Help! Sick Chick!

[jersey bean]

I have had my girls for 2 years now and they have always been fit and healthy. The last couple of days one has been hardly moving, just standing or sitting down by the feeder/drinker (which is fairly sheltered), when she stands she is very 'low down' on her legs if that makes sense. Her comb is floppy, she doesn't seem to have a cold. Today, when she sits down she seem to have to breathe heavier. She did show a little bit of interest when I cleaned the coop this morning and did make it up into the raised coop last night.

We have a little window on the coop which has a sliding door to keep the weather out - I think my son has left it open several inches when he collected the eggs the other day (he uses it to check no-ones laying). Is it possible she has caught a chill, is there anything I can do for her or is she just like us that she'll feel poorly for a few days then perk up?

Any ideas gratefully received!

Thanks
Jo

[Bramble-Poultry]

sounds like she is bogged off, hence the huddled, but the raspy breathing could be another sign of either ingesting mouldy food (it gets under all sorts and they seem to home in on it) and she has an infection.

Speed could be of the essence here if its one or two of the possibilities i am thinking of, or it could all but done and dusted in a day or so and you wondered what you worried about. I would certainly ring the vet and talk it through with them, or even go down with her and get some antibiotics. If they dont appear to have a clue, ask for some tylan to put in the water as thats a good all round antibiotic, no egg withdrawal, but it does have a meat withdrawal of 7 days but it doesnt sound like you are going to eat her anyways!!!

[RichmondHens]

Er .... Bramble, Tylan does have egg withdrawal - for one week after antibiotic has finished. I have a tub in my cupboard and it says so on the ticket!

Has she laid lately JB? Was she laying regularly then suddenly stopped? What does she feel like when you pick her up? Lighter or heavier than normal? Any lumps or bumps in strange places? Is her poo normal or runny?

Lots of questions I know but it could be a number of things. She might also just perk up and be back to normal tomorrow, and lay a huge egg!!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

fair enough, mines washed off and i thought the vet said it didnt? my mistake, thanks for correcting me - although it was for a turkey so perhaps he assumed that i wouldnt be eating the eggs??