Sick hen...

[Albanach]

This seems to be an ongoing theme for my chickens !

Everything was good on Friday after work - 3 eggs and let the three of them out for a wander round the garden and all good.

Saturday - everything seemed OK in the morning but later on in the afternoon when I went to let them out only two were at the gate waiting. The other one was inside the house but eventually made her way out so I didn't think anymore about it.

Sunday - again she stayed in the house and I noticed some watery diarrhea with a smattering of pink in it from her so isolated her from the rest and she hasn't touched food or water all day. She has laid an egg again this morning but is hunched in the shed and has been opening and closing her eyes intermittently. She does sound a bit croaky but only when sneezing.

Obviously I have posted regarding sneezing and have so far refrained from antibiotics. There is no swelling round the face or discharge from their eyes. I am going to to get deworming stuff tomorrow...

Any ideas what should be done? I'm pretty worried about them and if it is something I have done!?

[Suechooks]

Probably not anything you've done but she does sound sick. My choice is to take mine to the vet if they're off colour for a couple of days. There's a multitude of ailments it could be and most bigger vet practices now have someone with at least an interest in birds if not poultry in particular. An accurate diagnosis would help you. Think that'd be my next move.

[lettucegrow!]

How's thing now? They can change so quickly can't they? Probably good idea to have a trip to the vets, hope it's nothing serious.

[francesbean]

Its worrying when you're not sure of the problem - you mentioned runny pink poo - have a look here and see if any of these fit the bill.
4. Poo - The Chicken Keeper's Guide - The Poultry Pages - Allotment and Vegetable Gardening

Good luck hope she picks up

francesbean

[polo]

I agree with Sue and you should probably take her to the vet at this stage. Good luck and keep us posted.
Polo x

[petal]

Yes, i would find a poultry vet, they might need a course of antibiotics.

[Albanach]

She made it outside to get some sunshine but didn't eat or drink anything apart from one worm to my knowledge. There is signs of solid poos in the shed where she is. I will keep her isolated and check tomorrow and think about calling a vet.

[RichmondHens]

I'm sure it's nothing you've done. As several of us have said on your other thread, it sounds like you have been sold sickly birds which may end up posing quite a few problems for you. Are you sure you still don't want to return them? I would get an accurate diagnosis of the poorly one from a vet (take poo and snot samples if you can get them from the others too).

My gut feeling is they have mycoplasmosis which they would have contracted at the breeders. The other two are coping at the moment but keep an eye on them. The one mentioned on this thread sounds like she is going downhill fast so if you want to hang on to her then antibiotic treatment will be necessary, and be warned it may not necessarily work, sometimes they are just too far gone for it to take effect. When birds start to look and behave obviously poorly (hunched up, not eating etc) then they are really quite ill.

[Hilary B]

It's not a situation I've ever had to deal with, but my gut reaction is that you should contact the breeder/supplier and inform them that you are unhappy with the health of the birds. It's perhaps unfortunate you didn't do that when you first saw symptoms.
If you are too fond of them to return them, yes I can see that, but you still ought to inform the supplier.

[Albanach]

I'm now beginning to think I may have gapeworm as they have been showing signs from what I've read up on. They shake their heads, scratch their face/neck, cough or rasp and do extend their necks from time to time. The diarrhea from the sick hen yesterday did have pink strands in it which I originally thought was blood but is far too pale I think. I called the vet's clinic and they are going to make up a worming solution which should be administered twice a year. In addition to this I take it I should be dosing with flubenvet every month as an ongoing prevention.
I might give the seller a call today and explain what is happening. I am reluctant to take them back as I don't want them to get even more stressed out. Thanks for the help.

[Flummery]

Flubenvet is recommended for twice a year use. It's the one that will get rid of your gapeworm. Some people who introduce new hens regularly use it more often. The monthly one said to be a preventative is Verm-X. I don't think serious poultry people find it really effective. I hope you get on top of this. Good luck.

[Albanach]

Thanks Flummery. The vet is making it up and it is only costing 3-4 euros which is a lot better than the 20 odd quid for the flubenvet. I hope it works!

[Albanach]

Well I came home from work to find the isolated hen had drunk all the water in her drinker and had eaten a fair bit of pellets. I checked the wee shed where she was kept for the last couple of days and there was a brownie/green small sack so I picked it up and had a look at it. I broke the outer membrane of it and was very surprised to find a clump of hair ! She had obviously eaten this when out and about and I reckon the hair came from the wife's hairbrush which she threw out the upstairs window!

I let her out and she went straight for the main drinker and had a mighty drink and is now scratching away with the other two in the garden .

As I said above I am going to worm them this week just in case.

They are still sneezing a wee bit, scratching their heads, wiping their beaks on the ground and sounding a bit croaky. How long do I give them on the respite and garlic before seriously considering tylan or baytril or kariflox? They seem to be happy enough just now and there is no visible swelling or discharge from the nostrils or eyes.

Thanks to everyone for the help and advice - this place is extremely helpful and friendly!

[francesbean]

I broke the outer membrane of it and was very surprised to find a clump of hair ! She had obviously eaten this when out and about and I reckon the hair came from the wife's hairbrush which she threw out the upstairs window!

So pleased all looks well with your hen but - tell us more! Was it just a 'bad hair day'

francesbean

[Albanach]

I wish it was my hair but that is receding faster than normal since I got these wee buggers!