Alex_LJZ Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Hi Guys, I have a problem with one of my ex-batts. She laid an egg yesterday and was fine this morning. then mid day today she became lethargic and started to breath through her mouth. it got worse through the afternoon and she is definitely wheezing and her whole body moves when she breathes. I took her to a vet but the bird specialist was on holiday. the vet had a look but couldn't really offer a solution. Se will not eat or drink and won't even look at an earthworm, which would normally result in me loosing a finger to an eager beak. Any ideas what it could be? I think I am going to loose this hen, but should I do anything to protect the others in the flock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_LJZ Posted May 11, 2014 Author Share Posted May 11, 2014 So, no change at all this morning, still wondering what to do... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Did the vet not prescribe anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 What on earth is your vet doing Alex? Sounds like a simple respiratory infection which needs treating quickly to minimise lung damage. Baytril is the antibiotic of our choice. Then find out why she contracted it. Dusty bedding, poor ventilation or black mould growth in the coop are the favourites, the latter being the most serious. Other hens may also have problems. It isn't contagious as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_LJZ Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 So, wheezing getting worse but she has a bit more life in her. Went back to the vet this am and saw someone more chickeny, she gave me some antibiotics so we will see how it goes. opted not to go for baytril because of egg contamination issues, I know most people say 14 days but the vet said never eat the eggs, and since I feed most of the eggs to my under 5s, I figured why take a risk. Fingers crossed..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 The vet says that because Baytril is on the possible list of the next generation antibiotics Alex. When people become allergic to all available that will be the next prescribed. If they have already had even the minutest trace of it they will become allergic to that as well. I've eaten all the eggs from our Baytril girls because I'm not allergic to even penicillin yet and I haven't that much time left anyway. Wise move considering your under 5's I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_LJZ Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 I guess that makes sense. Wheezing continues and she is still a bit inactive and has also started sneezing a bit, but she looks a bit more alert. Also, this afternoon she used up all the energy I had painstakingly drip fed into her to make an egg! If she survives I am going to breed from her as she seems to have some stress resistant trait. When we collected her from BHWT, drove her 30 miles in a box and put her outside in a large run she never stopped laying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_LJZ Posted May 16, 2014 Author Share Posted May 16, 2014 What Next. She has been on anti biotics for 5 days and is still wheezy and sneezing. She seems much better though, she is more mobile and active, trying to escape from her confinement in the garage, pecking me whenever I pick her up for an inspection and generally looking more chickeny. She laid another egg this morning.... I am minded to continue with the anti biotics but am wondering about putting her back with the others as she must be getting very fed up with being locked up. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 A while ago, one of mine had a poorly chest and got put on antibiotics. After about 5-6 days she hadn't really made much improvement and I was thinking about taking her back to the vets when suddenly the next day she was back to normal. As for being locked up, could you not pop her in a dog crate or small run outside so she could have some fresh air and a nibble of grass. I popped in a tray of garden soil for mine and she was over the moon with that. I'm afraid I don't know if it's a good idea to pop her back with the others but I'm sure someone else will know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 Probably best to keep her away from the others in case she passes something on to them. You could put her in a crate in sight of the others though as that should make it easier to reintroduce her when she's better. Antib's are good and I would finish the dose. Try apple cider vinegar in her drinking water as a pick me up. 1 fl oz per gallon, or equivalent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_LJZ Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 So, 3 weeks on the antibiotics now and full dose is about used up. Vet said use for a week or so but I have kept going as improvement was slow. Hen is acting healthy, laying 5 eggs this week and jumping all over the garage, escaping at any oportunity and socialising well with others when I let her out. She still has a sneeze/couch quite regularly though. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Hayfever perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
