gavclojak Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) Hi guys and gals, I have a question, one of my girls spent most of yesterday in the nest box despite me taking her out, she didn't lay and had a bit if green loose motions. I am working all day today and won't be able to keep an eye on her otherwise I would have seen how she was today but leave early and get home late..... so had a trip to the vets with her. The conclusion was she may have egg peritonitis, she had a very slight raised temperature and heart rate,(stress of vets) She had an internal and was not egg bound and no sign of an egg coming. Her crop was empty and this was at 4pm and the vet asked if she has access to grit, which she does. She seems bright, comb etc nice and red, walking ok.when she came home had a big drink and went straight to the grit holder and had some oyster shell. She recently went from ex batts pellets to another small holder pellet,(poss cause of loose motion?) Vet had given Tylan as a precaution but obviously all the girls will be dosed and that has worried me. she popped out this morning and seemed bright, motion looked better and she was eating and drinking. Any ideas guys? My vet does seem excellent with chooks, I think she would have said keep an eye and see how she was today but as I am at work all day she thought it prudent to start the Tylan. Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted. Edited January 21, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Not sure what was wrong, but she sounds ok now. Try giving them some kind of boost, I use orego stim and have just ordered some nutri drops. Lots of people use garlic too. There was a post on here about egg withdrawal with tylan. I think the general consensus was there's no need, but I bet you've already read that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Hi thanks I did already read that. I got my mum to check and she was out pottering at lunchtime, I gave them nutri- drops last week and also give them ACV from time to time, all up to date with worming..they are naughty girls worrying me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 It's funny isn't it. As I was writing that reply I though, you read everything i do. Well all end up going round and round in circles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Just another point, I came home from work tonight and checked then all, they were in the cube but alana had an empty crop so I assume she hasn't eaten much today:( She was eating some corn when I left this morning and mum checked them at lunchtime and she was pottering with the rest if the girls x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 You could try syringe feeding her. Maybe some liquidized tuna and boiled egg, with some water added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Thanks, will give her a try tomorrow if there is no improvement....boo hoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 From the symptoms you describe, it could be a few things. If she has peritonitis, she'll have a very turgid, swollen abdomen. Your vet has done all they can in the absence of anything concrete, just make sure she eats and drinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Thanks so much ''The dogmother'', she has no swelling at all, she was the first one out this morning and had some mealworms and corn, I am at work but am going to try tuna when I get home at lunch time. The vet said she wasn't dehydrated at all and she spent yesterday pottering, I was just worried about the empty crop when she went to bed. she seems bright enough in herself but I did have 2 softies overnight......don't know what that's all about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Doesn't sound like peritonitis then. I'd just keep an eye on her and make sure she's eating. The symptoms are a bit non-specific (bit like kids with a temperature and rash) as it stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Thank you again....kids are easier....a spoon of calpol and off you go!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Hope chook is better? With my lot if it's not something obvious like myco etc I have on occasion noticed a chook a bit 'off' is the only way I can describe it. Bit away from the others and sleepy or not bovvered kind of expression........then back to normal after a couple of days?? They do that to scare the pants of us from time to time I have concluded!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Your right redsunset and thanks for asking...she ate quite well today and was drinking well also. her poop is very white but she seems a lot better in herself today, she went to bed with a nice fullish crop, not as big as the other three girls but I think her crop is never as obvious. How is your girlie? The vet told me something interesting, she asked if I was considering more hens and I told her yes but only ex commercial girls. She then said that's all I would be able to have, I wouldn't be able to mix vaccinated commercial girls with posh unvaccinated girls due to the fact they can secrete the live virus and infect unvaccinated hens.....well I never Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjiande Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Hi. One of ours was a lot like this back in the summer. I was sure it must be peritonitis. For two days she was in the nest box a lot, hunched up, not really eating or drinking much and poop was green. Our vet put her on anti-biotics and anti-inflammatories. Anyway, we syringe fed her and I was sure she was on the way out. Then she laid four softies in 12 hours (including, finally, 2 in10 minutes) and went back to normal almost straight away. So fingers crossed for you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Am so pleased for you that she appears a little better. My one is just the same unfortunately. Still a bit crackly in the chest, swollen part around eye and thought I detected a few bubbles in it tonight. Don't think she's eating much and despite fresh food twice daily and Tylan in the water, I'm a bit Suss as to how it's going to all pan out. Not giving up that easy but if I ever think I am prolonging something to deep seated to be resolved then I will make a decision in her interests and not mine....but not there by a long chalk yet! Interesting re the vets comments though, and as cage fighters are all vaccinated I do understand. But I think right now your heart is only for them anyway? I'd be the same if they were available in my area.. poor wee mites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Thank you guys for your kind thoughts, and I will be keeping everything crossed for you redsunset. X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 You would be able to mix them with vaccinated hybrids (hybrids are generally vaccinated) but the advice is not to mix with unvaccinated pure breeds, however a friend has a mixed flock of hybrids and pure breeds, has had them for years, and not had any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Thank you so much for the information Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Gavclojak I'm so sorry bout your poorly girly. Such a horrible thing to go through. Good news that you can keep vaccinated and unvaccinated together?! Hope she's better soon for you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Thanks, she is doing well so far, I think the consensus is you can mix ex batts as the are also vaccinated hybred with other hybrids as hybred are vaccinated but the recommendation is not to mix with posh unvaccinated girls. As 'the dogmother' says lots of people happily keep them together. I guess you have to make an informed decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 That's right, it's totally up to you. Bear in mind that vaccines don't always 'take' and even immunised birds can contract something they've been protected against. Mine are all pure breeds and unvaccinated; they are almost never poorly. So long as you birds are well looked after, not crowded or stressed, then they will be as well as they can be. Their lives are short, and the constant laying with ex-batts and other hybrids makes them more susceptible to 'lady tackle problems', so just enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Haha lady tackle!!! Amazing as always The dogmother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Dogmother, if my chooks already have Mareks then what is your opinion? Should new chicks be vaccinated? X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 Debbiedoobs, why don't you PM the dogmother or Olly? Maybe they would be able to advise you privately. It's hard isn't it when you want a yes/no answer.....that's chicken keeping for you....sometimes there is no right or wrong answer x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 (edited) Marek's is a hard one to call - officially you wouldn't be able to sell any of your stock, nor breed from them and sell the offspring, but that's not a problem if they are just pet hens. It is a herpes virus, which is dormant 'in the background' in most flocks, but will only rear its head when a bird is otherwise ill, going through a very bad moult or stressed. There are different types of Marek's, the two most common being the one where they die really quickly - and I mean within a couple of hours of first symptoms. Or the slow-burn version, where the bird fails to thrive, is weak on its legs and not eating..... they can go on like this for a while and it's hard to diagnose, in fact positive diagnosis is only on port mortem, but many avian vets will recognise it. I would cull any infected bird. The disease is akin to chicken pox and shingles in humans. My birds aren't vaccinated, and I've only ever had 2 cases - one died within a couple of hours, and the other appeared to have the slower version, so I culled it. None of the other birds ever succumbed at the time. Hence, the answer to your question isn't clear cut, but if you choose vaccinated birds, then (technically) they are less likely to contract Marek's, but then a healthy and unvaccinated flock probably wouldn't fall to it either. Unless you have silkies (which I would vaccinate) then try not to worry as it's really fairly uncommon. ETA, just read your post again and you mention 'chicks', which I read as 'chickens' do I take it that you're breeding from them then? Edited January 24, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
