jambo Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 (edited) Hi everyone I picked up 4 new chickens last Sunday 3 of them seem absolutely fine and happy but pearl the light Sussex for the last day or so has had her tail and head down and seems to be waddling a bit and she has very dirty knickers am I right in thinking this a sign of peritonitis I've just put her in a warm bath but nothing funky came out I kept her wrapped in a towel in the front room with me for an hour to let her dry off and I've just put her back in the coop with the others and some of them a gently peck her bum I was told by the previous owner that the were last wormed about 3 months ago and my other girls are due to be wormed in couple of weeks so I was going to do them all together Any advice or ideas would be gratefully received Thanks James Edited September 16, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Oh dear if you've had her a week and she's just become unwell it could be difficult persuading your supplier to replace her. With peritonitis the abdomen is swollen and you can tell by tapping it that it's full of fluid. It could be worms or gut infection or she could be having problems laying. Is she eating and drinking? Has she laid normal eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Hi Thanks for the reply I got her off a friend who wanted her 4 chickens rehomed they are all approx two years old when we got her me and my missus both said she doesn't look right her comb was a lot more pale than the others and she wasn't as busy so we thought we'd better keep an eye in her but for the last 5 days she's layed fine and been eating and drinking its only been the last day or so that I've noticed her all hunched over with her tail down and not moving alot I forgot to put in the original post that she is now using her wings to keep herself from falling over Her stomach didnt feel swollen but I'll check it tomorrow she's gone to bed now so I'll look in in her a bit later James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Sounds like a vet opinion then. They hide how bad they are until really ill Have you checked for mites to exclude the easy things and listened to her breathing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Hi I moved them into a new coop (converted shed) last Sunday as my old coop had mites in it and I've checked everyday that no mites are in there Her breathing didnt seem laboured like when Betty my barred rock died but her comb has gone really pale I've been giving them all ACV for the last week because of the problem with red mites and maggie my amber star who was looking a bit poorly has perked up now and got a nice colour back in get comb James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Can be really anaemic with red mite which would make comb pale but I've noticed combs are pale when not laying so it doesn't really tell you a lot. ACV won't help with red mite or associated anaemia. As its weekend I'd treat hens for red mite by spraying them with Johnsons or similar pyrethrum or invermectin based insecticide and watch for other symptoms and if no better Monday get her checked by vet. Do you know what was wrong with Betty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Hi I thought that ACV was good for most things to help maintain a healthy chicken so what would be best thing if any of the my girls are anaemic because I did have a serious problem with mites and out of my 9 girls I was getting a maximum of 4 eggs a day but now I've moved them I'm getting a maximum of 10 a day from 13 but Pam and maggie are coming up to 5yrs old so they don't lay every day anyway I dust my chickens with diatom powder every 4 weeks and dust and spray the nesting boxes weekly No I don't what killed Betty but I think I was something to do with her heart or respiratory as her comb was blue and she was really gulping for air and she was dead in less than 24hrs James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 I've just checked on her 1 last time before I go to bed and her breathing has become quite erratic so I'll be surprised if she lasts the night but I'll update you in the morning Thanks everyone James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Oh dear sounds bad, hope she's picked up. You really need a vet now to diagnose and treat her. ACV is great for gut health but to build up after red mite/ anaemia scrambled egg, spinach, broccoli or a wide spectrum vitamin supplement helps. The vent is very pale when anaemic as well. There are threads at the top of the forum about managing red mite that'll help you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 HI She's still with us but she's now just standing with her eyes shut and swaying I rung vets now which is my local out of hours vet service and the vets on today don't have the experience with chickens so that's very helpful!?! if she lasts another night I'll take her to my local chicken friendly vet tomorrow but her tail is now touching the floor and her head is buried into her chest so things are really not looking good for her James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I'm so sorry, sounds like she's beyond help. I would say goodbye to her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 I've just checked on pearl and she's now laying on her side shaking so I think ages going to be in the big farmyard in the sky very soon But when I was out there 1 of the RIR that I got at the same time as her did a watery poo and 2 worms came out about 2-3inches long so I think the previous owner lied about when they were last wormed Could pearl be suffering from a severe case of worms? I'm going to get flubenvet tomorrow anyway as my other girls are due a treatment James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 James I know you want to save her but she's suffering Put her in a box and bring her into a dark warm place. Could be the root cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 yeah I know she's suffering and she is beyond saving so I'll go do that now just a shame that I've only had her a week and I didn't spot it earlier then perhaps I could have done more James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 No you've been trying, they hide illness well often until it's too late Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 Hi I thought Pearl was perking up a bit today as she was drinking (syringed) and had a few grapes and was sitting up a bit more but I checked on her about 10mins ago and sadly she has passed away now James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 What a shame How are the others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambo Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 I started the treatment for worms today so hopefully I won't lose anymore if that was the cause? They all seem fine Ruby my heritage skyline laid her first egg in 3 months so now I just need Flo my maran cuivee to lay and then everything is back to normal James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Sorry to hear about Pearl I hope the others are ok. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
