The Poultry Keeper

monicalock · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 22 Location: aldershot, hants

hi. i asked you all about our chook who has runny droppings and is generally tatty. we wormed her and she seemed to perk up, but is back where she started now. also she is making an occasional sneezing noise but her nose seems clear. help anyone?? monica

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2089 Location: norfolk

I'm sorry no-one has replied to you - it's always depressing when they just don't seem to thrive. You have to weigh up whether it's worth going to the vets with her or cutting your losses and dispatching her. There is a risk that she will become a reservoir of infection that other chickens might catch so bear that in mind too. It does sound as though she has an underlying bacterial or viral infection since you have wormed her so that's not the problem. Although, thinking as I type here, did you use Flubenvet or Vermex? I ask because I think if there is severe worm burden Vermex can be a bit "mild" if you take my meaning.

monicalock · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 22 Location: aldershot, hants

thank you. this is our favourite bird too!! she's so friendly, so i am reworming her (yes it is vermex) and if that doesn't work we will take her to the vet. any idea of the charges they make, presuming they prescribe anti biotics?

CP · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:14 am Post subject:

Depends on the vet. Rolling Eyes

Mine does the consultation as a 'small animal' charge which is around £11, but mine are bantams. Don't know if that makes much of a difference.
The cost of antibiotics isn't usually very much on top of that & even with the odd injection the total is very reasonable.

However, I've heard of some vets who charge the earth! Mad

Good luck with your girl Wink

& as kated says maybe you should try a stronger wormer. Confused

monicalock · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 22 Location: aldershot, hants

thanks all. will probably go to the vet at that sort of price - she's such a sweet natured little thing.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1219 Location: Cornwall

It sounds like the poor thing has Coccidiosis. Runny droppings and tatty plumage. You can vaccinate against this or treat with eyedrops which is the easiest way to dose the bird.

If she's sneezing though it could be influenza, which is infectious and should be checked by the vet.

CP · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:41 am Post subject:

monicalock, you're so close to us - we're between Fleet & Farnham. Very Happy

Most local vets here don't know much about poultry. We go to one in Alton who treat all the birds at Birdworld. Wink

Let me know if you want their address.

monicalock · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 22 Location: aldershot, hants

cp - is your vet called cedar? we went there today and he prescribed baytril for a bacterial infection. he suspects the sneezing is a byproduct of the illness as she is 'run down'. but she was also curving her toes up on 1 foot so that may go or be something else with a funny name. so we'll watch this space for 5 days. thanks for your help. (nice to know you're just around the corner too!)

CP · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:45 am Post subject:

Yes, that's the one, in Anstey Lane. Wink