Bless you for what you do for these poor birds!Just realised my intro was pretty basic. I should have introduced my babies too. I rescued a rooster that was abandoned up my track in February. The local travelling community use them for fighting and dump them when they loose. He's a Malay game bird. 2.5 feet tall. I named him Rocky for obvious reasons. In march I got him 4 girls from a charity that rehomes ex commercial hens before slaughter. A few months ago I found another Rooster in the same location. A day later there were 2 girls of the same breed. Sadly I only managed to catch one. Never found the other after she ran into thick undergrowth. The little girl sadly died a few weeks ago. So I got Ralph 2 ex barn girls but from a different farm. Same charity. These are smaller and healthier looking as we're free ranged. My 4 original girls are taking it in turns to get poorly just lately. Firstly Melissa (McCarthy) got lash egg. Was quite poorly, purple comb. Vets gave antibiotics and anti inflammatory and to our surprise she has recovered. But the flock won't accept her back no matter what I do. Rocky in particular is very aggressive towards her. I believe this is him just protecting his healthy flock from potential illness. I have her separate for her safety and wellbeing. She's happy pottering in the garden with me now. I'm in the process of expanding their free range area and putting up two new coops for both flocks as Rocky and Ralph don't get along due to their breed for fighting. While cutting down trees and clearing vegetation Rocky and the girls were foraging around us having the best day. Next morning Adrian (Rocky's girl) was off her legs, balanced on her wings, almost dead. Rushed her to vets. They said egg bound. They gave anti inflammatory injection. I did the warm bath treatment. No egg passed but she was like a new chook a few days later. I don't think egg bound or she'd be dead by now if not passed it. I think she ate something poisonous from my garden clearance. Over indulged on ivy berries maybe. Thankfully it passed through her system whatever it was. Then Xmas day I went to relations til evening so chooks in their enclosed run with coop. So they put themselves to bed. At 10pm I got home to shut the door. Normally been 4.30pm here as that's when dark now. That night was foggy and high atmospheric pressure so damp air. Boxing day morning Miranda (Hart, English comedian) was gurgling. Brought her in to monitor but she sounded like drowning. Rushed to vets again. 3rd time unlucky. We have bird flu in the next county but she doesn't have the same symptoms. Vet thought over phone it could be her heart. It's coming from really high in neck. He was quite stumped as her heart sounded fine and her lungs were clear. Was upper. If heart then lungs would fill up. No nasal or mouth discharge. No swollen face. Not gasping for breath. Not stretching neck. Nothing classic. Wormed them when got the new girls a few weeks ago so not gape worm. So she's on anti inflammatory and antibiotics. If just respiratory infection she should get better. If bird flu then not as meds don't work for that and I'll have to have her put to sleep and sent away for autopsy with DEFRA. She's in the bathroom. I'm running hot shower to steam the room. She ate last night but not today. But her crop still had food in as fed late last night. So hoping she'll be hungry in morning. All Pet shops were closed today here so I couldn't get Vetrx. On my list first thing tomorrow. I only have "aviform" which you only put in water. Vetrx sounds better as can drop in mouth and on beak and under wings. My worry is its due to their currant coop not having enough ventilation. Feeling awful to blame. Vets say it's not me. It's just part of the life expectancy if ex commercial girls. They are 2 years old now. Frantically trying to get garden space sorted to get new better coop built. Will need to vent this one more for now but was worried about draughts. Rockys breed doesn't like the cold. The girls are Rhode Island Reds. Sorry for the long post but it's been quite a stressful few months. Doing my best but my anxiety has gotten the better of me. Hence me turning to you guys for support at least. My mum wants me to get rid of them all as they are causing me so much upset and expense. But Rocky came to me when I was pretty low and as much as I rescued him, he actually rescued me. I owe it to him to keep him and his girls healthy and happy for how ever long that may be
VetRX, you can get if you want, but it's not going to cure anything. It is like Vicks for humans. It might help them breathe a little better like it does us.
What I'd do is start up a box of some essential things you may need for their injuries and to build their systems back up to fight off things.
Veterycyn (antimicrobial injury spray)
Neosporin or generic triple antibiotic ointment w/o painkiller
VetWrap and gauze
Poultry Cell (vitamins for their water)
Powdered probiotics, ie. Hydro Hen, etc., for their water.
You can order your own antibiotics from Jedds.com or Twin City Poultry
and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.
to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
