- Nov 10, 2012
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Hi all.
My 3 year old hen hasn't been herself for a weeks now. Her tail is often drooped, sometimes tired and lethargic, but of late mostly just disinterested. She is eating and drinking and enjoyed her treat of grapes yesterday. A few weeks ago she seemed really poorly; looked like she was gasping for breath and falling asleep all the time. We took her to the vets and she suggested she may have egg peritonitis, fluid on the abdomen and a respiratory infection. The vet gave her a shot of antibiotic and some powder to add to her water to help replace fluids/salts etc. She seemed to perk up after 36 hours, but the vet suggested we take her back after 48 hours, where she had another shot of antibiotic. She down turned again, but perked up a little a day or two after. She seemed to be doing really well, then we found a huge egg in the coop, a double yolker, and assumed it was hers. The egg appeared in the coop, and her mood went back to being subdued and a drooped tail. Since then i'd say she is anything between 50% - 90% of her normal self.
I've also noticed strange poop. One this morning looked like a butter bean? I'm pretty sure it's hers.
I have a brood of 3 hens and we get between 0-2 eggs per day, so egg laying is hit and miss and i'm pretty sure she isn't laying at all.
I have given them milk for calcium and cat food for a protein hit, as well as plenty of grit and healthy treats like greens.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
My 3 year old hen hasn't been herself for a weeks now. Her tail is often drooped, sometimes tired and lethargic, but of late mostly just disinterested. She is eating and drinking and enjoyed her treat of grapes yesterday. A few weeks ago she seemed really poorly; looked like she was gasping for breath and falling asleep all the time. We took her to the vets and she suggested she may have egg peritonitis, fluid on the abdomen and a respiratory infection. The vet gave her a shot of antibiotic and some powder to add to her water to help replace fluids/salts etc. She seemed to perk up after 36 hours, but the vet suggested we take her back after 48 hours, where she had another shot of antibiotic. She down turned again, but perked up a little a day or two after. She seemed to be doing really well, then we found a huge egg in the coop, a double yolker, and assumed it was hers. The egg appeared in the coop, and her mood went back to being subdued and a drooped tail. Since then i'd say she is anything between 50% - 90% of her normal self.
I've also noticed strange poop. One this morning looked like a butter bean? I'm pretty sure it's hers.
I have a brood of 3 hens and we get between 0-2 eggs per day, so egg laying is hit and miss and i'm pretty sure she isn't laying at all.
I have given them milk for calcium and cat food for a protein hit, as well as plenty of grit and healthy treats like greens.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
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