4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[PixieDust]

The Copper has been quiet again this morning. She responds to noises like cars or birds but then settles and looks like she's trying to sleep. She didn't eat as much food this morning but she drank and kept eating grit. I noticed she had clear mucus come out of her beak. She shakes her head and I think she and the Sussex have had a sneeze.

 

Phoned the local vet who said it's an infection and £50 consult plus antibiotics. Too much. The dog only costs £26!

 

Phoned the poultry guy and he said he thinks it is stress but if she doesn't respond soon he will exchange her.

 

This is not what I wanted to be doing.

[Beantree]

As I said PixieDust, it's a flare-up of the immunisation viruses ILT and IB caused by the stress of the move. Some never shake it off though. We had one with a permanent runny nose and on reflection we should have taken her back. Sounds like the Sussex has the same problem.

 

Symptoms are the same for Mycoplasma which is NOT what she has got. They are also similar for a respiratory infection which is NOT what she has got. A vet visit will tell you nothing useful so save your money and if she (or both?) doesn't improve she will need to be exchanged. Antibiotics do help (Synulox our vet prescribed) but that's a load of time and expense you shouldn't have.

[PixieDust]

Yes I know about vets. She has been interacting this afternoon. They are very nervy as although we are rural we are next to a track road for the 6 houses here. Plus the road at the end and Mr Next Door.

 

I panic Beantree. The worming pellets will be here tomorrow. She will either go down hill or improve. At least these birds are covered for 28 days and I have informed him early.

 

On the plus side I am making slow progress with the dog. He sits with me on the lead on the other side of the garden. He still shakes but cheese is still just slightly more exciting than the chix. He was even able to search for cheese at the other end of the garden, on lead of course.

 

Thank you Beantree. I hope she comes through.

[Beantree]

Its' clearly a very different environment for them PixieDust but they should soon settle down. The only critical issue is the dog, which I didn't realise you had. He will continue to upset them a lot, so any replacement hens may have the same reaction. It's obviously something you have realised you need to address. The hens would have the same reaction to a fox, just so you realise how upsetting it is for them.

 

We have a large dog here, but he shows absolutely no interest in the chickens at all. Doesn't even look at them. They were frightened at first, but settled down quickly and he now walks past them as they free range without any effect at all.

[Egluntyne]

If you are thinking of worming the hens, I would use Flubenvet.

[miller30]

Hi I always keep antibiotics in and herban which is brilliant stuff I always put new birds on double strength herban for about a month you can get it off the internet depending on how many birds you have will last ages I would get yourself a bottle of that cheaper than a vet also by worming pellets do you mean verm-x as that is not a wormer you need flubenvet as eglutyne has said leanne

[mullethunter]

I think (sorry PixieDust speaking for you ) PixieDust has ordered Marriages with Flubanvet

[Luvachicken]

Pixiedust, how close do you live to Guildford because you could pop to Rokers to get some nutridrops for them ?

They also have lots of other chicken things and live bugs.

Perhaps do like I've been doing and bring her in from the others for 1/2 an hour so you could make sure she is topped up with food. Maybe the others aren't sharing so nicely.

Hope she perks up soon.

[PixieDust]

Thank you all for your advice. I filmed her today. She ended up putting her head under her wing. Shakes her head quite a bit. BUT......The minute I got the mealworms out, she raced over to get to me first. She also got herself up onto the coop roof a few times.

 

I have ordered some some Nutridrops from Amazon.

 

Can I add apple cider vinegar to the water? How much please?

[The Dogmother]

Have you checked her crop? The mention of mucus coming from her beak makes me wonder if it's sour crop... Just a thought.

[Egluntyne]

I think (sorry PixieDust speaking for you ) PixieDust has ordered Marriages with Flubanvet

 

Pixiedust mentioned having ordered worming pellets which made me assume that one of the herbal supplements, some of which make claims about worming, had been ordered.

[PixieDust]

Yes sorry my mistake. Marriages pellets with Flubenvet.

 

I have been unable to catch her to check her crop. I will try tomorrow.

[PixieDust]

Well she is still with us. She comes out last and has done for a few days. She let me pick her up and her crop was down so nothing on that front. Nostrils a little wet and a little bubble in the corner of one eye which is the side she scratches her face. However nothing seems swollen. She jumped up on the coop after eating and drinking. They have the Flubenvet pellets and some apple cider vinegar in their water. Nutridrops will arrive tomorrow. Is there anything antibacterial that is natural which I could add in? What a shame we can't buy pellets with Tylan and have to be held to ransom with vets bills.

 

The Blue did a funny poo which may have been caecal or not. Took a picture and will put up later. The Blue and Sussex are having a set two for top spot I think.

 

Well she will either be here in a week or not I guess

[Beantree]

The Flubenvet worming will result in a boost to their natural immunity and speed recovery PixieDust. I would expect in a week or so they will all be much improved. It's the ILT virus that shows up as swelling around the eye and perhaps a bubble or two. They also develop a sore throat and can't eat dry pellets sometimes, so turning them into mash is the answer by grinding and soaking in water. You need to make sure they all eat the pellets.

[PixieDust]

Thanks Beantree. They rushed out and had their fill this morning and will get nothing else for 7 days. Let's hope this lady perks right up.

[PixieDust]

Sick Pob had some Nutridrops. Yes I didn't know how to open her beak and she only got a bit. I probably spilled more than I administered. However, I have now read up how to attempt to get the beak open.

 

I left her as she was yesterday afternoon, sleeping under her wing. Don't want to go for round 2 today as she is obviously feeling under the weather.

[PixieDust]

Well Sick Pob still under the weather but still going. Steeped a clove of garlic into their water this morning which should help with inflammation.

 

She obviously felt better with her gymnastics last night. Thing is she doesn't appear to be getting worse, which is good news.

[mullethunter]

Glad she's still with us

[PixieDust]

I think she may have to go to the vet as the others have a bit of sneezing too.

 

I have found a chicken vet a bit further away and their consult fee is just £17.95. A friend of mine works in a vets and her boss owns chickens. She is going to ask advice and see if she can get me some Tylan. If she can't I will take her to the vet locally.

 

This is really depressing. I did all my homework and still I failed.

[mullethunter]

PixiDust YOU haven't failed. You've just been incredibly unlucky. It maybe that they do need a course of antibiotics and that will get them sorted. Good luck

[The Dogmother]

Agreed, it is always best to act quickly if they have more than just a cold. Listen to the 'nose end'; if they just sound as if they have a sniffly nose, then it's a cold. Press your ear to the bird's back, between the wings - if the breathing sounds normal, then it probably is just a cold; if you hear bubbling, crackling or wheezing, then they need to get to the vet pronto to get a course of antibs.

[Luvachicken]

Aww Pixiedust I hope she feels better soon.

Once any antibiotics start working I'm sure she'll start feeling a lot better.

 

And you haven't failed at all Pixiedust.

Keeping chickens is a learning curve for us all.

[PixieDust]

Just an update. Told the poultry guy today she is still not improving and that I am prepared to try one course of Tylan from the vet just to see if it helps. He says none of his chickens have runny noses or sneezes and that Tylan is a very strong antibiotic and anyway they can't catch Mycoplasma as they are vaccinated. He suggests it's the bedding causing her an allergic reaction which is fine, but she would be brighter outside and refuse to go in the coop.

 

I have at no point blamed him but am disappointed he is taking this tack.

 

Vet appointment booked for Friday. My mate is in work today and is going to ask her boss so might get some Tylan at cost.

 

The OH'S truck is playing up and virtually undrivable and I had a row with Hermes this morning over a delivery which they virtually blamed me for the fact their delivery driver's car broke down and that I was stopping them deliver the parcel, which is a load of old toot!

 

On the plus side, I won a photo competition today and yesterday my final mark came through for my course. I passed with A Distinction 90%.

[PixieDust]

OK vets at 10:40. She came racing out of the house this morning looking a bit brighter. We shall see what they say.

[mullethunter]

I expect the thought of going to the vets made her decide to be better! How did it go today?