Help needed - Sick Hen

[DMac]

Hi

One of my hens(a Bluebell) has been ill for a week. She has just finished a course of antibiotics and the vet has suggested I try and get food into her any way I can.

Although she is picking at her food, she is not eating enough and she is getting very weak. I've decided to syringe feed her.

I have a 10ml syringe and some airline for a fish tank(unused). I mixed her pellets in with some poultry spice, dried milk and made it into a wet mash with boiled water.

I gave her about 20ml of this, making sure I passed the tube well past her windpipe.

How much should I give her at one time?

How often should I do this?

Is this the right way to do it?

Thanks

[Nicos]

Not being very 'chook-wise' to this problem- you've done what I would do....but maybe add a bit of live yoghurt?????

Wait till someone else agrees with me first though...we're all pretty new to chook ailments

All the best- you sound very caring

[RichmondHens]

What was the vet's diagnosis? What are the antibiotics for?

If she is still picking at food, you shouldn't really try to tube feed her. Just give something a little more tempting. Try chopped hardboiled egg, porridge oats moistened with a little water, cooked rice, sweetcorn. A few chopped chives and dandelion is also beneficial. Hold off giving her layers pellets until her appetite has picked up again. If you are concerned about her water intake you can syringe this into her mouth directly, just a little at a time and stroke her throat to encourage a swallow before giving her a bit more. For poorly hens needing water I give about 5 ml several times during the day, but leave them in peace to sleep through the night.

Hope she picks up soon.

[DMac]

Thanks

I've got some in the fridge. I'll try it in her next feed.

I hope she's going to make it!

[DMac]

Unfortunatley she's not keen on any of these things, although I haven't tried the boiled eggs. The only thing she has an appatite for at the moment is the layers pellets. Will these harm her?

[petal]

you are a wonderful person, I'm afraid I am much more strict about these things, in my experience they rarely, rarely recover from such a turn and your vet should be more realistic and less devious - I'm afraid vets are out to make a quick buck. With a chicken, it will conceal illness as a flock animal until it is really, really ill. i would keep her warm, let her peck at tempting morsels etc. What were the antibiotics for?

[DMac]

The antibiotics were Baytril.

My vet tries very hard for every animal. He will not put any animal down until he has tried everything.

I was not charged for the treatment and he keeps his costs VERY low. £12 for a consultation!

Her chest was clear and he could not find any lumps or bumps that shouldn't be there. She was very pale with a droopy comb, she was also very listless. She has not got her colour back, still a bit droopy, just a bit week. We're both hoping she's just a bit weak and just needs time and food to recover.

She's looking better after her feed. Wandering round the garden pecking at the grass. I hope this is a good sign.

Thanks for all the help so far.

[Polly Fouracre]

Offer her some meal worms, you can probably get some at your pet shop. A hens treat and packed full of goodness.

[motherhen]

Keep her warm and isolated, if she is eating pellets that would be the best she can get, I sometimes suggest ex bat crumb you can get smallish bags, it is specially formulated to give ex batts that extra boost, take care with meal worms they are quite rich and can cause prolapse.
I would not let her eat too much grass if her system is struggling she may not be able to process, better to keep it simple.
I would certainly keep her away from your other hens as she could be infectious?
Has she been laying, what are her droppings like. Did she suddenly become ill?

[DMac]

Sorry, I've had a few net problems!

Thanks for your replies. She's getting stronger every day

I haven't been able to separate her from the other 2 as I have nowhere else to put her. She also seems stressed when the other 2 are not with her. It's been 10 days since she got ill and the other 2 are showing no signs of it.(fingers all crossed)

The initial symtoms were her comb and face going pale, been very quiet and going off her food. That was 10 days ago. 5 days of antibiotics and she had small yellow poo with a bit of green. My vet says this is due to the drugs and not eating much. Her poo has started getting more green and less yellow in the last 2 days.

She seems to be getting stronger every day. She sleeps for a while and then goes wandering picking up pellets, grass and any slugs she finds. She then goes for a wee snooze again! She always was lazy! My OH thinks this is just a ploy so that she won't have to feed herself!

Thanks for the replies

[DMac]

Well it's been 2 weeks and she's still with us

She spends her day eating and sleeping in the flower bed under the bushes!

I hope this is a good sign.

thanks