Another good idea. This group is really stepping up.The first thing I think of when I hear weight loss and thirst as a combination is diabetes.
Here is an blog I just read about how a lady managed it in her hen.
http://www.suburbhen.com/2012/10/diabetes-in-chickens.html
Whatever it is, I hope Suyin feels better soon.
Good evening folks
@LozzyR I'm so happy she's doing better. I'm sorry I didn't comment earlier, but my mind has been pretty occupied. Did they discover what caused the dizziness? Two things leap to mind for me, but are pretty focused on my situation... Low blood pressure and low blood sugar. They've taken Sue off of her BP meds because her BP hasn't been bad (130-160) range and they don't want to risk a drop in BP making her dizzy.
We were discussing a little while ago [on @BY Bob's thread I believe]] that with so many birds between us someone was always bound to have a bird with a problem @ any given time. I think I'm it just now.
I took Suyin to the vet when I took Alpia for her eye & the vet assured me there was nothing wrong with my bird. The vet is wrong. I don't know what is wrong, but something is. I didn't want to take her back to the vet & be told the same thing when the vet didn't even weigh her so I chatted with the produce store people ~ & we are all flummoxed. Suyin is so light a breath could blow her over. So long as she was alert, foraging & especially fence hopping, I wasn't too worried. Yes, her eyes are still bright & alert. Her poops appear to be pretty normal. She drinks excessive amounts of water ~ but she always has. She has lost that really feisty edge that made her something of a problem within the flock. She is eating very little, often just raking her beak through the food but not actually ingesting anything. She tends to eat from the feeder , little but often. I have been adding extra protein through her moult but we have had a couple of really cold days & she has been standing a lot rather than foraging with the flock, fluffed up but her head hasn't been down, though she sometimes dozes off.
What I have tried:
The man says it's probably something genetic & despite some chooks living to 10~12 she looks & acts more like an old lady hen & she hasn't come back on the lay yet either. She will be entering her 3rd year so she is hardly ancient though as a X she may just have got a bad set of genes. Not expecting anyone to know what I am dealing with but it makes me sad that there seems to be nothing I can do to build her strength & muscle.
- electrolytes [she has been better today]
- Mealworms [that got her pretty excited]
- Worming
- checked for lice & mites
- & on the advice of the produce store a broad spectrum antibiotic [Oxymav 100]. This is probably a bad call but I am @ my wits end. I don't know what I am dealing with & no~one else seems to know either.
Her feathering is fantastic after her moult & she is looking pretty good but she's not right. I know she isn't.
Sue got to run an obstacle course today with a new walker. It wore her out but she had fun.
Hooray! Wait until she bakes her first batch of muffins! That was a big moment for Rose.Good morning folks
Before she did the obstacle course she made brownies. She enjoyed that too, but navigating the kitchen with the walker was a learning experience.
She's coming home tomorrow yes?Good evening folks
Before she did the obstacle course she made brownies. She enjoyed that too, but navigating the kitchen with the walker was a learning experience.
Yup! She'll get home the wee hours of the morning for you on Friday, which is my Thursday afternoon.She's coming home tomorrow yes?
For Rose it was blueberry muffins. These little things are big moments. I renege it vividly still today.Good evening folks
Before she did the obstacle course she made brownies. She enjoyed that too, but navigating the kitchen with the walker was a learning experience.
Thanks, Lozzy. She was much more herself yesterday. Who knows why?I’m so sorry @Ribh , I hope you find a solution and she starts to get better.
