Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Luvachicken]

I gave Queenie her bath today and then weighed her after.

She only weighs just over 600g - she was weighing just under 800g.

Also her comb, ears and wattles are very pale too.

 

She looks fine otherwise and is eating and drinking, although she has been sitting around more the last couple of days

 

I feel very sad that I have been poorly and been neglecting them lately.

What can I do that's best for Queenie ?

I did give her some nutridrops earlier today.

[redsunset]

Maybe a little posh cat food, the ones in the wee tins in tesco for extra protein a little at a time might perk her up? Has she been moulting? Mine are quite disgruntled just now because of that and a couple of combs were paler than usual, think it's par for the course? A few treats with some extra calories and the TLC (which I know you provide big time) and it might help? Also, how old is she? One of my white leghorns I could swear is smaller since her moult and her comb smaller and a tiny bit paler but otherwise ok? Hope this helps

[redsunset]

P.s. Hope you are on the mend as well?

[Claireabella]

I'd be tempted to try extra protein too. Live mealworms seem to have really helped my ex-commercial girls (if you can stomach them ).

 

I feel awful saying and I hope it's not, but do you think she may have a blockage or impaction somewhere? They do tend to have persistent diarrhea and lose weight over time, although I'm no expert by a long shot, only my experience with my poor Fleur

[Beantree]

We are at the moment trying Avipro Avian Luvachicken. Working on the basis that if digestion is better they won't need more food as such. Like you we are preparing for Winter.

 

The stuff used to be called Avipro Plus, but their products have been re-marketed now that Avipro have EU licence for their probiotic. The new Avipro Plus now contains only prebiotic, which is food for probiotics. We have had apparently good results with it mixed with probiotic yoghurt and given orally, which they enjoy.

 

Avipro Avian contains their EU approved probiotic and the prebiotics in the Plus. So far we have only given it to sickies and await a noticeable result. If we get one we will give it to all of the birds.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks everyone

She did moult very badly this time.

She will be 3 in March so not that old.

 

I think I will get her some live food and order some Avipro stuff too.

She is such a sweetie and always has been and I want to do my best for her.

 

And Redsunset, I'm feeling much better thank you, just the odd mornings with tummy ache. It will be nice to be back to my old self, and back to looking after my girls properly.

[sparkysmum]

Hi luvachicken, whilst not everyone on this forum approves I give my ladies a load of carbs in the winter. They get real porridge every day ie porridge oats with warm watery milk and mixed corn every day, pasta too if I have any . I hasten to add I dont cook the porridge I just put a load of it in a dish and add warm watery milk until it is sort of sloppy. They wolf it down. They are happy, def not skinny, so I am happy too. There are those who say a fat hen doesn't lay but you know what, my ladies are all over 5yrs old, still lay Feb to October and are never ill. My ex batts have all lived a good long life too. If this form of winter feeding ( in addition to their pellets) was good enough for poultry keepers generations ago, its good enough for me.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks for that sparkysmum

I am taking Queenie to the vet tomorrow afternoon to see what he can do/suggest.

She has not been her usual self and at one point stayed in the house by herself for a while

I'm hoping he might take another x-ray as I don't think there is anything obviously wrong.

 

I have got her some live mealworms but she'd already gone to bed, so she can have them tomorrow.

And Avipro is hopefully available at the vets too.

Will let you know how we get on.

[redsunset]

Aww, hope she gets on ok. I know you worry and care very much for your little chooks so hope she gets clean bill of health and it's just the moult at her age that's taken it out of her.

[mullethunter]

Fingers crossed for Queenie. Bernadette seems very small compared to her sister at the moment (I've never weighed them) so she's had live mealworms today.

[Fourbecameeight]

I'm giving my new Ex-Batt girls sardines in tomato sauce to boost their protein to help feather growth. I worry that cat food would contain chicken, even the other flavoured ones. They are loving it. If you have a B & M locally they do tins for 39p.

[Claireabella]

Oh sorry Luvachicken, I'd totally forgotten that Queenie had had an xray before. I'm sure that would have shown up any problems then. It's only this year that some of my girls have had a proper moult and I hadn't realised just how much it affects them. I took Amber to the vets a couple of weeks ago because she was off colour and I couldn't see anything obvious - 2 days later the run and cube was full of feathers, so I think it must make them feel awful.

 

Fingers crossed for Queenie and I hope it goes well at the vets tomorrow xx

[Pottage]

I ordered my last lot of avipro from here, it arrived the next day too http://www.onlinereptileshop.co.uk/reptile-products/Reptile-Medications/Vetark-Avipro-Plus-100g-5969.html#sthash.HYRak2Qw.dpbs

[Luvachicken]

Thanks again for all your kind thoughts for Queenie,

Sadly I don't think any Avipro or similar will do any good

The vet found a small lump near her back end.

 

He gave me 3 choices - antibiotics, PTS or further tests.

I chose the antibiotics and hope to give her a chance but think her chances of survival are slim.

She heartily tucked into the live mealworms though - even with the antibiotics sprinkled on them.

When I get back from work after lunch each day, I will make her some porridge, sweet corn, pasta and anything else fattening I can think of.

I really want her to be ok

The vet did say if her weight falls below 500g she is unlikely to make it - so I will be weighing her too.

[mullethunter]

Oh no, that doesn't sound too good Luvachicken. I'm sure the vet wouldn't have suggested antibiotics if there was no hope though so fingers crossed that with the excellent care you give her she might come through

[jimnpaula]

If she's eating then don't give up yet - I thought I was going to lose Crystal during the summer but didn't want to put her to sleep while she was still eager to scoff fruit. She's still going and looking much better!

[Luvachicken]

Thank you mullethunter and jimnpaula.

I haven't given up yet but do feel very sad for her.

Fingers crossed that pigging out on lots of naughty goodies will help her.

 

Do any of you think I should still get the avipro anyway ?

[sparkysmum]

Hi luvachicken, its good that she's eating. Fingers crossed. Ax

[Luvachicken]

Hi luvachicken, its good that she's eating. Fingers crossed. Ax

 

You should have seen what she's just eaten

A pot of live mealworms with the antibiotics on, some sweet corn, some pasta, some dry corn and garvo treats.

I thought she might pop.

So certainly nothing wrong with her appetite

[mullethunter]

She's going to turn into a feathery football!

[jimnpaula]

Sounds promising!

[Luvachicken]

She's going to turn into a feathery football!

 

Sounds promising!

 

I do hope so.

Early days though

[redsunset]

That sounds very promising as in my short chicken keeping life I have yet to see a chicken that's really poorly eat anything at all as they give up. The fact that she's eating that amount means that whatever the vet felt seems to not be bothering her to much at all, and chickens have no idea re lumps and bumps.

If that was mine I'd be extremely hopeful at this stage.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks redsunset, hopefully the antibiotics might do something and if I can get her weight up then she might be in with a chance

[mollyripkim]

Really hope she stays well, great that she has a good appetite.