[Catsmuvva]

Can anyone help, please?

Betty has been poorly for a while, passing watery deposits, unable to form urates, so the vet thinks its a kidney problem. Baytril didn't help and she has lost a lot of weight. I decided to try to build her up by feeding high protein but then realised that wouldn't be good if it's a kidney problem so resorted to mixing in crushed cooked potato with her pellets. Ironically her poo is now more normal (despite the vet's poor prognosis), still a bit watery but some urates are now forming, despite the protein rich diet. I've been keeping her in sick bay at night but allowing her to roam with the others after she has had a morning feed so she gets to eat it all rather than fighting with the others for every morsel, but it's heavy going getting the muscle back on her - I know it won't happen in just a few days but can anyone suggest anything that would help? I'd be gutted if she got over whatever it was, only to die because she was too weak. Laying is not a problem as she hasn't laid since before Christmas.

Thanks, Anne

[Casey76]

You could change to a growers or breeders pellets, even chick crumb which is higher in protein than layers

[Catsmuvva]

Ok, but if there is a kidney problem won't that be bad for her, giving the kidneys more protein to process? She's not even all that keen on pellets at the moment which is why I'm bulking them out with potato.

[Casey76]

Potato is bad for chickens... nothing but starch and little nutritional value.  You need protein for muscle growth.

TBH I don't think a change from a 16% protein diet (layers) to a 20% protein diet (chick crumb) would do much harm.  If her kidneys are that boxed there is little you can do anyway other than ensure she is not in discomfort.

[joyfull]

is she an ex batt?
a lot of these have kidney problems owing to them being on very short rations of feed and water before they get taken away.
As she is not laying growers and chick crumb will be fine for her.

[Catsmuvva]

Yes, Betty is one of my original ex batts from last year (so called because she was the chattiest of the group so named after Betty Boothroyd, ex speaker of the house!). I'm off to get some Aubiose for the house now so I can pick up some growers or chick crumb for her at the same time.
Thank you both for the advice, I'm just hoping she gets through this bit. BTW, urates & droppings looking more normal by the day, here's hoping she makes a full recovery...