pooey hen.

dukebankchicks · « **on:** September 14, 2007, 23:31 »

Hi, not been on for a while,having a few problems with ex-free range commercial layers that we got last March.We started off with 5,but have lost 2,the first one had blood coming from vent but after a few weeks on her own she was ok so went back in with the others but died about a month later,she was eating and doing fine but not laying.Another one got dihorrhea for a few weeks but was eating and looking really healthy and she died about a month ago,now we have another who isn't laying and has brown watery poo.All have been wormed and are fed corn and pellets and fresh greens and are kept clean and allowed to free range the garden for a few hours a day.They all seem well but the pooey one is drinking a lot.Does anyone know a vet in stoke on trent who Knows anything about hens and will help? also is it worth taking her to vets with so few symptoms? any ideas and advice gratefully received,vicky and bob.

muntjac · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2007, 23:34 »

whats was on the ground before they started to roam ?

dukebankchicks · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2007, 23:38 »

Its just grass and they generally stay in the garden where there are no chemicals or slug pellets used.

muntjac · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2007, 23:43 »

where they lethargic and did they have blood on the tail feathers , did thye die in a 10 day period from going sick?

dukebankchicks · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2007, 23:50 »

No, nothing unusual apart from the diahorrhea,the last one was only really poorly a few hours before it died,she kept lying down with her head on her side and fell over when she tried to stand up but before she was the biggest and fattest of all of them.Only the first one had a blooming vent but she got better and was fine for about 6 weeks after this.

muntjac · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2007, 23:55 »

i have a feeling its enteritis ... and you need a vet who can prescribe antibiotics , it shows blood coming from vents and the birds drink a lot and fall over when it real good form .as your birds are from a battery setup i suspect they may have brought it from there ,this is only an opinion as i cant see the birds to tell properly . a chicken sags its comb when its poorly goes off food etc .make sure you find a vet who deals with agricultural animals and poultry .

dukebankchicks · « **Reply #6 on:** September 14, 2007, 23:57 »

thanks for that advice,I'll try and find a vet that doesnt just do cats and dogs!

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2007, 19:27 »

Have a look on this link to see if any of these vets are near you:

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4447