Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[cluckcluckluke]

Yeah I guess I have been a bit slack on the food front for her. Just been feeding her layer mash.
I'll get onto it tomorrow with some natural yoghurt and scrambled eggs.
I am also giving her vitamin powder that goes in her water. It's packed wit heaps of 'stuff' for ill chickens.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
Oops, sorry for the misleading. 1/10 poo's might be 'normal' but all the rest are still watery and mostly white.
I meant that she is able to fully excrete poop now. Before it just clogged up at the entrance of the vent and clumped in the feathers.

 

[Fancychooklady]

This gal hasn't laid in probably  6-8 months.
She would also have to be about 4 years old, one of the originals.
Nope never had soft shells from any chickens.

Then in that case Lucas, she may be an internal layer and the swelling might well be ascietes. Look at the poop chart and compare what you find. Run a dose of antibiotics through her and wait and see. you can attempt to drain the ascietes but it has a high risk of infection. Bathe her again in Epsom salts , if nothing else it will be therapudic.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Cluckcluckluke ....

First, I don't know where 'the foothhills of chickendom" really are, but if somewhere in Victoria, suburban maybe ?, there is an excellent avian veterinarian expert here, they are referred to by many many vets and bird lovers : [email protected] - phone : (03) 9808-9011-- I very recently contacted them myself about worming tablets for chickens. Have now reverted however, to the normal worming mixture in water - the tablets were very expensive. . ( but that's nothing to do with this - just showing that they are helpful by phone ).

Another ( or possibly the same - with altered internet link ) is http://www.melbournebirdvet.com/ and their email is : [email protected] - their phone no. is (03) 9764-9000, according to their website .


Avian vets are indeed hard to come by.

I have absolutely NO idea if this will help - but when my dogs and cats ( yes, I know that they have different metabolisms to chooks ) ... have ever been off colour or ill, they are given rice and chicken, for several days .... helps settle the stomach and intestines, and they recover(ed) beautifully.

SO ... I am wondering if you remove the food you normally give - whatever that is, and try her on boiled ( white ) rice which is bland and has little of nutrional value, plus some good quality yoghurt to introduce pro-biotics, and perhaps some finely ground or grated garlic - but only a little bit of that. .... She needs to have a sense of being full, without the food giving her extra discomfort, by being too rich or too much for her poor innards to cope with at this time.

I would try anything at this stage, frankly. And those foods won't hurt - can only hope they do some good maybe ?

Again - good luck with her - and your endeavours to help your dear chicken.

... Anniebee.

Thanks Anniebee.
Nope the foothills of chickendom are no where near. They flourish in the majestic NSW.

Yeah i'll start her on some yoghurt, rice and egg. All good for her system and will hopefully flush all the bad stuff out.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
Ok thanks Fancy.
I'll see what comes.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Ok thanks Fancy.
I'll see what comes.

No worries Lucas, I do hope for a happy outcome for you and your hen.

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx

 

[sjturner79]

Oops, sorry for the misleading. 1/10 poo's might be 'normal' but all the rest are still watery and mostly white.
I meant that she is able to fully excrete poop now. Before it just clogged up at the entrance of the vent and clumped in the feathers.

Ahh in that case a week or so of baths, massage and controlled food may improve the situation. If the swelling has not started to subside or her poop hasn't returned to normal after 3-4 days I would still see if it is possible to get her a vet visit

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
I read the link and if she isn't able to improve then I guess the OR will have to be the best way out for her

.

Please get better hen.

These birds can be

• speyed (have the oviduct surgically removed)
• have a hormonal implant inserted by a vet to stop ovulation
• kept by a watchful and observant owner who knows the problem exists and makes veterinary contact if they suspect a brewing peritonitis

Or

• unfortunately, in some cases the most humane option is to put the bird to sleep.

The other methods are going to be too expensive...

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks Anniebee.
Nope the foothills of chickendom are no where near. They flourish in the majestic NSW.

Yeah i'll start her on some yoghurt, rice and egg. All good for her system and will hopefully flush all the bad stuff out.

That'd be great Luke. Forgot about egg ... also good for what ails. ... A phone call to a nearby vet, or the vets I mentioned, could well put you onto an avian vet somwhere nearer to you.
They all seem to know one anothers' specialties.

I so sincerely hope your girl gets better. ... Meantime, she is warm and comfortable and that's the main thing.

Anniebee.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I read the link and if she isn't able to improve then I guess the OR will have to be the best way out for her .
Please get better hen.

These birds can be

• speyed (have the oviduct surgically removed)
• have a hormonal implant inserted by a vet to stop ovulation
•  kept by a watchful and observant owner who knows the problem exists and makes veterinary contact if they suspect a brewing peritonitis

Or

• unfortunately, in some cases the most humane option is to put the bird to sleep. 

The other methods are going to be too expensive...

The most important thing is to make the correct diagnosis. Keep her isolated and watch her poop.
The chicken chick link I gave you shows what to look for.
I would give her a course of antibiotics, as she isn't laying anyway you have nothing to lose.
Not everyone is in a position to take their chickens to the vet and I'm sure that none of us will judge you either way.