jameslcfc Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Im new to chickens and over protective on my girls. Ive coped with red mite and have 2 chickens laying at present. The 2 laying have been brooding until 2 days ago. 1 hen is back to normal but the other is sat perching in the coop. I have had 1 egg but not sure who layed it. She is sat but does come to be nosey when I throw scratch down but wond come out the coop still. She was out yesterday and pottering around the garden but wasnt herself. Today I have watched her and shes sat closing her eyes and slowly moving her head and neck outwards( forward ). I dont know wether she is just coming out the broody stage or wether she is ill. She is usually the boss of them all so she isnt right. Any help please ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Just noticed your location James. Reminded me of a year working at L B Plastics. Moving the neck forward can be symptomatic of a crop problem. You need to feel it as it may be sour or impacted. If it is sour it will be a normal loose consistency but the crop will feel warm. If it is absolutely solid it is impacted. You also need to check her poo to see what is actually getting through because the two conditions can be present at the same time indicating a blockage lower down in the system. We had this with a broody as well and I put it down to inactivity. It took over a month of continuous treatment to clear her blockage. Failing that I don't know? When were they last wormed with Flubenvet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 To be honest her crop seems ok but not sure what im feeling for. I have took her out and shes eaten and drank, shes still not herself and just wandering. She looks lethargic and not interested. Shes also letting me fuss and stroke her and she usually tries to avoid being handled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 How about the worming Jamesicfc? Because a severe burden could be pulling her down. What do her poos look like? Does her breath smell bad? Normally chickens' breath doesn't smell at all. That would be definite sour crop which needs treating with an administered excess of water and no food at all until the crop is cool and empty and poos are not slimy. Any cankers in her mouth? I'd get her to an experienced vet as she clearly isn't right. It's really not possible for me to help further without being there unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 She still isnt right. I will take her vets soon. She is just sat perching. If I take her out the coop she stays down and has some food and water. She does seem to struggle finding her way around so I wonder wether it eye sight related. I have 2 hens that went broody but only 1 is laying again and im unsure who. I will put her in the breeding coop again and see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 One thing is paramount in treating chicken illnesses Jamesicfc and that is speed. The longer you leave treatment the lower the chances of recovery. Often, by the time they chicken gets taken to the vet it is too late, so don't wait too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 I know its just awkward as when I get up and go to work its still dark and its the same when I get home. I have my wife checking on her. She isnt moving her neck back and forth anymore and my wife took her out the coop today and she stayed down stairs and ate and drank again. She hadn't gone back up when I got home so I have seperated her and put her back in the breeding coop. She is eating and drinking and im 95%sure its her laying as im pretty sure I have felt an egg when ive checked her this evening. Her breath doesn't smell and her crop doesn't feel impacted. I think its because she has been broody and ive tried to stop the broodiness. I will take her to the vets on friday or first thing saturday. I and my wife have noticed her eyesight isnt great now. She seems to peck nowhere near the food and keeps missing when shes going for the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 How old is she? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 Around 8 and a half months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 I appreciate it's difficult but I'd get her to a vet asap too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 Daft question I know but will a standard vets know about chickens or is there a specialists vets or something I should go to. Im going tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 The BHWT has a list of specialist chicken vets I am told James. Problem is there may not be one anywhere near you. Our vet (Glenthorne) is in Tutbury and they also have a practice in Uttoxeter. Both places are a long way from Heage. The eyesight issue linked with the neck movements and general behaviour at that young age could point to a neurological problem. Illness in chickens is very difficult to diagnose, even for a specialist vet. But at least they have the equipment and access to the drugs you may need. They may take a blood sample for analysis as well. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 I have got some antibiotics for the water and brought some flubenvet and put it in there food. I have never treated with the flubenvet I have put scoops of a wormer pellet in with the normal pellets as instructed. Hopefully she will perk up in a few days. Im going to get a first aid kit for future illnesses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 What did the vet think it was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 I didnt go to the vets as when I phoned up the poultry specialist was booked up in surgery until after the weekend. No other vets around here have any poultry ones. I have spoken to a friend of mine who has had chickens for over 15 years and he advised me to worm them with flubenvet and to give them a water based antibiotic. He supplied the antibiotics for me. He also mentioned that the antibiotics vets use penetrates into the eggs making humans immune to the antibiotic. I put everything in her pen last night so fingers crossed in a couple of days she will perk up. If not I have a appointment on monday with the specialis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share Posted December 22, 2014 So I took Elsa to the vets as she continued to decline. I was giving her water through a syringe to keep her hydrated. The vets had told me she had a neurological issue possibly due to mareks disease. It wasn't typical symptoms and she had been vaccinated. I had her put to sleep as she had lost to much weight and I didnt want her to deteriorate and more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Sorry to hear that James. Hope the others are OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 I'm sorry too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Sorry to hear this. It seems this may have been the diagnosis for the Hybrid I lost last week. Mine picked up then declined. She was pts too. Know how you are feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
