[Karhog]

Hi, I am new to this forum and really need help as I'm on an up and down rollercoaster!!

I have 3 chooks fro a BHWT rescue last Easter. Bertha has been off colour for a week or two now. Started off hunched and slower than usual, also no interest in treats (highly unusual for her)

She had sour crop in Oct and I noted her crop did indeed feel a bit squishy (though not as bad as in Oct) so I massaged and tipped over the next few days. Some yellow stuff came out but now nothing (though the crop still feels a bit squishy)

Main problem though is she has lost all interest in food and is poohing white  liquiid mucousy poos  (one or two which have had a bit of blood in)- I am trying to coax her with anything at all - she does sometimes eat the maggots (i am aware these will help a crop problem) Some of these are passing through her whole and undigested.

I thought then maybe a blockage? Can't feel any hardness or lumps at all.

Took her to the vet on Sat and he had limited knowledge on chooks. He said she is very underweight (not surprising) and that her temp was off the scale. He was very pessimistic suggesting it could be EYP (I didn't think so- though I am obviously no expert)

As I wanted to give her a fighting chance I requested A/B and she had an injection and is on a ten day course.

Her temp is down ( I can tell as she is no wher near as thirsty as she was)- she seems to be bright and alert but clearly is not eating enough- I can't get her interested in pellets or the mash mix I make. So she has had whatever she will eat. This has ranged from scrambled egg, maggots,fruit, cooked veg peelings  etc - all in small quantities though.

She is still doing runny poohs AND NOW.... my other two chooks seem to be going the same way.

Both the other girls have started poohing liquidy milky poos and although they are both still interseted in food and treat at the moment I can tell they are slower  and losing the interest- (normally they come running for the treat tin and only Mabel seems bothered)

I called the vet again yesterday and today have picked up more A/B (Baytril) to treat all three of them.

However, doing research online- I reckon their symptoms could be Cocci ?? I have ordered some Coxoid online as well as the disinfectant and cleaning products. I asked the vet if ok to treat at same time as A/B and they said yes

What is your opinion on all this- sorry for the waffle but just trying to give as much info as possible.

Any help, advice and knowledge would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[tstainesmoore]

depending on the breeds of chickens that you have and there age, the issue may be one of many possible things. i myself am not an expert by any means and dont really know what help my advice would be but, i personally would ensure that there house is completely disinfected and cleaned every day for atleast the next week or two, that you stop feeing them vegetables as too much can cause upset stomachs, etc and ensure that they have been wormed. However this all depends on the age and breed of the bird, so i cannot give an accurate piece of advice yet, however i would continue with the medication that has been prescribed, as it probably wont make things worse. Also no matter what the bird is suffering from heat normally helps the bird to recover, as less of the birds energy is being used into keeping the body warm.

[hen-night]

Had a look online for you, and found a picture of a poo sample like you discribed milky and watery. This came from a older hen who became very thirsty like yours.
Unfortunately the cause was unknown, possibly kidney problems. Sorry I dont have the answer,hope they recover...Aden..

[Karhog]

Thanks for the replies
They are ex battery hens so unsure of breed Possibly Mix of Rhode Island Red hybrid. As I got the Easter last year I am guessing they must be over 2 years old now.
I would cut down on the veg but at the moment getting Bertha to eat at all is a challenge so I would rather her eat anything rather than starve as I know she needs energy.
Thanks for looking up the poohs online- I did wonder about kidney function as it seems to be mainly urine but the fact that it appears to be spreading has made me doubt.
I guess I will have to wait and see what happens over the next few days- It's just that awful feeling of helplessness and not knowing what to try next.
Thanks again

[4chooks]

Maggots are good to use use
baytril / tylan is good
apple cider vinegar / vits are good to use
cant remember the exact name but you can use a solution like (alca seltzer) in water
 
The other birds could easily pick up from the original problem hen so not suprising
they followed suit with symptoms.

you could do with a vet that has poultry or an avian interest???

[Karhog]

Yes - thanks
They are now all on Baytril.I am giving them maggots daily at the mo (although Bertha just wasn't interested in the today)
I am adding poulty spice to their drinker and also give a child vitamin drop (without the Iron)
I have order Coxoid which I will start the minute it arrives as well as all the disinfecting and cleaning stuff in case it is Cocci. This will be quite difficult as they free range the whole garden and I believe the oocyte can last for months
Fingers crossed they get better

[joyfull]

if you feed maggots please make sure that they are not the dyed ones.

[Karhog]

Yes- only white undyed and live for my girls!

[hen-night]

You are one of many stars who take on ex batts and all the problems it brings. You are the salt of the earth in my eyes, and no doubt in many others too..Aden...

[Karhog]

Thankyou! Though they give me the pleasure (apart from at the mo when I worry like mad!) It is great to see the experience the sun, grass and dust baths for the first time.
Well I got the Coxoid treatment today and have mixed in with their water- they didn't seem too interested so i syringed some into each chook.
They are still on their A/B and I think two of them are showing an improvement.
Bertha is still very touch and go- I struggled to get her to eat today but perservered and eventually she managed some grapes, potato, apple and scrambled egg. Not ideal I know but anyything to keep her energy up so the drugs can take effect.
Her crop felt a bit squishy again this morning so I have been massaging it. I also tried tipping her again a couple of times but nothing vame out.
Fingers crossed for them- hope tomorrow is a better day

[hen-night]

Great stuff, keep us informed Aden...

[4chooks]

Remembered the name i couldn't remember in my above post lol (Epsom Salts) + don't give too many treatments at anyone time as like us 1 will counter act the other... Baytrill & vitamins i would use until course ended & odd feeding of maggot then use ur poultry spice etc. HTH?

[Karhog]

Hello - Quick update. All chhoks still with us and things seem to be looking up!
Bertha is on day 9 of Baytrill and the other two are on day 5. I also  started them on a 7-14 day course of Coxoid in their water on Thursday and today have scrubbed and disinfected their house and put Stalosan on run floor and bedding
Peggy and Mabel have really perked up and their poohs now seem back to normal and they are back to their cheeky selves.
Bertha has improved no end- still not 100% though - she is still slower than the other two and seems to take a while to 'get going' in the morning.
She is eating much better now though still not that interested in proper food- I am having to make up mash and in the afternoon I will give her boiled potatoes, egg, tomatoes and yoghurt. Which she (and the others) seem to love. She will sometimes eat the maggots on offer but still dosen't seem that bothered by 'treats'--though she has had maggots today!
She is doing all the usual chickeny things- scratching round the garden, dust bathing and grooming. Her poohs have improved but are still runny (nowhere near as bad though)
Don't think we are completely out of the woods yet but fingers are crossed.

[helens-hens]

Really pleased to hear that things are on the up. Well done for persevering and trying so hard.

Will keep fingers crossed that they all make a full recovery