little scraggs is ill, help please

[minxie]

we have five ex bats, and scraggs is the runt of them all, she is very sad at the moment, not eating, drinking very little, her poo is runny and a bit yellow. she is hunched and very pathetic looking, we have her inside in a box at the moment and wonder is she is egg bound?
we haven't had chooks long, so we are still learning.

what is this 'spice' I keep hearing about on other threads, and I read that cider vinegar is helpful. is it any cidar vinegar or a particular make. would like to get her sorted asap, she is the smallest of the bunch but very cute. we don't want to lose her.
thanks in advance

minxie

[kirsty b]

If her poo is very smelly as well as yellow, she could well have something wrong. A trip to the vet might be a good idea.

Poultry spice can be got from where the chook's food is bought from. You sprinkle it on their food and it contains vitamins and minerals to help keep them healthy, particularly in times of stress like moult.
Try offering her marmite on little pieces of bread and also try to get as much water in as possible, hens don't like being dehydrated.

One way of checking if you are not squeamish is to put some vaseline on your finger and gently insert into her vent and have a little feel around. If an egg has broken, you may feel the jagged edges of broken shell, or you may feel the unbroken egg that hasn't come out. If she is egg bound, put some warm water in a bowl and try standing her in it. I read somewhere that it may stimulate her onto laying it.

Hope she gets better.

[Nicos]

I'm not the one to give you advice re scraggs cos I'm a newbie to chook care
Now then...poultry spice- I have a tub infront of me!
Not been able to find it over here so I bought a tub a couple of weeks ago when back in the UK
1.5kg cost £7.90 from a farm supplies shop.
It's a mineral supplement- 1tsp in mash for each 10 fowls
It says it's to help birds get quickly over the moult.

I'm giving mine two doses a week as they free range and supplimented by constant access to pellets.

Have to say though that the day after the second dose my second chook laid her first egg. Nice hard shell too.
She was a bit exhausted today after her 3 day of laying so I've given them all a warm mash with it in - and of course a few treats- allowing the two layers first access.

It says in cold weather a little more powdr can be given.
Hope that's a help?...and scraggs picks up soon.

[frias]

Oh poor Scraggs. Apple cider vinegar is bought either where you get your hen food or at horsey places. You probably have to buy 2.5 lts or 5 lts and you only need a little bit. For some reason I was told not the one you get from supermarket or health food shop but I don't know what the difference is. Should be able to get poultry spice from same place. I paid £3.30 for 450 gm. Nicos got a better deal but it does last ages. A few grapes might help to keep her hydrated.

[minxie]

thanks for your advice, we popped her into a sink of warm water, where we discovered she has no flesh on her at all, she was always the runt of our girls, but she was doing well, we have only had them 4 months

she isnt interested in water or food now, and weighs nothing. doubt she will make it through the night. every now and then she does stand up and have a peek around but that't about it. we have tried grapes and now not interested in those either. she looks quite pathetic, but is warm by the fire in her little box.

so thanks all

[frias]

I'm really sorry to hear that. Ex-batts are very thin and don't seem to have much meat on then anyway. Probably because they are bred to lay eggs not be eaten. I think you have to make sure Scraggs doesn't get too warm as overheating is worse than cold. I don't think there's any more you can do for her but I've only had my ex-batts 6 months so not experienced myself.

[Hashette]

I've had mine 6 weeks so am in even less of a position to give advice. Having said that, we had the same with Lady Tottington, she just stood hunched up in a corner looking pathetic, her comb was all floppy, and she was mercilessly pecked by the others. I had to spray her with gential and some disgusting smelling stuff to deter the others pecking, but it did work.

I'd be equally worried about making her too warm. They're tougher than they look, but one thing that would be very hard for them to cope with is a temperature swing from warm to cold - leaving her in the coop but packed in with plenty of bedding might be better in the long term

[Suechooks]

Your little girl sounds pretty poorly. These little ex-bats do suffer a lot from stress as well as other things. If she makes it through the night try and get some Baytril from your vet. It's an antibiotic for hens and you need to give it by a syringe. I have had to give 3 of mine this and 2 are fine. The third sadly died last week but I think she had kidney problems or similar. The ex-bats are bred as 1 year egg machines and not for longevity so it can be difficult to keep them going once they go downhill. As everyone has said try giving her water with a dropper or syringe and keep her out of draughts. Good luck.

[minxie]

she has been henpecked by the others, she did have marks on her,

they are thriving, full of life and very healthy and their breasts are quite plump. poor scraggs hasn't been so lucky, will pop to vets tomorrow and get some baytril, and will put her back in the coop in the morning if she is still with us.

thanks all

minxie

[MaureenHall]

I'd give the same advice as all the others. If she's not interested in eating even grapes then she really must be feeling really poorly. Whatever happens though, get some poultry spice and give a little to all of them about once a week, increase to twice a week when they're moulting. Best of luck little Scraggs, keep your pecker up and get some water down you! Love and cuddles from Aunty Mo xxx

[Snadger]

Get well soon Scraggs!

[frias]

Any news on Scraggs yet?

[HayleyB]

Poor scraggs I hope she's pulling through.

Cider Vinegar - the stuff needed for chooks needs to contain something called 'mother' which is why it's different to the supermarket ones.