2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[mollyripkim]

I posted on Wednesday about Holly the silkie who I took to the vet as she as wobbly on her feet, no other symptoms, was eating, drinking etc at that point and been wormed couple of weeks ago.

 

She is on Baytril but is much worse, she can't stand up on her own and is just sort of sat in the crate in my office, if she tries to move she now falls over. Vet suggested it was mycoplasma but he checked chest which is clear, no runny eyes or nose. She is now only eating if I hand feed her, she has had corn, cucumber, sweetcorn and a whole scrambled egg today but won't attempt to feed on her own although she has drunk some water.

 

Vet said she might get worse before she gets better, he suggested I take her back to make a decision when she has finished her antibiotics.

 

Any suggestions would be gratefully received, as I say she is now very very wobbly and doesn't attempt to stand. I don't want her to suffer but equally want to give her a chance. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Edited March 11, 2013 by Guest

[Daphne]

It doesn't sound much like myco to me, there should be some respiratory symptoms (tho I've not seen your other thread). Perhaps more likely to be neurological, physical knock/strain, mareks or possibly internal tumours I would have thought? If it was any of these problems then its not clear to me that ABs are going to help. I have to say it doesn't sound particularly encouraging I'd continue to hand feed but unless your hen makes some improvement or somebody comes up with a better diagnosis I'd be preparing myself for the PTS/cull option I'm afraid.

[coco]

I have a friend that has a poorly silkie cross that cannot stand, the vet thought it might have been Mareks but has now said it is a tumour and that the hen has no feeling in one of her legs. My friend has given her till the weekend but it isn't looking good.

[Egghead68]

Oh dear - I'm so sorry she's worse. It doesn't sound like what my girl had.

 

It's a very difficult decision how long to give them before deciding to pts. I don't have any useful advice but thinking of you.

[Eggasperated]

I had a similar problem with one of my girls that started last August with a slow decline, she gradually became more and more wobbly on her feet despite lots of vet treatment, although we had a few periods where we thought she would recover. Eventually, after four weeks she went into a sharp decline and had to be PTS. I had hand fed her cat food and any other treat I could get her to eat, she had been on Metacam, Baytril and had numerous visits to a farm vet with a particular interest in chickens; the vet even did a small PM but this did not give any clue to what had caused her problem.

 

Probably none of this is of any help to you, unfortunately it does seem that chickens do sometimes get these mystery illnesses and you never know whether they will recover or not and it becomes very difficult to know whether to continue to treat them or whether to let them go.

 

I do hope your girl recovers.

[mollyripkim]

Thankyou everyone for your replies, it's helped me clarify in my own mind what to do, also spoke to the breeder who thinks it is mareks even though she was vaccinated, maybe brought on by her heavy moult. So I will continue to hand feed her over the weekend and if there is no improvement then a final trip to the vets on Monday. It's really sad as she is still really bright eyed and chattering to me but I know in my heart that I can't keep a chicken that can't stand.

It has really helped to hear your experiences.

[mimi5]

Oh what a sad and difficult decission to have to make I lost Monty very suddenly to we are pretty sure Marek's, it was awful watching him suffer for the last hour of his life There was nothing to do other than to end his suffering and thankfully he had been FRing in the garden the day before He had also just come through his first and heavy moult.

 

I really feel for you and I've also lost 2 pekins and got 2 recovering from myco You know you have done all you could, sending you a "Hug"

[mollyripkim]

Just been reading back through your posts Mimi, sounds like you had a really tough time and I am so sorry you lost Monty. Interesting that he had had his first and heavy moult like Holly. I really hope your girls with myco get better too.

 

Coco, I hope your friends chicken gets better too.

 

Holly still eating if I hand feed her but not pooed at all today which is worrying as she ate well yesterday and crop was empty this morning so goodness knows where that has all gone. I've syringed plenty of liquid in to stop her being dehydrated.

 

Just really wanted to say thankyou for the support, I think this forum has some lovely caring people and its such a help.

[mollyripkim]

Sadly, despite antibiotics, lots of tlc, hand feeding and syringe drinking Holly was no better this morning so took her to the vets to be PTS. I found it really hard as she was still chattering but obviously I can't keep a chicken that can't stand so know I did the right thing by her.

Just spent an hour outside with the others, mad I know as its freezing cold, but it made me feel better.

[Eggasperated]

So sorry to hear about Holly - you did all you could for her.

[Daphne]

Sad news. RIP Holly.

[superkitty]

Really sorry to hear this. You did all you could

[Grandmashazzie]

Sorry to hear about your Holly,you did the kindest thing for her.

[Mrs_B]

Sorry to read about Holly

 

RIP lovely girl.

 

x

[Egghead68]

I'm so sorry. You did your best for her.