3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[Mrs_B]

The previous two threads reagrding my Barred Rock:

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=90343

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=89857

 

My Barred Rock started showing signs of illness early August, and after tests (confirming coccidia) and various antibiotics (as well as nutri-drops/life guard etc), trips to the vets, she just isn't getting better.

 

She's currently in my living room inside a large dog crate all hunched/puffed, wings and tail dropped and is leaning her head on the side of a food bowl (she won't stand, so I popped the various food bowls on the floor in front of her). She barely keeps her eyes open. I brought her in from her coop last night as all she was doing was spending time in the hen house and I wanted her to feel a bit more comfortable.

 

I suppose this is more of an upset rant than 'Please help me!' because I am just out of ideas. My OH thinks maybe it is something we just can't see, and I am starting to think the same. The only new thing I noticed this week is her vent seems to be open a lot - the other girls' vents are closed unless they need to do their business, but I am wondering if the Barred Rock is doing this because she is straining...she is eating and drinking a little but has definitely lost more weight (she's had a bit of yoghurt & loves picking out the sunflower seeds from the corn mix). I try and feel her crop and all I can feel is bone. Will confirm the weight loss with the vets though. Think another vet visit tomorrow is in order

 

Apologies for the rant! Thank you for reading...

Edited September 26, 2012 by Guest

[Daphne]

Firstly, you are not having a rant so no need to apologise Your girl sounds in a bad way and she has obviously been ill for some time. The symptoms you describe (fluffed up, hunched, standing about, tail down, not eating, strange poos mostly white - this is because she isn't taking in much solid matter) are all consistent with coccidiosis as previously diagnosed, so I'm not surprised at them, and I would definitely take her to the vet tomorrow. I'm sorry to say I would also prepare yourself for the worst, whilst the vet may be able to do something he/she may feel that having them PTS is the best option. I have lost 4 young birds from the same hatch to cocci. There are 9 different strains of it and the one I had sounds quite similar to yours, I managed to save the birds early on but they never thrived and in the end I had to cull them all - the latter stages of the illness as you are seeing are distressing.

[Mrs_B]

Firstly, you are not having a rant so no need to apologise Your girl sounds in a bad way and she has obviously been ill for some time. The symptoms you describe (fluffed up, hunched, standing about, tail down, not eating, strange poos mostly white - this is because she isn't taking in much solid matter) are all consistent with coccidiosis as previously diagnosed, so I'm not surprised at them, and I would definitely take her to the vet tomorrow. I'm sorry to say I would also prepare yourself for the worst, whilst the vet may be able to do something he/she may feel that having them PTS is the best option. I have lost 4 young birds from the same hatch to cocci. There are 9 different strains of it and the one I had sounds quite similar to yours, I managed to save the birds early on but they never thrived and in the end I had to cull them all - the latter stages of the illness as you are seeing are distressing.

 

Thank you for posting, Daphne. I am sorry to hear about your birds - I have found a few people I know don't understand that chickens can mean something to an owner (I've already has a 'so is she going to end up as Sunday Dinner?' ), but it means a lot to know there are people (like on here) who understand.

 

You are absolutely right. I am preparing myself - though I don't think I am accepting it, if that makes sense. I don't want her to suffer so I will go on the advise of the vets if she decides the PTS option is the best. I hate to think she's hurting and I can't do anything.

 

After giving my girl her nurti-drops this afternoon, she perked up as expected and I treated her to quite a few mealworms and a strawberry. Probably not the best diet, but am trying to get some food in her - she even stood up after. Lasted about an hour though and she's sat back down but at least that's something.

 

Will update any news - thank you again, Daphne.

 

x

[good_egg]

Oh no. Hope she gets better. Poor you.

[UKMARCH]

Poor you she sounds in a bad way, we lost our barred rock last weekend she just never seemed to thrive like the other POL that we got at the same time and one morning she came down the wooden hill and went over the rainbow bridge I think sometimes they have an underlying issue that's not apparent.

[Mrs_B]

My favourite bird which is my Columbine has taken a turn for the worst.

 

For the past 10 days she's been broody. I have got her off the nest a couple of times a day (and putting a brick in the nest box when the other hen has laid) and she's stayed out and been eating/drinking happily. This morning instead of staying in the coop she ran out with her companion. But late morning I saw her hunched over with her eyes closed. I picked her up and she kept her eyes closed, not bothered I picked her up (she's usually my most flighty bird).

 

Since this morning she's not had anything to eat/drink - won't move, eyes always closed, is hunched/feathers puffed out and has the same poos as my other poorly hen (green, watery with white slime). She's also making strange clicking noises now and then. It just seems the Columbine has suddenly become ill very quickly where it took the Barred Rock about a month?

 

I'm pretty upset, I tried giving her some nutri-drops and water via a syringe and whilst she took the nutri-drops I only managed to give her about 1.5ml of water. I feel like I am doing something very wrong and missing something!!

 

I have an appointment with the vets but I have a bad feeling it won't go the way I would like

[Daphne]

Mrs B - I am sorry to hear this. Cocci can spread easily, and I bet your other girl has got it as well and I'm afraid it can kill a bird very quickly. Ask the the vet for advice; its good that you are going. I take it you do worm with Flubenvet regularly? One thing you will need to do and be very vigilant about is hygiene. You may know that cocci is spread by occysts shed in birds' droppings which then live in the soil/bedding/everywhere and are typically re-ingested by the birds. They can live for ages; and cocci seems to be worse in damp weather. Its a terrible disease. Anyway, the houses/feeders/drinkers need to be cleaned out very thoroughly using something like VirkonS (disinfectant) and then using something like StalosanF or Bio-Dri in the bedding (also disinfectant). None of this is your fault, although keeping good husbandry standards is very important (I'm not implying you don't!) Cocci most often occurs in youngstock as their immune systems can't cope, although I think your birds are a bit older, but if they are compromised in some way with a health issue then any bird can succumb. I hope the vet is able to help you.

[Mrs_B]

Yes, I think she's got the same problem - although she won't open her eyes even if she seems to be 'looking around' and moving to a different patch which is quite strange to see. She also did a very VERY smelly poo and seemed to perk up for about 30 seconds before going back to the original position. OH thought maybe during the broody stage she was hiding some symptoms which we didn't pick up on.

 

Thank you for your advice. I wormed them about 2 months ago and again about 2 weeks again to ensure it wasn't worms (the vet suggested worming them at the gapeworm dose just to be sure - this was before I got the cocci diagnosis). I've been using Virkon every 6 weeks, should I do this more regularly now cocci is in their runs/house? I use Stalosan once a week on their woodchip area/dust baths but use lice powder in their coop/nest box - can I add Stalosan as well as the lice powder? I disinfect all my tools but will go over everything to try and break the cycle of the occysts. I was secretly hoping the girls from the Eglu weren't infected -I had separated both groups at the first sign of something being wrong (no FR together) but I suppose it shows how infectious Coccidia is!

 

Thank you again - will update with how I get on at the vets.

x

[Daphne]

In the meantime, yes you can use Stalosan and lice powder at the same time, they are being used to do different things. I'd probably be cleaning out more regularly than 6 weeks, I got a bit paranoid when I had it and the drinkers/feeders were cleaned every day and the coop thoroughly maybe fortnightly - which isn't my usual routine. My birds are kept on grass and I kept the infected birds in one place and actually I haven't used that bit of ground since (my outbreak was over one year ago) as I am lucky enough to have plenty of space.

 

With broody hens it is often very difficult to spot when they are being ill, and as brooding places stress on the body (less food taken in, no exercise, masses of heat generated, prone to any lice etc) I wouldn't be surprised if this has triggered her episode.

[good_egg]

How did you get on at the vets Mrs_B. everything crossed for you. Hx

[Mrs_B]

The vet isn't sure what is going on - she is going to consult some other chicken experts and will be in touch. The Columbine perked up a lot and ate some food and I dissolved some pellets which went down well with the other bird. The Barred Rock has lost more weight though so it is a concern Let's see what other vets come up with...

 

I'm also having another crisis. I gave some syringes of medication to my other three chickens and when I was holding my White Star and someone else did the syringe, she panicked and came out of my arms and landed oddly. I checked her over immediately, and she ran into her run fine. However, an hour later my OH said that she was limping and she's struggling to walk on her leg now!! I don't know if I am just making a huge mess of everything chicken related

[Daphne]

I am sure you are not. I have no time to write further, but keeping chooks is a huge learning curve and ill chooks are quite an issue. Syringing is not for the fainthearted. See how she is in the morning. I'm sure its rotten bad luck you have cocci, I do have a theory about youngstock who have it, who seem to recover, but never being quite the same again, but of course, as a purchaser, you have no idea about your birds early life.

[Groovychook]

So sorry for all your chicken worries Mrs B

It's horrid when things aren't going smoothly but you're doing all you can!

I hope your vet manages to come up with something.

Fingers crossed. xx

[good_egg]

Fingers crossed your vet will come back with some ideas. Not your fault your chook did a death leap, don't worry. Buffy fell backwards down the ladder when I shooed her out the cube the other week, looked fine at the time but hobbled a bit later on - OH pointed out I'm the same if I hurt something. She will heal and at least you know the cause! Chin up and keeping fingers crossed!

[Mrs_B]

Thank you, everyone.

 

Apologises for the upset post - I felt quite distressed and useless - it felt like a lot of things went wrong.

 

I do feel a bit better this morning after sleeping on it all. My White Star is still limping so I will get her to the vet for painkillers if she needs it and a general check of her health. She seems to walk on her leg much better than last night though so that's a good sign.

 

I haven't heard from the vet yet, but will post when I have heard something! I've done all the things to treat cocci and make the birds feel better so I want it to be over so I can enjoy the girls again without worrying

 

Thanks again.

 

Daphne - I appreciate the added info you are posting on this thread, I am interested in your experience with Cocci.

 

x

[Mrs_B]

Well the vet and her colleagues think the cocci has caused legions in my birds' guts which is why they are suffering the way they are. She said they can't confirm this without a post mortem, but I hope it doesn't come to that. They are all going to get a steroid injection on Thursday.

 

The Barred Rock is now being fed/watered via a syringe with dissolved pellets and warm water. She is still inside as she still isn't moving and hasn't improved

 

My White Star had some anti-inflammatory this evening at the vets and her leg is looking better with no obvious breaks which is good news. She refused to walk during her consultation though and she's usually running around like she's been on some red Bull, typical she didn't do as she was told!!

 

I guess it is a wait and see situation now. Fingers crossed for a good outcome...

 

x

[Mrs_B]

I have a sad update My Barred Rock passed away at 7.15am this morning.

 

Before OH and I went to bed last night we noticed that Wildberry was leaning her neck out on the floor and she looked miserable. So I placed her in some towels, sat on the sofa and had her in my lap all night as I watched over her.

 

I am devastated that this is the outcome. I could tell the area around the back was bothering her but I thought keeping her warm might just keep her with us. She passed away after having a small seizure whilst I had my hand on her side and spoke to her. I never wanted to leave her on her own. OH had to go to work at 7.30 and was in tears with me - I wish he could have stayed home.

 

I am taking her in to have a post mortem to protect my other hens and be 110% on what is going on.

 

RIP my lovely girl, you will be missed so very much xxxx

[Daphne]

I am very sorry to hear that I know you did all you could. Having a PM is a very good idea in this case, it will help you keep the other girls safe. Its very upsetting losing a bird which you have nursed, particularly if you aren't used to it, but always remember you did your best. Chooks aren't the most robust of creatures and these things happen to us all despite our best efforts. I expect you will feel rather weepy today, particularly if you haven't had any sleep, so let yourself mourn her, but I promise you it does get better in the end. I will also say that bad luck and illness seems to come in waves, you can go for ages without any problems. RIP Wildberry.

[Eggasperated]

Sorry to hear about your girls especially losing your Barred rock. I have not had a good year with my girls and lost one last week who was only nine months old so I can understand how you feel. A PM is a good idea and hopefully your vet will then have clearer idea what is happening with your flock, unfortunately the PM on mine was inconclusive so we are still none the wiser.

RIP Wildberry.

[Groovychook]

So sorry

xx

[good_egg]

I saw the changed title and my heart sank. You poor thing. RIP Wildberry. Take care

[mollyripkim]

Oh I am so sorry, what a sad ending, but you did everything you could possibly do for her. Sending hugs.

[Mrs_B]

Thank you so much everyone. Your support has made me feel better and it means a lot that you've taken the time to post on this thread.

 

I feel rather numb. I know that chickens pass away as other pets do, and every time I have been very upset, but I so wanted Wildberry to pull through this that the fact she's passed away hasn't sunk in. I requested the ashes after they do the PM - it's quite expensive but it's something I want to do.

 

Sorry to hear you've recently lost your chicken, Eggsasperated It's very frustrating when you can't find the cause and fix it x

 

I will update any findings that is found via the PM...fingers crossed it doesn't result in my other hens becoming very ill too and the medication is enough to keep cocci from damaging their guts.

 

x

[Cheeky Chooky]

So sorry to read this *hug*

[zakjon-98]

Sorry to hear about Wildberry You couldn't have done anymore