[Julie in Somerset]

Hi everyone, my last BHWT Sept 08 rescue bird has been going downhill for a few weeks. She is trying to grow her new feathers following a moult but is now unable to get up though seems quite happy in the sick bay. I am putting food and water in reach and keeping her other end as clean as I can.

I am giving her olive oil, pro yogurt, honey, cat food, CCF, cooked egg etc but she is only taking a tiny amount. She has been like this for 4 days. She still talks to me and her eyes are bright, nose clear etc. Her poohs are greeny with white/yellow cheesy bits.

I know my vet who knows very little about chickens will put her down but should I give her any longer? OH can do the deed when decision made, thanks

[Daucus]

Hi Julie

I can't answer your question unfortunately, but wanted to wish you & your hen well and also if you're not too far here are details of a very good farm vet we use for our chooks:

Tibbs & Simmons
9 Chancellors Pound
The Pound
Redhill
Bristol
Avon
BS40 5TZ
01934 862808

Very experienced with poultry, and very nice people too.

[Aunt Sally]

Thanks Daucus I'll add that name to our list.

[poultrygeist]

How is her crop Julie ?

WOndered if she might have something caught in it. Is it empty, at least first thing ?

Rob

[Julie in Somerset]

Hi, I have checked her crop if feels completely empty now. She hasn't eaten or drunk anything today.

I have found a different vet in Weston who is recommended on another forum so will take her tomorrow. OH is against this so I hope the vet can diagnose and treat the problem. I know lots of hen keepers locally who find my taking hens to vets very amusing. I wish I had more faith but the 2 I did take did not have their problems diagnosed and they died shortly afterwards.

Will report back tomorrow.

[Julie in Somerset]

Hi, forgot to say the vet I used previously was the Weston branch of Tibbs and Simmons, I think the vet was called Susy. They didn't suggest I take her to Redhill to see a different vet and only offered Baytril on both occassions without a diagnosis.

I agree about using vets but while they are brilliant with domestic animals, hens still seem to fall into livestock most farmers wouldn't call a vet to individual hens.

[Julie in Somerset]

Hi Visited the new vet this morning, she gave her a thorough examination and said she probably had been laying internally, this affected her internal organs and so she was PTS. She had been out of her cage for 1 year and 1 week.

Bit sad but I would do it again and great to find a chicken vet in Weston s Mare.

[joyfull]

sorry to hear about your hen, but you gave that time to behave like a proper chicken and feel the weather on her, hugs joy xx