Mr Rhode Island Red Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Last night, one of my hybrids, a bluebell female, seemed a bit off colour when I was closing up the hen house for the night. She wasn't interested in food or water, and she was slightly unbalanced. She had a bit of a dirty behind ( urates of the faeces, but most of the other hens had that too). I just decided I would place her on the perch myself and see how she was in the morning. Ar maidin, she was dead. She had appeared to have died in her sleep, as her head was tucked in under her wing and it looked like she just fell off the perch when she died. She was dead for a while, because rigor mortis (stiffening after death) had occured. I hope it isn't something contagious, because most of the other hens have dirty backsides too RIP Sabina Died 29 June 2012 **Update** Just remembered that she had a squishy crop and slightly unpleasant breath. Which is a sign of sour crop, is that contagious? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angeluk69 Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Sorry to hear your sad news, I lost one of my girls yesterday. ((((HUGS)))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Sorry to hear your sad news Something very similar (minus the dirty bottom) happened to my bluebell a month or so ago (she was just over a year old) I was very worried about the other two (warrens), but they seem fine. I wormed them as a precaution, moved their hutch and kept them away from the ground they had been using as a run. No idea if that helped but it felt like i was doing something positive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 It was probably the sour crop which is a shame as thats usually treatable. it isnt something the others can catch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted June 29, 2012 Author Share Posted June 29, 2012 One of the other hens has a bit of a squishy crop and bad breath, I tried turning her upside down to make her "vomit" to treat the sour crop, but am i just over reacting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 I would separate her overnight with no food and make sure the crop is empty in the morning. It could be nothing. If more than one has ended up with sour crop it may be worth looking at their diet to see if anything could be causing it. Excess grapes/rasins arent good for example, long grass can block the crop leading to sour crop, too much stodgy bread etc..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
