The Poultry Keeper

Aussie Chick · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:26 am Post subject: Sick Chicken

Hi Guys,

My chicken is sick. She has yucky bottom which i have washed and cant see anything abnormal. Shes not eating and her breast bone seems to be sticking out more than usual. ( so I guess shes lost weight).

She laid two eggs yesterday but hadn't laid for a week previous to that. She doesn't feel egg bound, well, i cant feel any eggs in her tummy.

I have given her cider vinegar and shes really thirsty...

Any suggestions please?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 2624 Location: Monmouthshire

Assuming she has been wormed recently, there's not a lot one can suggest. Once they decide against eating it can unfortunately be downhill all they way, and if she's skinny already that's not good. I give young birds that need a boost 'egg food' from the local pet shop, so perhaps cooked egg yolk would do likewise for an adult bird. It won't do any harm.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks Hen Wife. Unfortunately Lily has died this afternoon. I will worm my other Chooky and hopefully its not that. They were wormed not so long ago, but will try anyway.
Thanks,
AC

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 2624 Location: Monmouthshire

Sorry to hear of Lily's demise. I do wish chicken would show they aren't well before they're too far gone. Usually 6 monthly worming is adequate. It sounds like what used to be known as 'going light' which is now called something more fancy, but they is still fatal

CP · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 12:39 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear that Aussie Chick. Crying or Very sad

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Somerset

I gave my chooks flubenvet about 8 weeks ago as some were not looking or sounding good, they picked up abit, and then as they wernt fully looking brilliant was told i could give another dose, that done the trick, BUT the last couple of days about 5 of them sound rattley like they have a frog in their throat (not a real one).

The chickens and ducks are in a very sturdy well made pens, 1 for the ducks and 1 for the chickens, about 40-50 ft long and 20-30 ft wide each, made by chainlink fencing about 6-7 ft high. I have had chickens and ducks in these pens since we moved here 14 months ago and the previous owners had chickens in the pens for about 6 years before me. I also let them out in the outer pen everyday.

It has been mentioned before about Gapeworm, it always seems to be the chickens that have a not feeling to good day, the ducks (touch wood) have never had a problem.

The Question DO I GIVE THEM ANOTHER DOSE OF FLUVENBET Confused

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 2624 Location: Monmouthshire

Have you ever dug over and limed the ground? It is a very small area to have held chicken for over 7 years without being rested and the problem is probably in the ground - it's 'chicken sick'.

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1312 Location: Leicestershire

Rattly?. . . . sounds like it could be mycoplasma.

Itsybitsy

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 933 Location: Carmarthenshire

Thinking the same Itsybitsy - I use Tylan if I suspect it. Also re ground - if you don't want to use lime around the chooks I use a product called Biosuper, it's brill for kieeping the ground sweet and killing off nasties (no I don't have shares, I just believe in it).

CP · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 2624 Location: Monmouthshire

I get it at the local agricultural store and always have to ask them what I want. there's always the chance that it was done when the house changed hands, hence the question.

CP · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject:

So is it the same lime that you can get for the garden? Confused

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Somerset

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your comments.

The birds do have a large area to roam in total (pen and outer pen) about 100ft long and 60ft wide.

Someone i was speaking to last night (5 miles from me) said you can spray the ground but she couldnt remember what it was called.

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Somerset

This Tylan and Biosuper, ive just looked at it on the internet and the Tylan needs a prescription from the vet.

What i might do is call a vet who can have a look at the birds and if need be give me something or a prescription for the product.

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Somerset

This Mycoplasma that some of you have mentioned -

What is it Confused

What causes it Confused

How to avoid it Confused