[Boxfanman]

I have a poorly chook

Found her today off her feet unable to walk. She has been fine up until now and has shown no signs of illness.

I have looked down her throat which appeared clear, and I have checked her vent which is a bit messy from pooing when unable to walk, but otherwise clear and clean, although her vent it 'twitching'.

I have brought her home and have given her some laying pellets which she appears to be eating, they have been on corn for a week as I had run out of pellets.

Any help would be gratefully recieved.

[Aunt Sally]

If she's been on corn for a week she may not have been getting enough calcium in her diet for egg production and laying.

Do you know when she laid last ?

Try giving her some yoghurt mixed with some porridge oats or museli,  ie. something to make it a bit more solid for her to eat.  This can help both shell quality and muscle tone for walking and laying.

Check under her wings to see how hot she is compared to another bird (could be a problem if the rest are elsewhere  ).  If she feels hot it would indicate an infection of some kind.

[Boxfanman]

If the bird has an infection what can you do???

She's very lethargic, and just seems totally out of sorts. Should I just leave in the garden, or should I put her in a box away from everything?

When would you decide to dispatch a bird??? I really have no idea what to do...

[Aunt Sally]

Give her the yogurt as I've sugested to see if that brings her back up.  If she has an infection then you will need to decide how to treat her.  If you want to treat her you have to get anitbiotics from a vet.

I take mine to the vet as they are pets - just like you might take a sick cat or dog.  For some people hens are just food producers so not worth the expense of a vet's treatment - the hen would then just be culled.

Whatever your view no animal should be allowed to suffer. 

[Boxfanman]

Give her the yogurt as I've sugested to see if that brings her back up.  If she has an infection then you will need to decide how to treat her.  If you want to treat her you have to get anitbiotics from a vet.

I take mine to the vet as they are pets - just like you might take a sick cat or dog.  For some people hens are just food producers so not worth the expense of a vet's treatment - the hen would then just be culled.

Whatever your view no animal should be allowed to suffer. 

Thanks for the advice, I have given some yogurt and she is now just resting in a box in my shed, I won't allow this to go on for too long, I will make a decision later as to what I'm going to do. I hope she's better by then....

[Aunt Sally]

I'd give her some more yogurt later and see how she is in the morning before deciding.

Make sure she's drinking too !

[Boxfanman]

 

Still not right at all, she having a little go at some food.

Her poohs are very very loose also, could that be anything?

[Roughlee Handled]

Have you checked her poo against Aunt Sally's poo chart?

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

[Boxfanman]

Just been out to put her into a box for the night, she's still very unwell.
She has very loose stools and they smell totaly rank.

I'm unsure wether to dispatch her now tonight.... She doesn't seem to be in pain, athough I'm not 100% on that now, but she is obviously really struggling, her breathing is very laboured.

 

[Boxfanman]

Had to dispatch my bird, this morning she was far worse, and there was no way i could let her go on like that.

Dispatching was relatively easy, although was a little unsure of hand position

But she went straight away, she didn't even flap her wings though  .

The guy who done the photo's done a marvelous job of showing how to do the job, but would like to see more detail on hand position, I feel this is not quite clear, and it's a job that you need to do properly.

Thank you to all for advice yesterday.

[Roughlee Handled]

I am sorry for you Boxfanman.  Its not a pleasant thing to do.

I would like to say well done to you though on being a responsible chicken owner.
 

[Vember]

Ditto

Sarah x

[Aunt Sally]

Best thing to do BFM