Diarrhea and weakness

[KayTee]

I'm sorry for your loss SouthPoleLu - it is always hard to lose an animal, but sometimes there is nothing that can be done, especially when they deteriorate so quickly.

It is a difficult decision whether to treat the others or not - like you, I hate to give unneccessary medication, especially antibiotics. If your flock seems healthy ( a bit of poop on the feathers of one or two of the girls is perfectly normal from time time) and you haven't seen any other signs of abnormal poop in the roosts or the run, then I would probably be inclined to wait and see. If you are keeping a close eye on things and notice any changes then you will be able to react quickly. It's my personal opinion, (and others may choose to disagree), but in a healthy chicken I feel that antibiotics are likely to do more harm than good (destroying gut flora, developing resistance etc.), and since you don't know for certain what your girl died of, you would be giving a random medication in the hope that it might treat an illness that they may or may not have - quite a lot of uncertainty there.

Having said that - you are the one on the ground, and it has to be your decision. If you are worried that you don't have the time to keep a very close eye on them, or that you won't spot symptoms soon enough then I would never criticise you for choosing to medicate as a precaution. We all have to do what we feel is right for us and our flocks at any given time.

Here's hoping that your other girls stay healthy, and that losing Little Hen was a one-off.

Positive thoughts are winging their way to you from France!

 

[SouthPoleLu]

hi KayTee
thanks for your input, I really appreciate it. Yes, my view on antibiotics is that they might indeed magically fix one thing, but then, because they destroy the gut flora (and thereby about 80% of the immune system) in the process, they then leave you wide open for attack on all fronts. Then all sorts of other niggly issues start coming up...Then more antibiotics, and then, lo and behold, you're on the treadmill to hell.

I have been inspecting each of my remaining 8 hens at least once a day, usually twice. They are full of vitality and behaving normally. Three of them have a bit of poop splashed onto the feathers nearest the vent. It doesn't smell bad. But technically, it is a third of my 'flock'.

So, i am still undecided about giving the antibiotics. Also because i don't know why the other hen died and if it was contagious. I suspect she had that blocked colon / festering-food-in-the-gut thingy, because she was very thin indeed.

So, for now, i'll watch them closely.... unless you think a third of the flock with poopy feathers warrants that i should start the antibiotics?
Are you an American living in France? you sure picked a beautiful country!
kind regards
SouthPoleLu

 

[KayTee]

I didn't travel that far to come and live in France - I'm British - I just hopped across the channel and never went back

Not all poops fall out cleanly - my girls often have a mark or two on their rear ends. It generally gets cleaned up when they preen. As long as it's just a mark or two, I wouldn't worry too much. However, if their rear ends start to look very messy and clogged up with poop then you need to investigate further.

 

[SouthPoleLu]

Thanks KayTee, I'm keeping a close eye on those rear ends!!! I think i could easily live in France. I loved it each time I travelled there... And, it doesn't take much to beat Illinois's weather!
have a good one, regards, SouthPoleLu

 

[enola]

Have you wormed your flock? Worms can be the underlying problem behind lots of illnesses.