Chicken falling over

[kathyd]

She's meant to be a shetland chicken.. descended from araucannas apparently . But she's a different shape from her sister, who looks more like the pics I've seen on people's websites.

[RichmondHens]

Well, from the pic she doesn't actually look deformed to me, just miserable and/or poorly. Obviously not happy, but it's impossible to tell why from just a picture. Do you know if she's lost weight? How does she compare weight wise to her sister? She maybe wobbling about because she is weak, if she has recently lost a lot of weight.

[kathyd]

Hi RH

I agree the stance appears to be the unhappy hunched stance, but she's been like this since she arrived 4 or 5 weeks ago now, and has never changed, not for a second. When she first arrived she and her brother appeared to be closer than her brother and sister, but now it's the other way around, so IF she'd had her tail up to start off with and now it was down, I'd assume she was depressed or something, but her tail's been down even in the early days when she seemed to be the obvious favourite. You can feel the hump under the feathers, and she doesn't even move her tail when running, climbing or trying to fly. However, you're the expert not me, so I'll have to see if I can cheer her up a bit...

In terms of weight I have no idea to be honest - it never occurred to me to compare them. I'll try to grab them both today if I can and see the difference. I'm not aware she's lost weight suddenly, although she does seem very hungry at the moment and we've been trying to make sure she's getting her fair share at feeding times. I'll try to get some more protein down her if you think that would help? Anything else that's recommended to put on weight (I'm pretty sure sharing my chocolate bars wouldn't be the correct thing to do )

[VirginVegGrower]

Have they been wormed? Weight loss can be caused by worms.

[kathyd]

Hi VVG

I've given them all VermX which I brought over from the UK in pellet form - although they eat so little of their pellets it's hard to know how much they may actually have eaten! The next time I gave it I mixed it in with the grain they get before bed, but again I don't know how you can monitor individual birds.. Maybe I'll pick up some of the liquid next time I'm over just so I can try different approaches.

I do appreciate everyone trying to help, thanks, especially when I know most of you think I should put her out of her misery straight away.

[Suechooks]

Verm-x isn't actually a wormer. It's a product that helps makes the gut hostile to worms so is more of a preventative. For worming you need Flubenvet which will kill the worms and is actually licensed for poultry. Thee are other wormers but most are licensed for pigeons or fam animals not poultry.

[kathyd]

Ah, OK thanks. I'm not sure if I can get Flubenvet over here or if I'll have to wait until we come back in the new year. I'm trying to use gentle / more natural products when possible - does Flubenvet fall into this category do you know?

[VirginVegGrower]

Garlic and dandelion leaves are supposed to be helpful but I don't think there is any substitute for Flubenvet dosing that I have read about. I am sure you could get it posted out to you.

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi VVG

I've given them all VermX which I brought over from the UK in pellet form - although they eat so little of their pellets it's hard to know how much they may actually have eaten! The next time I gave it I mixed it in with the grain they get before bed, but again I don't know how you can monitor individual birds.. Maybe I'll pick up some of the liquid next time I'm over just so I can try different approaches.

I do appreciate everyone trying to help, thanks, especially when I know most of you think I should put her out of her misery straight away.

I don't - I think if there is some quality of life, ie. scratching around, movement, hen yoga stretches - I am happy, then as as a human being you owe them a bit of effort. It's not a way of living for you, as indeed it isn't for me. If she is in pain and suffering - and we can't see her - then as much as it pains and I know how raw that is, she would be best PTS.
I give Flubenvet in cut open sultanas, which they nearly take my fingers off for. At least that way I know each bird has had some. Marriages make Flubenvet laced pellet feed too but have never tried that.

[kathyd]

Garlic and dandelion leaves are supposed to be helpful but I don't think there is any substitute for Flubenvet dosing that I have read about. I am sure you could get it posted out to you.

Well they have plenty of dandelion leaves in their run, so that's good . Any idea how you'd get garlic down them? Raw? Cooked? Leaves? Cloves??

Thanks

[kathyd]

I don't - I think if there is some quality of life, ie. scratching around, movement, hen yoga stretches - I am happy, then as as a human being you owe them a bit of effort. It's not a way of living for you, as indeed it isn't for me. If she is in pain and suffering - and we can't see her - then as much as it pains and I know how raw that is, she would be best PTS.
I give Flubenvet in cut open sultanas, which they nearly take my fingers off for. At least that way I know each bird has had some. Marriages make Flubenvet laced pellet feed too but have never tried that.

Sultanas! Why didn't I think of that! That's a fab idea VVG, thanks

[VirginVegGrower]

I crush it and add it to their porridge mash or to their water. No need for it cooked. As you are in the land of garlic you should be well supplied. It's no substitute for a recommended drug though. Try buying over the net?!
Does she peck at the dandelion leaves? It's those that they eat.

[VirginVegGrower]

Sultanas! Why didn't I think of that! That's a fab idea VVG, thanks

I think it's Nicos' idea, not mine. Or she put it in grapes, I can't remember, but sultanas work for me.

[Suechooks]

You can put it on cut surface of a grape too - in fact anything moist that they like.
As VVG has said garlic in water a couple of cloves crushed in the drinker is fine. I use cod liver oil with garlic in but I have numerous elderly Warrens who don't absorb calcium properly so benefit from the CLO.
Flubenvet is available on t'internet so I'm sure one of the online pharmacies would send it to you subject to French Customs regs

[Nicos]

I don't think Nicos will mind. Hens are one hell of a worry aren't they?!
Nicos if you are reading, can we have some Albert stories please as I need a little light relief?!
KathyD - Albert is a Peacock Francais

Sadly Albert Peacock went 'walk-about' in the Spring.
No idea where he went...we did ask around but no-one had seen him.
To be honest we were rather glad cos he munched his way through most of our fruit and veg the previous year and pooped on everything- including the BBQ and table and chairs.
A fantastic experience , but a relief that he's gone !