Jumbles Mum Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Hi, help and advice needed please! I have 10 ex-batts and 1 of them this morning had a bit of a limo and when checked later the leg was warm but no obvious injury so I assumed a pulled muscle. When I went down this evening to fluff beds, do feed/ water I found a large meaty lump in one of the nest boxes. On one side it was smooth and almost egg-like and on the other side was more lumpy but still smooth. It had little/ no smell and there was a sort of good clot at one end. Now I suspect the limping hen as she said is a bit miserable looking and when I checked everyone's bums (as you do!), hers was quite poppy and she proceeded to do quite a watery poop. I've collected and saved the 'lump' in case I have to go to the vets tomorrow. My girl seems to have a slightly hot bulge below her vent but i can feel nothing solid in there. Could it be peritonitis and I should be rushing off to the vet first thing? Or could it be an extra large lash?! Thank you in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Do you know which one laid the 'lump' Jumbles Mum? Could be a lash? Peritonitis will come with a hot swollen abdomen. The watery poo may be totally unconnected and something else completely? Presume they have all been wormed? Depends on your budget, but an early trip to the vet is in my experience invariably more successful than a late one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbles Mum Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 Hi, thanks for the top reply. I don't know for definate who laid it but it just seems too much like coincidence to have an ick chick at the same time?? Today she (Vivian) has periods of looking fine and others of being hunkered down and hunched looking. I've given her two doses of Baytril and I'm thinking a nice warm bath wont hurt - this has previously worked wonders with other girls. She doesn't have a particularly hot abdomen and if it was peritonitis wouldn't she have gone downhill by now?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I was thinking sour crop initially. The Baytril is an antibiotic given as a 7-10 day course of treatment and as a last resort because the egg withdrawal period is now permanent. It wrecks the gut flora so 2 days after the treatment a probiotic yoghurt is needed. Not a treatment I would have administered without being sure it was necessary. I still think you should consult a vet, but it's your call obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Just a note of caution, in case you haven't seen a vet - it is illegal to administer an antibiotic to an animal without a veterinary prescription. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbles Mum Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Thank you both. Been to the vet today and he has diagnosed either a slow moving egg or an abdominal tumour after palpating the lump in her abdomen. He has advised to carry on the baytril for up to 4 more days then, if there is no improvement to consider the options. Fingers crossed for an egg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
