Poorly chicken

[emilymup]

Can Anyone please help? One of my chooks is not eating, drinking lots and sleepy. She looks well apart from that and her crop is soft. Any suggestiona would be very much appreciated!

[Suechooks]

Lots of things it could be - how old is she - is she laying - how's her poo - how long has this gone on?
Have they been wormed, deloused.Any signs of parasites. Is she going in and out of the nesting box.
Worth looking at the sticky thread on chicken health.
Hens sometimes just have a bad day - usually when they haven't laid an egg specially if theyre laying hybrids.
If you give a bit more info it gives everyone a better idea and suggestions will be forthcoming! In the meantime try and get her to eat with a small amount of whatever you give as treats.

[chukiducks]

not sure, she could be broody.

[emilymup]

Hello again! Chook is roughly 1 year 4 months old. Hybrid layer. Was deloused and wormed last week. As far as I can see no parasites - is there anything particular I should be looking for? We have 5 others and they seem absolutely fine.

As far as I am aware this started yesterday. Thought she may be broody as just wanted to sit in nesting box - but then started drinking lots of water.

This morning she again was drinking lots of water, but not eating. She is very sleepy and doesn't want to move at all, although she is not sitting or leaning to one side or anything like that. Her poo today was very white followed by greeny brown, at the same time - and a bit watery probably due to all the water she is drinking! Her comb is red.

We are quite worried about her and even took her to a family barbeque with us as didn't want to leave her. Still wont eat but drinking water!

Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved! Thank you.

[emilymup]

We did have one of them go broody, and at first did think that a possibility but she seems so tired, her eyes keep closing!

[Bramble-Poultry]

Soft crop, drinking lots and sleepy and lethargic - I would take the bird to the vet if she was mine, shes not likely to make it without antibiotics.

Sorry to be blunt but thats me

[emilymup]

No, I'm glad you put it that way - what I thought but needed someone to say it!!

[Suechooks]

No, I'm glad you put it that way - what I thought but needed someone to say it!!

Definitely the way to go. Good luck.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Do let us know how you get on.
Best wishes
Bernie and Dexter

[Bramble-Poultry]

Hope she does ok, fingers crossed for you

Tylan is the antibiotic you need if you are adding it to water but Baytril is probably better but you have to push the tablet down the throat (don;t worry it is really really easy - even my 10 yr old can do it!)

[Suechooks]

Hope she does ok, fingers crossed for you

Tylan is the antibiotic you need if you are adding it to water but Baytril is probably better but you have to push the tablet down the throat (don;t worry it is really really easy - even my 10 yr old can do it!)

My vet gives me Baytril syrup which I give thro a syringe.
Charlotte is an exceptional 10 year old though you know!
(By the way loads of tat at Morda today! Felt like giving them all a good home!)

[Bramble-Poultry]

Charlotte is exceptional - and she likes to let us know about it too!

how many 10 year olds do you know that will walk into a pens full of adult breeding turkeys in full display, shove them to one side and get the eggs out from underneath, whilst telling the stags off for displaying at her too!!!!

we werent too sure about Morda today, so we ended up digging over veg beds and sorting out the polytunnel instead.

[emilymup]

Just a quick update. Chook seems to be doing better. She is now eating and drinking and her crop wasn't soft and spongy yesterday. She is more alert too and doesn't seem to be sitting on her own anymore.

I spotted a white worm wriggling about in her poo yesterday so think its definately worms. yuk yuk yuk. Am continuing with the Verm-x in the drinking water for a few days.

Will enquire today about Baytril and Tylan today - other half was adamant about not taking her to the vets - something we cant really affort in the current economic climate!!!

Thanks for all your help and support! josie x

[Suechooks]

Just a quick update. Chook seems to be doing better. She is now eating and drinking and her crop wasn't soft and spongy yesterday. She is more alert too and doesn't seem to be sitting on her own anymore.

I spotted a white worm wriggling about in her poo yesterday so think its definately worms. yuk yuk yuk. Am continuing with the Verm-x in the drinking water for a few days.

Will enquire today about Baytril and Tylan today - other half was adamant about not taking her to the vets - something we cant really affort in the current economic climate!!!

Thanks for all your help and support! josie x

If you've seen worms in her poo you need to worm them all with Flubenvet. Verm-x is only a preventer which makes the gut inhospitable to worms; Flubenvet will kill the worms. They need worming every few months especially if they're in a restricted area. You put the med in their pellets and feed nothing else for 7 days. Available on line for about £12-13. It comes in a 60g tub which does 20Kg feed. For a few hens you just measure out a weeks supply of feed and add appropriate amount of wormer. There are several threads on this.

[RichmondHens]

I agree with Sue. Flubenvet is the wormer to use. It is easy to get hold of, either through your vet, feed supplier or (cheapest) on line.

There is actually a short column in the May edition of Country Smallholding mag from some poultry vets in Norfolk who are concerned about the number of chickens being brought in infested with worms.

Worming regularly (3 - 4 times a year) is vital if you keep your chickens on the same piece of ground all year.