- Mar 18, 2011
- 22
- 0
- 22
1) What type of bird , age and weight. Buff Orpington hen, just over a year old, unsure about weight
2) What is the behavior, exactly. My Buff has had the runs for a few weeks, but has been acting otherwise normal (eating, drinking, pecking around, making merry
), so I've just been watching her and hoping the runs would go away on their own. Her butt feathers are smeared with the stuff. I think she's laying, but I'm not positive. I have yet to 'catch' her in the nest box as I have the other hens. (I've had the whole flock for just about 2 months now.) Her vent is plump and moist like a laying hens would be, though, and out of 5 hens we're getting 3-4 eggs a day, so I think she's probably laying. I compared her abdomen to the other hens' today, and hers is definitely plumper, and squishier. Maybe it's bloated? My other hens are 2 RIR, 1 Plymouth Barred Rock, and 1 Easter Egger. She seems fine, except for the poop and the possible swollen abdomen. Behaviorally, she seems to be quite healthy, but I just can't ignore the poo covered butt anymore. Every animal caring instinct of mine is saying if an animal lets it's butt get covered in poo like that, something must be wrong. This is my first time caring for chickens, though, so maybe I shouldn't be worried? Any ideas about how I can definitively tell if she's laying?
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? a few weeks
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.Unknown
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Main diet: Layer pellets. Treats/supplementary diet: chicken scratch, kitchen scraps (like peels and what not...not cooked food other than plain oatmeal or grits or noodles sometimes.) Free ranges and eats grass/weeds/bugs/worms and whatever else she finds.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Runny. green to brown, depending on the poop.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Cut back on kitchen scraps for about 3 days, but didn't notice any change.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? I'm looking to treat on my own-no vet bills please.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Let me know if you think a pic would really be helpful in this situation
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use. 5 hens in a 8 by 3 foot coop with open access to a large chicken yard (located under a giant pine tree) and daily free range time in the family yard. (.16 acres). Pine shavings and straw for bedding. Wood chips in the chicken yard.
2) What is the behavior, exactly. My Buff has had the runs for a few weeks, but has been acting otherwise normal (eating, drinking, pecking around, making merry
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? a few weeks
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.Unknown
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Main diet: Layer pellets. Treats/supplementary diet: chicken scratch, kitchen scraps (like peels and what not...not cooked food other than plain oatmeal or grits or noodles sometimes.) Free ranges and eats grass/weeds/bugs/worms and whatever else she finds.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Runny. green to brown, depending on the poop.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Cut back on kitchen scraps for about 3 days, but didn't notice any change.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? I'm looking to treat on my own-no vet bills please.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Let me know if you think a pic would really be helpful in this situation
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use. 5 hens in a 8 by 3 foot coop with open access to a large chicken yard (located under a giant pine tree) and daily free range time in the family yard. (.16 acres). Pine shavings and straw for bedding. Wood chips in the chicken yard.
