sick hen

[polo]

My white leghorn was looking quiet last night but this morning was last out the house and wobbly on her legs. Where she was perched was lots of egg white and there was what looked like yolk over the other side. Really looks like broken egg inside her. Am going to ring our vet this morning but have never taken a hen there before. do i insist on antibiotics for this? Any advice on what to do gratefully received.

[polo]

Just got some membrane out and a bit more yolk and white. Also rang my vet who I just found out keeps hens! Result - am taking her in in 20 mins

[Glutton4...]

Good luck with her!

[Polly Fouracre]

Hope she's alright.

[Nicos]

How's she doing????

[polo]

Much better now thanks. My vet was great - gave her a calcium injection and antibiotics. I left her all tucked up in the shed and by the time i got home she had passed the rest of the membrane and lots more white. Still very subdued but eating so I reckpn she is on the mend. Currently asleep in my kitchen (she had a little bath to clean her up so drying overnight where its warm. Maybe crisis over?

[Nicos]

Hope so...let us know! x

[SuzyB]

How are things today Polo?

[polo]

She is definately back to normal thanks, tail high and cocky look (if thats possible) on face when I came down stairs this morning. Poo normal but i still confined her to the shed for a quiet day. She was so un impressed when I got back from work I put her back in with the others. Just have to wait 14 days until we can eat her eggs again. Also wrestling with the fact it cost 43 quid to fix her and i could get 4 more leg horns for that . I'm pleased i did though - would never make a good poultry farmer!

[SuzyB]

Thats good to hear

I know what you mean, I bought a Cream Legbar 4 weeks ago for £11.

4 vet appointments and 4 injections later my OH is asking why Ive bothered. The fact that she looks a million times happier, can open her eyes wide and her tail is higher than Ive seen it gives me my answer.

She's still sneezing a lot though so the vet wonders if maybe its a long term thing so I suspect I'll have to draw the line at some point.

[polo]

What we do for our animals x

[RichmondHens]

It may be cheaper to cull a bird than treat it, but how do vets get the avian experience if they don't treat sick birds from time to time? I agree it seems mad to spend more on a bird than it is actually worth, but people do that with their dogs and cats all the time, and think nothing of it!

[lettucegrow!]

It may be cheaper to cull a bird than treat it, but how do vets get the avian experience if they don't treat sick birds from time to time? I agree it seems mad to spend more on a bird than it is actually worth, but people do that with their dogs and cats all the time, and think nothing of it!

Exactly- and they don't get eggs from them!

[Suechooks]

It may be cheaper to cull a bird than treat it, but how do vets get the avian experience if they don't treat sick birds from time to time? I agree it seems mad to spend more on a bird than it is actually worth, but people do that with their dogs and cats all the time, and think nothing of it!

That was why I took my Legbar with Mareks back to the vet even though I knew she was doomed. As she hadn't been classic text book case, it was experience for the vets who are sensibly taking more interest in poultry. 2 visits plus euthanasia and disposal were £20 well spent in my view.