Poorly Ginger Spice Geri

[vicky]

Oh dear, the last and the most favourite (Geri - ginger spice) of the ex batts is poorly. I lost two in the last two weeks (both from 'old age'/eggbound) and the third now seems to be going the same way

She is really swollen and bloated all around the tummy, her crop is empty so she hasn't fed. I know she hasn't laid for at least a week (although her egg shells were reasonably hard when she last laid). She is walking with a waddle from her swollen tummy which is what I first noticed.

I've had her in a warm water bath for about 20-30 mins and had a good feel inside but didn't find anything, then dried her with the hairdrier (which she loved!). But it hasn't helped at all. I will take her to the vets tomorrow if possible as there may be a cause other than eggbound, but previously poorly birds haven't made it though the night...

Plus if she goes I will only have one so will be after a companion pdq (I had hoped to wait as we move house later this month before getting more birdies).

Anyone any ideas?

[Bramble-Poultry]

Swelling around the abdomen - possibly enlarged liver - if shes an old bird, (its terminal just make her comfy and keep her warn)

Is she drinking, active, usual self or not? Has she lost weight, is she in good condition?

It doesn;t sound eggbound from what you have said usually any swelling is around the vent not the abdomen also, the vent is usually reddend and may also have a discharge. A warm bath will help an eggbound hen but if you are convinced she is eggbound and the warm bath isn;t working then there is only 1 other option, lubricate your finger and insert it to remove the egg - the hen will die if it is not done.

[frias]

One of my ex-batts walked with a waddle. She had tumours in her abdomen and was put to sleep by the vet. Sadly it does sound very similar for your girl. Sorry to hear you've recently lost 2 others as well. These ex-batts go through so much in their lives some do have a lot of health problems. They still make wonderful pets though.

[Glutton4...]

I lost my first ex-Batt this week . She had been 'peaky' for a couple of days, as they do sometimes. I picked her up and examined her, but couldn't see anything obvious. The following morning I found her dead in a nest-box.

My consolation is that she had a fantastic 8 months of freedom, sunshine, loads of soil and grass to scratch around in and friends to interact with. Hopefully she managed to forget her year 'inside.'

Best wishes for Ginger/Geri

[Suechooks]

Here we go again! Another of my girls is not so good. Like "Geri" she has very swollen abdomen. She was really poorly about 3 months ago and thought we would lose her then but didn't have the ascites then.
Like you Vicky I think it's a trip to the vet tomorrow. I also have another looking very peaky and quite thin.
Fingers crossed for them all

[vicky]

Good luck with your poorly chook Suechooks

I have a vet appointment this morning for her. She is still swollen but she doesn't seem to be in any pain and is (trying) to walk around the garden with the other one. So I hope they can do something for her.

Bramble, I did have a good feel inside her yesterday but there was definately no egg, so I am veering towards some other cause for the swelling - like Frias' waddling chook.

[Bramble-Poultry]

fingers crossed Vicky

[Suechooks]

Thanks Vicky.
She is ok and just waddling - she's hopping on and off the perch and eating and drinking ok. The other one worries me more as she is being bullied by the Bluebelle. I've just put 2 lots together (7 + 3) as one group and the Bluebelle was boss hen of the small group, so she's trying to establish herself as boss of this group. Unfortunately the 2 lowest girls from the bigger group are getting the flack - the 2 boss hens from that group do intervene if it gets too nasty so am hoping they'll settle. I'm going to watch the girl with swollen tummy for today but will take her to vet if necessary. Hope your vet can help Geri. Fingers crossed!

[vicky]

Hmmm, just got back from vets - unlikely to be eggbound (they couldn't feel anything), so maybe an infection/tumour? They said I could have her x-rayed but at over £100 I can't really afford to, so they have given her antibiotics in the drinking water for 10 days but if she's no better by tomorrow afternoon then she won't be getting better and not to let her carry on. £20.13 ('House & Jackson', Blackmore, Essex) and a big lot of fingers crossed.
She has had a drink with the antibiotic water so it is now in her system...