Lavenders_Blue Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 It's not shaping up to be a great week for me. We had to cull one of our girls on Monday who had had a nasty prolapse and now we seem to have another who is under the weather. Poor Viking has been looking sorry for herself since yesterday. She seems to be off her food, standing around looking quiet and lethargic but interspersed with periods where she looks quite bright. I checked her over yesterday and today and can't really see anything wrong with her. Crop is more or less empty as she's not eating but no fluid or impaction. Bottom is okay - feathers are a bit messy but that's not unusual as she sleeps in the nest box. Abdomen feels okay, neither hard nor fluidy. Her comb is looking a bit floppy, could that be significant? All hens have just finished a course of Flubenvet and are mite and lice free, so I am really struggling to think what could be amiss. Maybe she is just getting old? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Could be anything, maybe an egg coming. Have you listened to her breathing? Do her mucky feathers smell or look different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 16, 2013 Author Share Posted May 16, 2013 No, it's a real mystery I stuck my head right into the coop when I opened up this morning and had a sniff It definitely all smells normal (not pleasant, but normal!). Breathing, eyes etc are all fine. I have this horrid feeling she's going to slip downhill until we have to make a decision... However I will try and remain positive! I've put some tonic in the water in the meantime to try and give her a boost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 It's hard and even the vet probably won't have a clue but would be worth taking her and trying a course of Baytril or similar. They may find something. Trouble is chickens can have as many illnesses as we do and often we never find out what it was. I lost my original omlet chicken today. She sounded like yours but then hunched and comb began to go purple. We were trying antibiotics but vet couldn't really diagnose the problem. I think she was just a knackered old hen with worn out kidneys and probably an acute infection that was too much. I hope yours picks up especially after losing one with prolapse. That's no fun. Sorry not to help more but a lot of experienced chicken keepers on here may come up with something for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 16, 2013 Author Share Posted May 16, 2013 Thanks Plum Sorry to hear about the loss of your hen I know it sounds a bit callous but I have more or less made the decision to give up on the vet with regards to hens. As you say, they don't tend to know much about them. I've taken a few in, paid out £££ for antibiotics and lost the hen anyway. We now cull any that get very sick and we can't treat but obviously would rather avoid getting to that point! I actually spoke to the local poultry chap today and he suggested treating with soluble aspirin in the drinking water. It may be my imagination but she does seem to be rallying and gaining some appetite so fingers crossed that she continues to pick up. Any further suggestions are welcomed though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Doesn't sound callous at all as long as they don't suffer. I'm definitely going to learn how to do it myself now so I don't have to watch a chicken suffer until I can get help. Not heard of the aspirin trick, I wonder what the mechanism is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 16, 2013 Author Share Posted May 16, 2013 No idea, I hadn't heard of it before either. He told me 1 soluble aspirin per 500ml water. It doesn't matter if the whole flock drink it, it shouldn't do them any harm. I will report back if it's successful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 If you google it, there are some interesting threads on aspirin for chooks. Good luck with your girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 16, 2013 Author Share Posted May 16, 2013 Thanks suebee, I've just had a quick poke about on Google. If the poultry vet at Retford's is happy to suggest aspirin as a treatment then I'm happy to work on the basis that it's safe. Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Of course silly me it's a NSAID. I was just thinking of it as an anti clotting drug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 It could be her heart L_B; chickens tend to have weak hearts anyway,and it sounds as if hers might be failing. As you say, there are no specific symptoms to treat, but if she's not eating then you could syringe a more concentrated solution of tonic into her, or some pureed food/baby food. Good luck; you've had a bit of a trial with chooks lately, haven't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 17, 2013 Author Share Posted May 17, 2013 It could be her heart L_B; chickens tend to have weak hearts anyway,and it sounds as if hers might be failing. As you say, there are no specific symptoms to treat, but if she's not eating then you could syringe a more concentrated solution of tonic into her, or some pureed food/baby food. Good luck; you've had a bit of a trial with chooks lately, haven't you? It always seems to come in waves. We had a chook with a prolsapse before, maybe 18 months or so ago. We lost her a week after I lost another hen to a weak heart - very purple comb and lethargic. It's upsetting but just how it goes, isn't it? I still get upset about it but am able to be a bit more philosophical and realise that sadly hens just aren't robust creatures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I know, you never really get used to it though, especially if you need to nurse them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 17, 2013 Author Share Posted May 17, 2013 I know, a friend asked me if I really had shed tears for every hen lost. I said yes. I think she thought I was potty, but how can you not get upset at the loss of a creature who you have cared for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I still say goodbye and cry when I have to despatch one of mine, or it dies. I was never that bothered about the meat chickens at my grandfolks place though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 Sorry to hear about Vilking, you are having a rough time at the moment. How is she now, I hope she is improving. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 Just a quick sort-of update... I'm still a bit about what's up. Viking has spent quite a bit of today looking quiet and sleepy, but has also had her head stuck in the trough quite a bit too. This is encouraging - maybe with a bit of food in her tummy it will build her up? She's eaten quite a few bean sprouts and mixed grains that I chucked in the run, and she's tucking into layers mash at the moment. I reckon if she continues to eat then that's a good sign. It puts me off having to make any horrid decisions for now at least. Let's hope she continues to improve! ETA - just seen your post Chrissie, update above! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 Sounds a bit more positive, I'm hoping she'll improve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 That's good news, would she eat a wet mash if you made some up with mealworms and poultry tonic in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 I bet she would I will treat her tomorrow. I have put a hefty splash of tonic in the drinking water, and I have seen her having a good drink today also, so she ought to be getting some good nutrition to give her a boost. I think she's had her head in the feeder for the last 45 mins or so, lots of eating to be done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 That's good news, you can always give them the mashed up contents of a can of pilchards - not permitted by DEFRA I know, but very good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 I don't have any pilchards but I thought I might give her some tuna tomorrow in her wet mash. No doubt I'll have to make a quadruple portion as they'll all want some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 I'm sure you know, but make it tuna in spring water, rather than oil or brine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 Yep, it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
