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

[Mrs_B]

For the last couple of weeks my Barred Rock has ended up having dirty feathers around her vent/back, and my mother and I have had to clean her up. The dirty marks are always white and I have been checking her poos to see if there are any signs of a problem, but nothing has really jumped up at me until the last couple of days.

 

I have noticed when poop picking, where she was roosting, her poos are solid but with added water, which soaks the auboise and the white part is very slimy. This morning I noticed it was like a slimy sludge of white - I don't know how else to describe it. Needless to say she has dirty knickers once again. I check her vent and can't see any residue. She seems OK in herself otherwise and is eating/drinking.

 

All the chooks were wormed about a month ago.

 

Am I being a bit over cautious? Is this a normal poo? I have looked around on the forums/the thread with poo photos but I can's match what my hen is doing.

 

Thanks everyone.

 

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[Egghead68]

Could be Brachyspira (infection from wild birds - usually not particularly serious but needs appropriate antibiotics) or something else. You can send a sample to Retfords Poultry Partnership for analysis which should hopefully give you a diagnosis.

[Mrs_B]

Thank you so much, Egghead68!

 

I think I will take her to the vet sometime this week as she keeps getting a runny bottom! I haven't noticed the poos getting worse, but will make sure she gets the OK with the vet

 

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[Mrs_B]

My Barred Rock is still not herself She's been hunched over most of the day, tail down. She also hasn't laid for over 2 weeks.

 

The vet today suggested starting antibiotics and sending off a poop sample. When the vet checked her over she said the hen barley had any muscle - but I know she's been eating so I quite upset about this. She suggested it might be Coccidiosis but there isn't any blood in her poop (or any of the other birds) so I am hoping the antibiotics will do the trick and sort my poor girl out. The chicken is in a large dog crate in our potting shed so I can check what she is eating. I am also continuing with life guard in the water to try and perk her up.

 

After giving the hen antibiotics (I think I will get Baytril) should I give her some nutri-drops to help too? I am going to let her FR on her own in a netted off area tomorrow.

 

Fingers crossed she gets better soon

 

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[Tweety]

Sorry to hear that, Mrs B.

 

The poo sample will confirm cocci or not, so a good idea to get it tested. There isn't always blood in the poo with cocci - my bantams had it, and I only found out when I took one of them to the vet for something completely different and the vet tested the poo routinely.

 

I hope she improves very soon.

[Mrs_B]

Thanks, Tweety. I thought blood was the most common symptom, so it's good to know not to rely on that entirely.

 

The vet actually prescribed Marbocyl and I gave the chicken her first dose this evening. I feel a bit bad because the syringe got struck when I was trying to push the liquid through then all of a sudden 'shot forward' and I gave her a small amount over what I was suppose to I am giving her 1.5ml daily and must have given her 1.7. She didn't eat much today, maybe a small handful - but I also put some corn down and she ate more of that. The vet suggested just sticking to her layers food for the week. She also said a poo sample could maybe wait if she isn't any better now we've started her on antibiotics.

 

Fingers crossed this works

 

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[good_egg]

Oh Mrs_B, poor you. Fingers crossed she picks up. Don't know if your syringe is the same as we had put I found it easiest to only draw the right amount into the syringe (so didn't need to worry about dose). Good luck.

[Mrs_B]

Thanks, good egg!

 

I can see what I said may have been confusing now I have read it back again - it would make sense to only put the right amount of medication in the syringe, but my vet gave me a full syringe and told me to give her 1.5ml until she's taken it all - I shake when I am nervous so that probably didn't help She didn't seem to have any bad affects from that extra bit of antibiotic so am happy about that.

 

Hope your lovely new girls have settled in! Would love to see some pics

 

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[Roselady]

Hi Mrs B

 

I'm sorry to hear this. As you know probably from reading my occasional posts, I am very inexperienced. One of our little pekin chicks was poorly when we first got her. We found an excellent avian vet who prescribed antibiotics but then also strongly recommended Beryl's Bacteria and Avipro Plus, to help after the anti-bi. They said the Avipro Plus is brilliant for picking up stressed/poorly hens/after treatment/moulting etc and I always have some in stock now for whenever I think they're a bit off colour.

 

Hope this helps and will watch to see how she is

[good_egg]

Must post pics, they are growing at a scary rate. Will be brave and have an attempt this weekend.

 

As for the syringe I sympathise, that can't be fun, I find small amounts in a big syringe a nightmare! Is it oral or an injection - only reason I ask is depending on the syringe and how you are administering you can hold syringe still and in place and rotate/screw the plunger for control and it seems to stick less (not tried on chooks but diabetic hubby so many syringes in our house). Wouldn't worry about a small amount either way on dosage though, will be a margin for error. It's definitely scary giving meds for first time, hopefully will be less nervous tonight. How is she getting on?

[Lewis]

How is she getting on?

 

You said they've been wormed, just checking it was with Flubenvet?

 

A laying hen wouldn't normally have much muscle so don't feel too bad about that. I'd be tempted to give her mixed corn rather than layers pellets as it might encourage her to eat it and you don't really want her haying atm anyway.

[Mrs_B]

UPDATE Another chicken from the same flock, Big Sister has become ill. She's laying softie after softie and barely moves. She's also laying squished up soft shell and lots of small white runny poos. Took her and Wildberry to the vets again tonight and she gave Wildberry a steroid injection (she has one last antibiotic to go, but isn't really eating/drinking & not laying still). WIldberry still weighs the same from when I took her last week, so at least she hasn't lost more weight but I'd like her to put some on! Been trying Nutridrops to help. I managed to get a fresh sample off Wildberry but Big Sister's were took wet to get anything sent off today. Maybe tomorrow...

 

Big Sister is indoors with us so we can check what she is laying. Earlier today, the top chook, Lady, wouldn't leave her side and kept checking her beak and head before sitting beside her. It was quite sweet...

 

Hi Mrs B

 

I'm sorry to hear this. As you know probably from reading my occasional posts, I am very inexperienced. One of our little pekin chicks was poorly when we first got her. We found an excellent avian vet who prescribed antibiotics but then also strongly recommended Beryl's Bacteria and Avipro Plus, to help after the anti-bi. They said the Avipro Plus is brilliant for picking up stressed/poorly hens/after treatment/moulting etc and I always have some in stock now for whenever I think they're a bit off colour.

 

Hope this helps and will watch to see how she is

 

Thanks, Roselady. Sorry to hear you've had a poorly girl It's not nice seeing your pet ill, they are such a worry! I have been using Nutridrops, but will look out for some Avipro Plus - I am willing to give anything a try!

 

x

 

Must post pics, they are growing at a scary rate. Will be brave and have an attempt this weekend.

 

As for the syringe I sympathise, that can't be fun, I find small amounts in a big syringe a nightmare! Is it oral or an injection - only reason I ask is depending on the syringe and how you are administering you can hold syringe still and in place and rotate/screw the plunger for control and it seems to stick less (not tried on chooks but diabetic hubby so many syringes in our house). Wouldn't worry about a small amount either way on dosage though, will be a margin for error. It's definitely scary giving meds for first time, hopefully will be less nervous tonight. How is she getting on?

 

It is an oral liquid. One more to go and she's finished the course thank goodness! A couple of times I made a small mistake - those large syringes are a nightmare though! Have updated above...thanks for your post!

 

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How is she getting on?

 

You said they've been wormed, just checking it was with Flubenvet?

 

A laying hen wouldn't normally have much muscle so don't feel too bad about that. I'd be tempted to give her mixed corn rather than layers pellets as it might encourage her to eat it and you don't really want her haying atm anyway.

 

I have used Flubenvet about a month ago. I use ACV and Verm-X for a few days a month as a precaution. I am going to re-worm them again just as a precaution. I have found mixed corn really useful with getting her to eat - she's still the same weight, so although still underweight she hasn't lost any more - so that's good!!

 

Thank you for posting!

 

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[good_egg]

Oh Mrs_B I am heartbroken reading this post, I thought things were looking up for you. Really hope things are much better in the morning and you get an answer as to what is wrong - two hens with same thing suggests must be infectious. Hope you are ok. Hugs. Fingers and toes crossed.

[Mrs_B]

The sample is positive for Coccidia - not what I was expecting, you were right, Tweety! One of the other hens in the group who I mentioned earlier actually has red in her poos now, and I know she hasn't been eating my raspberries!!

 

Will be getting the meds on Monday to treat all my hens.

 

Just when my Columbine decides to go broody siiiigh!!

 

Thank you good egg for your post too

 

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