Mrs_B Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) Well once again something has struck one of my birds and because I had Blackhead issues 18 months ago I am always looking out for signs and clean properly but I didn't see this coming and once again I am blaming myself Our Lavender Orp Audrey has struggled to lay, she does the puffed up thing and once she's layed she's back to her cheeky self. Yesterday she did the puffy up thing, I chatted to her for a while whilst she sat on our shelter roof, looked her over briefly (she had bright eyes/red wattle/comb) and just suspected the same thing. Well...this afternoon I did a thorough poo pick as I do every day and I noticed 'sick' inside the eglu and quickly spotted green poo. Quickly found Audrey under the shelter and she's got mucus in her mouth, runny bum, very pale comb/wattle and noticeably white stuff coming out the corner of her eye. This isn't the same as Blackhead but I am suspecting Mycoplasma? She's not eating or drinking...she took a few pecks from the scoop yesterday (I leave it in front of her normally when I do my jobs). She's currently in the potting shed inside a dog crate with food/water but she's doing...nothing. Is there something I did wrong? Is it all this wet weather? The girls are all in a large WIR on woodchip which has got a bit damp but I 'scuff' it up daily to ensure there's nothing saturated. Also keep up with stalosan/net tex and diatom weekly. My other flock has been a nightmare bully wise since their moult...don't want more problems - stress stress!! Vet's tonight at 5.10pm, the vet is amazing with chooks so I'm hoping she can help. Also - can I give her nutri drops? I'm cautious only because of the mucus and she's been sick? Thank you, all x Edited March 6, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 Hi! Thanks so much for your reply Chickens are such a worry aren't they...never a dull moment. I really hope your Dolly recovers quickly - hugs too! Right, off to administer nutri drops!! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I am so sorry you are having a tough time but please don't think you are doing anything wrong, you did well to spot it and get her to the vets. Hopefully they will be able to give you some antibiotics and she will make a good recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 Thanks, mollyripkim Back from the vet's - she thinks that Audrey does indeed have microplasma, but she's going to research into a particular anti-biotic as Baytril isn't licensed and it's a drug that has a permanent 'egg withdrawal' so we couldn't sell/give away her eggs. She agreed that Audrey is a pet so ultimately if Baytril is the only way to go, then there's no question. Audrey is in our spare room at the moment, nice and warm. I was really shocked hearing all of the mucus on Audrey's chest though - I took the nutri-drops with me as I needed a bit of help because there was quite a bit of mucus in her mouth, and once the vet put in one drop the poor chicken was coughing and it sounded horrible She 'burped' a few times very loudly bless her. I'm going to pat her gently to try and loosen what's there when I give her fluids and more drops. My vet is pretty good at getting back to me, so hopefully Audrey will be on meds very soon!! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Oh Mrs B poor you!! It's absolutely not anything you've done. Myco is a real problem in backyard chickens and they often already have it and can of course pick it up, or indeed carry it and pass it on even vaccinated birds can develop it Stress and illness usually make it surface (anything like intros or moulting) It will pass from mother hen in the egg Baytril works very well and my girls have recovered well from it. They can be quiet poorly with it and do need TLC, which I know you're already doing!! Best wishes for Audrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 Thank you, Mimi - that's really good to know I was pretty upset when I heard her gurgling chest from the mucus so I hope I can start something soon even if it is Baytril!! Do you still eat the eggs? I know they say you can't give them away or sell them, but I am assuming they are actually OK to eat? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Yes we absolutely eat the eggs!!!! Yummy as ever...........when we get them TBH I really can't tell any difference Hopefully my new girlie Verity will be a baytril free zone.......probably in my dreams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Just an update...the vet has got us an antibiotic for Audrey, I think it's Tylan but not 100%. I'm collecting a little later on. Audrey's not good really, I'm feeding her through a syringe, both nutri-drops, fluids and dissolved pellet food. She's still in the dog crate in our spare room, and she just sleeps. It seems like she can't 'see' properly as she goes to peck food, but either misses or doesn't eat, she seems like she's in some discomfort from the mucus. When feeding her I pat her gently when she gurgles to help...giving her fluids little and often so she's not sick. I'm giving Audrey as much TLC as I can and fingers crossed this 3 day course of meds works. The vet also recommended Chicken Vet's pro-biotic so I'm waiting for a delivery of that...will treat both flocks via their water. Praying she pulls through...please be OK! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Mrs B I know you're very busy giving your Audrey lots of TLC How is she doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 Hi, Mimi! Audrey isn't great to be honest but there's improvement - the ant-biotics have made her seem a bit more sprightly but she's not eating or drinking herself and she's still got mucus in her chest and eyes. Her beak gets stuck together and I have to prise it open when I come to give her fluids. I do find it odd that she goes to peck at food (she's got a huge tray of mealworms!) but she stops and seems uncomfortable. She also squeaks when she poos (which is still bright green...and pongs badly but I assume that's the meds!!) I've been popping in tiny pellets and broken up mealworms into her beak and washing them down with water. I'm managing to give her about 35ml a few times a day which isn't great but the vet is assuring me that's better than nothing? Audrey gets very upset quickly, which sounds silly, but she ends up getting so stressed she's caused me quite a few large bruises down my legs from her kicking and trying to get away from me. That's why I'm opting for little and often... Bit concerned about her not feeding or drinking herself though and to me she seems blind in one eye which is causing her to be confused about pecking at her food? AND I had some Beryls friendly bacteria (from The Chicken Vet) in the fridge ready for when she finished her meds but the fridge broke down so I had to throw it all away! It's quite expensive too, so not sure if I should get more (new fridge here on Friday) or wait to see what the vet says tomorrow... Just not sure at the moment... x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 Oh, I forgot to mention that the mucus inside her body absolutely stinks! When I open her beak it hits you and my fingers end up smelling horrid, even after I've washed them a few times This does seem to have improved a bit...but is this a sign of an infection that's been there a while? Poor Audrey!! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Ah how is your Audrey doing? I hope she's making a steady recovery after all your TLC. Don't you get attached when they're poorly house chickens??? My hubby is really quite tolerant........comes down to find a chicken in the kitchen and says "ah poorly one is it". Florence was inside for 2 weeks, it was nice to sit and chat with her ...but sad to try and get her to eat and forcing down meds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 Hi, Mimi - thank you for posting Well Audrey started eating, though not drinking, but she seemed to perk up, however over 48 hours she went downhill and the mycoplasma really seemed to come back. Her beak was all sticky again and when she had water this afternoon her beak started to have thick foam coming out of it moments later I went to the vet full on expecting to have her PTS and I was in tears from the car into the vet's consultation room - it's a bit embarrassing if I look back as I was really giving in to how I felt and that was devastated. BUT the vet was pleased with her reaction to Tylan as she seemed to clear up even though it came back, so the vet said give it one last go - but a 5 day course instead of 3 is worth a go. I need to give her fluids and food (she's not eating again) every 2 hours minimum, which is fine but I really dislike forcing liquid into her beak when it just flows back out because of the mucus - but I am going to try my best for her - but if she goes very bad or this doesn't work I won't have her suffer. She's lost 1kg (shes 2.5kg now) but she's perky and standing OK. Fingers crossed tightly for my Audrey x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Ahh...emotional roller-coaster. So yesterday Audrey dropped to her side so I rang the vet's who said that as she'd just had 24hours of antibiotics I might be worth waiting over night. I booked a morning ap at 9am. Woke up, she was still drooping to the side but she was stood and even walked a little!! Good, ubt not fantastic. Still went to the vets, she drooped a lot so I said 'Do it' but then it's like she heard me and starting walking a little on the table!! Anyway, the vet said I could take her home and wait until surgery opened at 5pm just to be sure as I was very emotional and conflicted. Vet thinks something neurological might be going on now. I won't miss that appointment later...if there's no improvement (more standing up) I will have her PTS. I feel like a wimp and a bit of a failure as I have tried so hard over the past two weeks Audrey is propped up now and is having a sleep...my fiancé's work allowed him to have an early extended lunch so he has come home for a bit which is nice for him to see Audrey. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Fingers crossed for her, I hope she improves through the day. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Poor you and Audrey,you are having a bad time.Fingers crossed she will perk up as the day goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Audrey didn't really improve much so when I went to the vet she was PTS. The injection was meant to take 30 minutes, she took less than a few as she was so weak. I feel absolutely destroyed and feel so guilty. So many tears here in the house...we miss her very much. Such a shame she was only hatched last year Thank you all for your posts xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Sad news sending hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Thank you - definitely appreciated! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Oh no Mrs B I was so rooting for your Audrey to make a turn around Big hug for you from me, having them PTS at the vets is SO sad. The beginning of this year has seen a few of us say goodbye to a chicken friend It seems especially sad when they are only young too. RIP Audrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I am sorry it wasn't a god ending and that you lost poor Audrey, sounds like you have had a tough time but hopefully can take comfort that you did everything you could for her. Sending hugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 So sorry to read this. I had an identical situation late last summer. I thought it was Myco until you mentioned the smell. It was so putrid that I had to splash fabric conditioner on the floor and after almost a week I knew she wasn't going to get better and had her PTS. I cried over that little hen as only a few months old. Totally different to the Myco case I had recently which was so different and chook is now fine. You did everything you could possibly do for her. I came up with infectious coryza for mine based on lots of reading (and the smell) Don't know if that is an American name or is it also used in the uk, but it seemed to fit symptoms exactly. Those little chooks don't half put us through the wringer but still........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 So sorry Mrs B Sending big hugs xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share Posted March 9, 2014 Thank you everyone for your kind words and hugs. I'm still feeling horribly guilty I know with time this might become easier. mimi- Let's hope we all have some better chicken related news as the year goes on Thank you!! redsunset - Thank you for your post. I looked up some further info and I think Audrey definitely had myco only because of the other symptoms, and I am thinking the smell was nutri drops and anti biotic? I feel so sorry that you had coryza in your flock - it looks and sounds hideous The infection for Audrey in her eyes and nose never looked that nasty from the examples I saw. Yes, chickens definitely put us through it!! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
