Maine

[longgrove]

Please help, one of my EEs is sick. She had a faint "purring" sound a couple of days ago when we clipped her flight frathers on one wing (couldn't hear it except when she was a few inches awy.). Today, she looked fine this AM when I let them out, ran around, ate the greens I brought, looked bright eyed, no discharge or snything. But she didn't come in with the others at dusk as usual. I wheeled around to the pen area and she was bedded down under the ramp. I couldn't get to her but my kind neighbor came over and went through the barn to the door in the pen and brought her in. She does not look injured but is is a little lethargic and, tho generally friendly, is too docile. I can now hear a "gurguling" from a couple of feet away. She is still bright of eye and has no nasal discharge or sneezing.

I am a retired nurse and fairly confidant treating mammals but don't know how to proceed with a sick chicken! I've had chickens for 40 years but they rarely get sick. Does anyone know what I can do for her? My vet doesn't treat anything but dogs and cats (plus is unavailable on weekends, why do these things always happen on weekends?) Had an awful time finding treatment for the goats when we had them, had to use a horse vet from the next county (not much farming near Ellsworth.)

Does a course of antibiotics sound appropiate? I'm guessing oral? Should I treat the other 9 or just watch them carefully for symptoms? I'm not a big fan of routine antibiotics (like in he feed) but quite willing to give them to an ill animal that needs it. Do have some injectable PCN on hand, (left over from the goats), but don't know if that is appropiate for a chicken and have no idea of an appropiate dose or frequency of dosing. In a mammal, her symptoms would spell pneumonia, but don't know if this is so with chickens. She is 4 months old, up to now, seemed the picture of health, so attached to her two sister hatch mates, a very beautiful bird who is quite friendly. I am really hoping to find a way to restore her to health and would appreciate any suggestions by those more experienced.

Nell

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I would bring her in and make sure she was warm and dry and had food and water if she wanted to partake. I'd leave the lights on dim for her. I know it's not help with antibiotics, but that's what I'd do.

Hope she gets better.

 

[Clover Run]

I'll start this post with a non chicken statement- My Bread and Butter Pickles and my Pickling Cukes won blue ribbons at the Litchfield Fair!!

now on to chickens....

My girls are coming up on 20 and 22 weeks and still not an egg- I've got a few who are very red too- are we behind? just right? I'm super jealous ( in the nice kind of way!) of everyone with all of the eggs right now!!

I so want some of your bread and butter pickles! Yum yum!! Congrats!!

 

[buckabucka]

Congratulations to Mainechick on the pickles! And no, you are not behind at 20 -22 weeks. Mine are just over 22 weeks, and only 2 of 11 have started.

Longgrove, I felt totally helpless with a sick chicken. Very frustrating. I think antibiotics might be a good start. And I agree with SCG, bring her in, -not only to get her away from the others, but to keep her warm. When my sick hen lost her appetite, I syringe fed to keep her alive. I had one that died and one that pulled through. If things go bad, you can have a necropsy done at UMaine for $25, just so you know what you are dealing with, but it sounds like your hen may not be so bad off. Good luck with her!

 

[ashandvine]

y
If she has raspy breathing then that is what is called rales, as I understand it, a sign of a respiratory issue. Warm is a good idea but I recommend that if you want to save her get antibiotics. You could let her go and not worry about her passing it on. Some folks believe its better to cull than to keep. I still don't know which I am. An old timer told me to keep their feet warm, use vicks and what not like we would but I never tried it. Maybe try the illlness forum?

News isn't good here either. Looks like I may not get the birds I had hoped for... again. I got eggs sent out of Arkansas and more than 3/4 are not developing. Another woman who got eggs from the same source at the same time is having the same issue. I'll have to reconsider whether or not I want to go forward with obtaining these new breeds or if I want to just work with what I have. I was trying really hard for Favorelles and Houdans again. I still think they are both pretty great for a lot of reasons and my kids are very interested. I just don't know. I suppose I am just discouraged a little right now. It doesn't help that the hawk that took two of my five chicks this week was outside at 5:30am waiting for me to let the birds out. It even swooped down after my dog twice, taking up at the last four feet when it realized my shepherd isn't snack size. We have a birthday here to celebrate so I have to go put on a happy face.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Longgrove, how is your girl doing today?

Sorry about your luck, Ash.

 

[hoppy]

I've had silkies sit on eggs before they ever laid any and one that was closer to 1 yr before she started laying, patience.

I'm actually really surprised my silkie hasn't started laying yet, I'm pretty sure she's old enough now. She's the blue one we got from you Hoppy, so 6 or 7 months old now, isn't she?

longgrove,
get some vet rx at the feed store, it's good for most any chicken illness. give it down the hatch or in the water if treating multiple birds, you can also put it under the wings.

 

[hoppy]

there are 2 big poultry shows coming up and if you find a breeder, someone might be willing to hand transport birds or eggs for you. you could also consider having live birds shipped, this is the time of yr to get grown stock.

News isn't good here either. Looks like I may not get the birds I had hoped for... again. I got eggs sent out of Arkansas and more than 3/4 are not developing. Another woman who got eggs from the same source at the same time is having the same issue. I'll have to reconsider whether or not I want to go forward with obtaining these new breeds or if I want to just work with what I have. I was trying really hard for Favorelles and Houdans again. I still think they are both pretty great for a lot of reasons and my kids are very interested. I just don't know.

 

[Clover Run]

I have someone coming tomorrow to get the last of my Red Stars. So I am looking for a new batch of chicks. Anybody have any - no mixed breeds please.
Also - looking for a purebred rooster: White Leghorn or White Rock or Cream Legbar or Black Copper Maran. Breeding pair even better. Want to start hatching own chicks.

 

[longgrove]

So sad, Betty the EE didn't make it through the night. When my neighbor came over to bring her in for me, it was after 8. I set her up in my (former) double rabbit cage in the corner of my bedroom where I could look after her (and she was away from the flock) with the small waterer and feeder. I did a bunch of research on net that didn't tell me much. Planned to go in town in the AM to get some medicine at TSC but she had pased.

Buckabucka, is it UM at Orono or in southern Maine that does the necropsy? Who does one contact? I'm worried about the others, tho none seem ill, but Betty didn't yesterday AM either. She definately had rales, but no sneezing or discharge. It was such a sudden onset. Almost seemed like aspiration pneumonia, but I'm not sure in a chicken.