Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Gertie]

Hi

 

I've had my ex battery hen for 15 months but in the last week she has been subdued, off her food, hardly eating and drinking. I've taken her to the vet who couldn't find anything wrong but said she had an empty crop ( which was pretty obvious since she was off her food). The vet prescribed antibiotics which I've given her. It perked her up for a day or 2 but then she's gone downhill again.

 

I've tried poultry nutri drops, tempting her with different types of food, but she's looking sorry for herself today. The others are not picking on her thankfully.

 

Is there anything else I can try. Should I take her back to the vets? Although she perks up when I'm nearby, she goes sleepy again when I leave. I don't want her to be suffering, and although she doesn't look uncomfortable, Im wondering if it's just her time to pass on in which case should I get the vet to put her to sleep?

 

Thanks

Edited March 2, 2012 by Guest

[sage]

Have you checked her for lice/mites.

 

 

Sage

[Gertie]

Thank you. Yes, they are clear. I treat the house regularly with poultry shield and diatom. They have diatom in their dust bath too.

 

I'm going to ring the vet to see if they have any advice too.

 

I've just edited this to say have rang the vets and am taking her at 1.30pm. At least they can do whatever is necessary then!

 

Sorry for posting then answering my own question!!!

[lillybettybabs]

you need to get her crop working to start as it could just be crop stasis,

If you can get hold of some "Poultry Answer" and mix with a little water to syringe 4-6 times a day

for a few days then an some pellets in then mixture and blend to a syringe-able paste.

[Gertie]

Thank you.

 

Perhaps she just wanted a day out!

 

The vet said, apart from not much in her crop, she was a healthy looking hen.

 

The first thing she did when she got back was tuck into pellets!

 

I have some Avipro, is that similar. I've put that in the water.

 

The vet seemed to think it could be she's coming up for a moult. Although she hasn't lost any feathers obviously, I understand that hybrids might not lose many. In the vets I noticed that there were a few feather coverings on the feathers on her head. So maybe that's it?! Let's hope that's all it is. I just don't get chicken health!

[lillybettybabs]

I think that's a similar thing to Poultry Answer- Pleased that she's feeling better.