[woodchicks]

please help. I have 12 ex bat's 3 of them are unwell. They are very lathargic, combs are droppy they sit up the corner and wont come out with the other hens. Wont eat unless i give them food myself and not drinking. There eyes are closed as if asleep.They do not get up to roost just sit in the corner.No sign of egg bound. simular thing happened last month and kept "pam" indoors for two weeks her claw curled up and she could not walk as if she had had a stroke? gave her regular doses of caster oil thought she was going to give up but then 1 day she was fine as if nothing had happened.
Any help on poorly girls had them for about a year.

[poultrygeist]

Hi woodchicks.

Can't offer any help other than what you've done.

It's not good that they won't drink. I would say you need to find a way of coaxing them to drink something.
Have you wormed them at all ?
Checked for lice/mites ?
Raised temperatures ?
All obvious I know but good to eliminate for diagnosis.

I hope someone can advise you but it may be tomorrow by the time you get an answer.
Meantime, I hope they pull through.

Rob

[kimT]

What are their poo's like?

I would have a word with you vet asap. Maybe need some Baycox??

[SnooziSuzi]

This is exactly what Henny Penny was like yesterday so I took her home, gave her a shower to clean her pooey bum and checked for egg boundedness.  Sure enough a smelly soft shelled egg was ejected and today she's fine.

Have you felt her crop?  is it big, floppy and loose or firm?  maybe sour crop?

[peggyprice]

While you're trying to find out the cause, keep them hydrated with Dioralyte (you can get it from the chemist or the medicines section of most large supermarkets) dropped into their mouths with a small syringe.

If they are lethargic it's quite easy to do because they won't fight you - open their beaks up as wide as you can and squirt a little at a time as far back into their mouths as you can - remembering to give them a chance to swallow each time    

Sorry can't be more help with specifics - though instinct would be that if more than one is poorly with the same symptoms it is either a viral infection or something they've all eaten; either way, you probably need to see a vet.

Fingers crossed  

[Foxy]

Hi how are your birds today?
Any other symptoms you could give us?
Good luck and keep us posted!

[Aunt Sally]

You've done very well to give them a year of happy life.

The advise above is all good.  Let us know how they are