The most important take home message is this: If you even THINK that one of your birds if "off" a little bit....bring them in and look them over carefully...because they are probably sick. Time is of the essence with them, I've found.
Anytime I have a bird that is "off" this is what we do:
1. bring them in the house in a small crate. I usually put down lots of paper towels in it instead of shavings. I can look at their poop better and it's not as messy.
2. check them for pests...lice, mites, ticks and treat if necessary. It may even mean a bath with flea shampoo first, then application of a pesticide and a blow dry
3. feel their keel bone; if you can just feel it, their weight is fine; if you can pinch it...they are too thin
4. check for possible respiratory disease; facial swelling, nasal discharge, sneezing, rattling, etc; if they have any positive signs, they go on Denagard treatment immediately
5. check for injury and treat anything you see
6. check for diarrhea; if they do have it, they need antibiotics immediately
7. check their crop for distention and their breath for odor
8. all birds that are brought in for being "off" are put on lincomycin in their water (except #4 above)
9. we have silkies, so we are always on the lookout for neurologic disorders due to vitamin deficiencies or head injury;
10. give them extra protein...chopped boiled eggs, tuna fish, yogurt is always added for anyone on antibiotics;
11. keeping them eating and drinking are the biggest challenges because when they refuse food and water, there is little you can do (other than tube feeding)
12. check hens for being eggbound or internal laying
We have certainly had our share of sick birds over the last 3 years, but following this procedure has greatly reduced the death rate. Hope this is helpful...so sorry about your hen.
Anytime I have a bird that is "off" this is what we do:
1. bring them in the house in a small crate. I usually put down lots of paper towels in it instead of shavings. I can look at their poop better and it's not as messy.
2. check them for pests...lice, mites, ticks and treat if necessary. It may even mean a bath with flea shampoo first, then application of a pesticide and a blow dry
3. feel their keel bone; if you can just feel it, their weight is fine; if you can pinch it...they are too thin
4. check for possible respiratory disease; facial swelling, nasal discharge, sneezing, rattling, etc; if they have any positive signs, they go on Denagard treatment immediately
5. check for injury and treat anything you see
6. check for diarrhea; if they do have it, they need antibiotics immediately
7. check their crop for distention and their breath for odor
8. all birds that are brought in for being "off" are put on lincomycin in their water (except #4 above)
9. we have silkies, so we are always on the lookout for neurologic disorders due to vitamin deficiencies or head injury;
10. give them extra protein...chopped boiled eggs, tuna fish, yogurt is always added for anyone on antibiotics;
11. keeping them eating and drinking are the biggest challenges because when they refuse food and water, there is little you can do (other than tube feeding)
12. check hens for being eggbound or internal laying
We have certainly had our share of sick birds over the last 3 years, but following this procedure has greatly reduced the death rate. Hope this is helpful...so sorry about your hen.
