Chicken bald back

[mcfee2]

I posted on Friday on the chickens forum that little Crocus wasn't well but I didn't know why.

 

We gave her some nutridrops yesterday afternoon and she seemed a little brighter but this morning I found her on her back in the nest box. I picked her up and put her on the roosting bars but she fell straight over. I've brought her inside and put her in the indoor guinea pig cage, and put half a tin of tuna in a bowl right at her feet. she's eating it, but I'm really worried now. when I fetched her out of the eglu she made no noise at all, didn't even try to flap her wings or struggle. What am I missing? she has been wormed, and I can't see anything wrong despite checking lots...

 

please help?

Edited July 24, 2013 by Guest

[mcfee2]

photos, in case they help:

 

 

 

I'm going to sit here and read all the chicken books and magazines to see if I can find something

[merlina]

Well her eyes look nice and bright

I assume she's not sniffling or sneezing?

If she's eating and pooing that's good

But overall it doesn't sound very positive - sorry.

 

I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions what it might be, although it does sound as though she should see a vet tomorrow

 

In the meantime you might want to bring her in the house so you can keep an eye on her and see if being away from the others perks her up?

[good_egg]

I think they do go very placid/go to sleep if they lie on their backs, but how she ended up on her back is a bit of a mystery!

 

Have you checked her head for lice as well as her vent?

 

I agree I think a trip to the vet might be required.

[mcfee2]

she's just done a little poo and it was really watery and creamy white in colour, with some not quite digested pellets in there. she stood up properly for a but but seems to be sitting on her haunches again now. I've been reading all i can as I sit with her and now I'm terrified that she maybe has Marek's or something similar and the other girls may get sick too. I feel dreadful now, I don't want any of them ill

[sjp]

daft question but are you feeding her growers or layers pellets and was she been fed pellets or mash before you got her? she should be still on growers feed layers isn't any good for growers as it contains to much calcium. some birds can be slow on the up take when the get changed from mash to pellets

[mcfee2]

she was on growers when I got her and I've kept her on growers pellets. She's had a bit of a peck at the small bowl I put in the cage with her and is now huddled down again. She's stood up twice but not for very long, she just seems to want to lie down. she hasn't drunk anything so we are going to give her some nutridrops and then some water by syringe in a bit. is it best to do the water first so we don't dilute the drops?

[redcharlie43]

This might seem a bit random but have you tried coconut water from the supermarket?. One of my hybrids was poorly and wouldn't eat anything. The vet had to force feed her with a tube to get some food/water in and she had only had a few drops of water over a few days and wouldn't eat. I was about to take her back to the vet but I put a small bowl of cold coconut water and dipped her beak in it and she started drinking it. I drink it to rehydrate after a run and thought it might do her a bit of good if I could get her to drink it. After a few hours she drank some more and gradually she perked up and was back with the others a few days later. It might be worth a try. I hope she gets better soon.

[mcfee2]

we went to the vet this morning despite her seeming a little steadier on her feet and the outlook isn't good. He thinks either Marek's or a bacterial infection. Unfortunately her weight has dropped from 730g on Saturday down to 580g this morning, and he says that he doesn't think she's got enough strength to fight whatever it is that's making her ill. So she is consigned to the guinea pig cage inside for the next 48hours, by which time she'll either be massively improved or gone.

 

He gave her an injection of Tylan to try to help her fight it off. fingers crossed now, I don't know what else I can do.

[Egghead68]

Fingers crossed for her. Can you get any food into her, e.g. scrambled egg? Keep syringing water.

[mcfee2]

I'm going to try scrambled egg tonight - do I have to leave it to be completely cool? She was interested briefly in the tuna, but not for long, and pellets and corn may as well be rubbish for the interest in them.

[mimi5]

Sorry about your little one!! I love araucanas!! (long story ...was supposed to have some...sadly none as yet!)

 

My tips (learned through experience....sometimes very sad too! )

 

Nutri drops are a must as they give vitamins and a boost to appetite!

 

Then tempt with food even treats (like mealworms)

 

Syringe water if you need too and also keep hen inside, in a quite place.

 

Have you tired making a "porridge" with your pellets?? I just use a little warm water until the pellets swell and are soft. Sometime I add live yogurt on the top, especially after anti-biotics as it helps their gut flora!

 

My cockerel had to be PTS with suspected Marek's it was horrible!!!!! There really is nothing you can do if it is Mareks. I to was terrified all of mine would go done with it too!!!! But so far other mishaps but not ...DARE I say it that! Monty was PTS in dec, so I'm hopeful the girls will be ok.

 

Best wishes and keep us posted on your progress

[Egghead68]

I would let the scrambled egg cool a bit first. Good luck and keep us posted.

[mcfee2]

I came home to find her collapsed on her side again. I stood her back uptight and gave her nutridrops as the egg cooled but she doesn't seem convinced. Though she is pecking at the pellets I'm not sure she's actually eating any. I feel awful for her and can't decide if it's better to give her time to recover or whether I'm dragging out her dying because I can't make the decision.

[good_egg]

Oh no, poor you. Hopefully she will enjoy the scrambled egg and perk up. It's heartbreaking isn't it. Hugs

[Egghead68]

I'm so sorry. It's really difficult to know what to do for the best and to see them poorly, isn't it. Thinking of you and your little hen.

[mcfee2]

Poor Crocus has got worse, she's now down to 480g and seems to be barely eating except the couple of mouthfuls of pellets/oats/warm water I can get her to take.

 

I spoke to the vet on the phone this morning and he says that she should have shown some improvement by now, but that she still isn't showing enough Marek's symptoms to be certain that it's that. So if she isn't any better by tonight, then we will have to say our goodbyes. I know she's only been with us for twelve days but I've got so attached because of the extra care she's needed. I'm dreading what tonight will bring,

[mollyripkim]

Oh dear, you poor thing, but at least you know you did your very best for her.

[mcfee2]

she didn't make it to the end of the day. poor mite, I can't believe how fast she went down and I was utterly useless to save her.

[PoachedPlease]

Aww sad. You should take her back to the breeder surely, a) so you can perhaps get a refund? B) more importantly he might have a clue what went wrong?

 

At least crocus had you as the owner, you did the best you could.

 

Xx

[good_egg]

So sorry. You did everything you could for her. Hugs

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry to hear about Crocus, you did all you could and she was lucky to have such a caring owner even if it was only for a short time.

 

Chrissie

[mollyripkim]

Really sorry she didn't make it.

[Luvachicken]

Sorry to read about poor little Crocus xxx

[Egghead68]

I'm so sorry to hear that. You did all you could.