Chicken bald back

[Monty14]

I want to alert my fellow hen lovers that pigeons can cause serious diseases in our home flock. One of my girls became extremely ill last weekend - not eating, hunched, dehydrated. Upon taking her to our excellent Avian vet we discovered she had mouth canker - basically a beakful of cold sores picked up from bacteria a pigeon carries. She's probably drunk out of the same puddle this pigeon has (vet's opinion as the water drinker would spread Infection to all) and couldn't eat or drink without severe pain. She is now dosed on antibiotics and painkillers but still isn't eating properly and we may yet lose her. SCARE THE PIGEONS OFF! Its not always obvious what's wrong but wild birds have a lot to answer for regarding chicken illnesses.

[Beantree]

The cankers are a reaction to a parasite called Trichomonas Gallinae Monty. The cheesy material is initially a combination of inflammation and ulceration and is not to be confused with fungal crop cankers. It invades the mouth, throat and airways and needs treatment with Flagyl. It can spread quickly in a chicken and we had one die in 3 days. It is spread in saliva, so water or feed can be contaminated. It has very poor environmental resistance and we have seen it die off after the chickens ate hail stones. You need to treat your whole flock as a precaution.

 

An important point is that often chickens bought in can be carrying this and we have had three that showed up whilst in quarantine. Normally it lies dormant but will flare up when the chicken's immune system is depressed, like when stressed from moving to a new home or when ill or down for another reason.

[Monty14]

Hi

 

The vet was really helpful in explaining it. Jasmine had just gone broody so I think she was low in resistance. The rest of the girls are being treated. My main concern now is that Jasmine is not eating, she is drinking but not even eating her favourite treats. Back to the vet tomorrow.

[Beantree]

It's the drinking that is important Monty so I wouldn't worry unduly. Her throat will be restricted so swallowing pellets will be very difficult. You could try soaking some and creating a wet mash, something we often do to stimulate a faded appetite. The canker treatment starts to take effect after about three days.

 

Have you wormed them with Flubenvet in the last 4 months? I ask because a worm burden will depress the immune system as well.

[Monty14]

Cheers Beantree

 

They were all wormed 3 weeks ago with Flubenvet, thank goodness. Tried the layers mash and she took one tiny peck and left it. She normally loves plain yogurt too but not this time. Had to give the vet an update today and she's back to him tomorrow to get checked and have a crop feed. I thought I'd seen most things gwith my hens but there's always something new!

 

Jasmine

Camilla

Daisy

Mabel

Demelza

Hinge

Bracket

[Monty14]

Ironically the vet has found an underlying problem with Jasmine. She has a form of tonsillitis that needs treating with anti-inflammatory drugs. He gave her an injection and she had really perked up later on. We'll give her the tablets and hope she keeps chipper.

[Monty14]

Jasmine is now seeming better and more like her old self with the steroids the vet has prescribed. She's eating, drinking, pecking and scratching with the rest of the girls. Sometimes when a hen seems like she's a goner, she turns round and surprises you!

[Luvachicken]

I'm so glad Jasmine has made such a good recovery

It sounds like you have a very good vet.

 

I just wondered if you meant pigeons like the London ones or wood pigeons ?

We get a lot of wood pigeons in our garden but my girls don't get to free range, does this mean they are safe ?

[Monty14]

Unfortunately Jasmine has relapsed into not eating so we are tube feeding her with vet supplied 'recovery food'. I think she needs all the help we can give her to combat these infections. And yes it is ordinary wood pigeons who've been raiding our chicken food and water. We also have a lot of garden birds trying to nick their mixed corn in the afternoon!

[Luvachicken]

Poor Jasmine, is she feeling any better today ?

I think I will get some kind of nerf gun to frighten the pigeons out of my garden. They are annoying anyway, trampling over everything and constantly fighting with each other. Time to get rid.

[Monty14]

Sadly Jasmine did not respond to the meds and was unable to feed herself so we had to do the kindest thing and have her put to sleep. The vet did suspect she had complications further down her throat preventing her from swallowing food. RIP Jasmine.

[Grandmashazzie]

Sorry to hear your news Monty. You certainly did everything you could.RIP Jasmine

[Luvachicken]

So sorry to hear that poor little Jasmine didn't make it.

[mullethunter]

I'm sorry to hear about Jasmine but you did the right thing.

[Claireabella]

So sorry to hear about poor Jasmine

 

Sleep tight little one x

[The Dogmother]

I am sorry to hear that too; thank you for warning others too. I always caution against encouraging wild birds into the garden when you keep poultry, canker is one of the less severe things they can transmit.

 

Mouth cankers never really end well

[Flowerpot]

Hi

 

I had two hens who went down with something. One survived and one died. I had no idea about pigeons or wild birds being a problem so thanks for your posts on this because it really helped to know that I wasn't the problem.

 

Can anyone tell me what I should do to prevent the wild birds getting into the run when my girls are free ranging. I have always left the door to the walk in run open so that they can come and go but it means that the wild birds get in. Since Myrtle died I have been like a wild thing running out every time I see a wild bird anywhere near the run. I really don't want my other girls getting whatever it is the others had.

 

I have closed the door to the run and left water outside so that they have a drink but sometimes they want to go in to lay an egg and I am afraid that they will be distressed if they cant get in.

 

The other day there where two doves in the run and I spent ages disinfecting the ground in case they had contaminated it!

 

Any suggestion will be gratefully received

Thanks

Flowerpot