The Poultry Keeper

rubychik · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject: my first sick chicken

I know I have been very lucky so far as this is my first poorly chicken in nearly 4 years of keeping them. My little black x breed 'Ebony' was sneezing yesterday afternoon so i kept an extra special eye on her when i let them all out this morning. She sounded like she was asthmatic today, although she ate some layers pellets and some lettuce and was at first walking about normally with the rest. Over the next hour or so her breathing got worse and she was huddled alone and stretched her neck up with each breath... so I scooped her up (but not after she ran me a merry dance round the garden....where did she get that energy from?) and took her to the vets. He diagnosed an 'air sac ' infection-gave her an injection of Rimadyl and Baytril and gave me a syringe and liquid Baytril to dose her up with over the next 5 days and all for £11.45.....considering I just rang and they saw us immediately I am suitably impressed. Now Ebony is in 'intensive care' in my utility room being pampered...I keep going to check to see if she's still breathing (this takes me back to having a newborn baby) She looks well and truly sorry for herself and sounds terrible! keep fingers crossed everyone!

Rubychik Sad

CP · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject:

Poor little Ebony. Sad

Glad you managed to see a vet so quickly & hopefully she will soon be on the mend. Smile

Keep us posted! Wink

fenwoman · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: my first sick chicken

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Sorry to hear ebony isn't well rubychic. And a pat on the back to your vet for seeing you so promptly and also his nice low fee.
I've just seen where you live and I believe on another forum there was discussion about how cheap the veterinary services were in parts of Wales ~ maybe they caught it in Shropshire too!

mojo · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject:

well done in getting a vets advice so quick...dont give lettuce in any quantity it should be a treat only.ACV may help i swear by it as a tonic.good luck.mojo

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

Fingers crossed for you. Wink

Lisa · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject:

Good to hear you were able to get her such prompt help from a chicken friendly vet.

Get well soon Ebony!

rubychik · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject:

the vets is in Montgomery, which is literally a couple of miles inside the Welsh border...beautiful area and great vets! Ebony is still sounding very bad, I keep thinking she's asleep and snoring, she does keep eating and drinking (ACV in water) every now and then tho. I've moved her from the utility room as I was worried the washing machine would scare her (she'll be in bed with me tonight at this rate!!) my oh says 'leave her, there's nothing more you can do', but i can't help looking in on her to see if there's any improvement/deterioration. Will post update in morning...thanks for all your posts Smile

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I hope you and she have a good night's sleep and then she feels more perky in the morning/. Just remember that antibiotics don't necessarily work until the last dose ~ some do, some don't

fenwoman · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject:

Personally I would not be giving cider vinegar unless the vet has said it won't interfere with the antibiotics. Some things clash and although I haven't heard of cider vinegar doing so, it might.
why do people call it 'apple cider vinegar' given that if it is cider vinegar it must be made from apples cos cider isn't made from anything else Question

Bhindi · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 11:36 pm Post subject:

I hope the morning brings you good news, .. will be thinking of you.

rubychik · Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:51 am Post subject:

well im very pleased to report that i have a very lively chicken who is ravenous and very vocal this morning...she looks bright as a button and that terrible breathing noise is completely gone, i can't believe the turnaround from yesterday!! Very Happy

(i really thought i would be bringing an empty box back from the vets yesterday)....also woke to 3-4 inches of snow and still falling thick and fast- will keep Ebony in tho...just to keep an eye on her a bit longer Wink

i do think she's missing her buddies tho!!

Bhindi · Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:52 am Post subject:

Brilliant news.. well done

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

Thats really good news -well done

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

That's really good news ~ don't forget to finish the course of anti biotics