The Poultry Keeper

stuffed · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Milton Keynes

One of my girls has been doing nasty poos today, they are watery yellow (quite bright) with some greeny bits in. She doesn't look well, a bit pale and fluffed up. I picked her up to have a look at her and found she is quite thin. I don't tend to pick her up very often as she doesn't like it and I don't like to upset her, if I did I suppose I may have noticed something sooner Crying or Very sad

Anyway she hasn't laid for a few days. No changes in food or anything like that. The only thing I can say on the positive side is that she still struggled like anything when I went to pick her up. I've seen her drink plenty but she doesn't seem to have much appetite, she has eaten just not as much as normal. I decided to give some flubenvet as it's about time for a worming but I don't know if worms explains the colour of the poo. I've also put some battles poultry drink in the water in the hope of giving her a bit of a boost.
Any ideas anyone???
Why do these things always seem to happen at the weekend Rolling Eyes

Lisa · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear you've got a poorly chook stuffed.

All sounds a bit vague to me. The runny / green poo might be a symptom of her not being well, rather than the actual illness (green in the poo from bile not being used to digest food). Don't know about the yellow.

Equally she may simply not be laying eggs because she is run down and doesn't have the nutrition because she's not been eating.

Can you put her somewhere quiet for some TLC and feeding up with goodies? Don't need her running round in the cold using up calories she can't spare. Mashed up boiled egg is quite nutritious in the short term. Maybe if she ate more she'd start to feel a bit better?

Sorry, not much info there - just saying what I'd think and do if I was waiting for the vets to open on Monday morning...

Good luck!

fenwoman · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject:

What is the general diet normally? How long since they were wormed?
If you aren't getting enough eggs to use boiling them up for chickens, especially at this time of year, you can buy from pet shops egg food. It is made with eggs and is dried. You simply add warm waterto make it into a damp crumble mixture. Also something like 'bogena universal' which is for softbills and contains high protein with dried grubs, fruit and the like. Because both are dried you can store them in the kitchen cupboard and have them handy when a bird needs a boost.

Lisa · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject:

Just remembered someone on PP saying their vet suggested using something like complan - the drink for people who are ill and/or run down and can't eat much = high nutrition and easily digestible.

stuffed · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Milton Keynes

They are fed on D+H layers pellets with grit always available. Food and water is always fresh everyday.
I got this girl a couple of months ago not sure when she was last wormed, as I say I've started the flubenvet as it won't do any harm and the last time I did it was about 5 months ago but I didn't have the newbies (including the poorly one) at the time.
If it had just been runny poo I probably would have taken it to be a symptom of just about any illness/being run down but it was the fact that it is bright yellow (I'm talking Sad

smilie sort of colour but a bit lighter) with some green bits in I wondered if it was known to be a specific symptom of anything.
Someone has suggested that it could be blackhead, which there is no official treatment for Crying or Very sad

but herban is supposed to help and I happen to have some so will give it a try.

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2240 Location: North Cornwall

What about some apple cider vinegar in the drinking water. Just a thought.

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

Yes, I would have gone with giving her acv just to perk her up and help her get over what ever is causing her to be down. Give it at 2% ~ 20 mls to 1 litre of water in a non-galvanised drinker.
How is she doing today?

stuffed · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Milton Keynes

She has perked up a lot, and the poos are improving, at least they are less watery and there is normal stuff mixed in with the yellow now. Her appetite is improving aswell although she's still a bit light. Hopefully now the 'runs' have stopped she'll put a bit of weight on.

CP · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:25 pm Post subject:

That's good news then. Smile

Hope she continues to improve. Wink

Aussie Chick · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject:

How's she going Stuffed?

stuffed · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Milton Keynes

Looking good.
She has stopped doing yellow poos and her appetite is back on track. She is getting a bit of colour back aswell, and energy Wink

Lisa · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject:

Excellent news Razz

Sounds about as good as it could be - very pleased for you and your chook!

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

Excellent news, stuffed, well done you and that girl