[Charlie's Chickens]

Following a recent fox attack next door we carried out some chicken run maintenance.

We cut back an overhanging branch of an un-identified tree that currently has small dark red/blackish berries on it.

The tree has been there for many years, the chicken run for 3 years.  Some of the berries had been falling off and I have seen all my chooks eating them without any ill effect.

When we cut the branch quite a few fell off and one our girls decided to feast on them.  Later that afternoon I noticed she was quieter than usual and ever since she appears to be going down hill.

She is still drinking but has very watery pooh.  Whilst she did eat some softened layers pellets yeasterday I don't believe she has eaten today and has taken herself off to bed in the nesting box.  Is it possible she may just have stomach ache from too many berries 

The other thing I have noticed when I look at her is that her breathing is quite heavy and odd as it might sound as she breathes a pocket of skin just below her eyes is inflating and defalting....have I just noticed before??

Thanks

Emma

[Charlie's Chickens]

Just as a quick update, I have had a search on the internet and believe the tree is a 'Common Elder' 

Thanks

[Helenaj]

Unripe Elderberries can be mildly toxic, although fully ripe ones aren't. It could be that she has eaten too much and has injested the poison. I'm not sure of the inflated pocket of air. Personally, I'd get her checked out by a vet on both counts.

[Charlie's Chickens]

Thanks for the reply.

I popped up to see how she is doing and to be honest I would be surpprised if she is with me in the morning.    She was very heavy breathing and still in the nest box.

I have been reading up on elderberries and discovered that unripe ones contain toxins related to cyanide    I guess they only tended to get ripe ones that had fallen on the floor, but when we cut down the branch unripe would have been knocked off as well.