Sad news, we lost Bunty (white)this morning. She had been coughing and wheezing so we put all the chickens on antibiotics and wormer and isolated her. She was definitely improving, hadn't lost weight, good colour, eating, no discharges, no smelly breath, clean white fluffy bottom. She laid an egg before 5.30 this morning and ate a good breakfast, then settled down to chunner at the lack of housekeeping in the junk room. Dave went off for more antibiotics and while he was trying to translate the pack I heard flapping and dashed off to find her on her back breathing her last. . We feel she might have had a heart problem as she was showing so few signs of being unwell, and certainly her respiration wasn't that bad, but over the days it might have put a strain on her heart.
So now I am chasing the chickens around the pen, head on sideways, trying to hear rattling breathing. The neighbours (and chooks) must think I'm barmy! We will have to pick them up more often as I have been told you can feel bad breathing starting before seeing any signs or hearing coughing.
Silly I know, to feel sad over a chicken, but it is the first adult I have lost and I had got quite fond of her over the last couple of days. She was so young and looked wonderful.
