my garden so much. I'm gonna wait to see if my other two are ok over the next few weeks and then think about adding to them again.