(UPDATE!!) Red not getting better * PSU Replied!

[chkn]

I have a sick one at home and it seems like her appetite changes. Sometimes she prefers little bits of lettuce, sometimes tomato, sometimes the kitty food or hardboiled egg yoke, sometimes fruit (the good thing about that is it hydrates), sometimes corn. Sometimes she just wants me to hand feed her the chicken layer pellets. She loves the gatorade in her water although she doesn't seem to drink enough on her own to suit me so I'm always dropping drink on her beak with my finger.

 

[chicken grandma]

Really glad for Red! Do you have a vet who could do a fecal/parasite check for you? I drop off a baggie of poop at the local vet and he tells me how to treat my hens for parasites. I am noticing all the advice you got on here about antibiotics and wormers. It is very hard on hens to get a variety of treatments, some of which they may not even need. It kills the good bacteria in their gut and a bird's gut is a delicate balance of bacteria.

I hope you can get a stool sample to a vet and just ask for a parasite check. Then ask them to recommend a treatment and dosing for your bird. You will need to give them her weight. You can stand on a scale, weigh yourself, then lift her and see how much more you weigh!

Good luck and please keep us posted!

 

[chkn]

I have to say you know her eyes look good this morning.

 

[PAchickenlover]

Aw geez guys I think if Red could read this she would be blushing (if chickens can blush)

No, seriously thank you

I think she is beutiful also! Our kids and I just adore her. She has the perfect personality.

As for the poop, well it is a greenish color with a white "cap" on it. But it is not diarreah. It looks normal other than being greenish in color. I have not seen any signs of worms yet but i am sure they were in there.
Thanks again for everything!

Oh, her feathers on the top of her head are starting to come back in now also so in a week or two she should look like her old self with all her feathers. I just hope her legs start to get better so she can walk normal again also.

She'll get spoiled either way you can count on it!
Thanks again guys!

Mollie

 

[PAchickenlover]

What are the best fruits and vegetables that I can give Red to boost vitamins and minerals?

 

[chkn]

Bits of lettuce, tomato, grapes (I cut them up) or any soft sweet fruit.

 

[PAchickenlover]

I gave her a watermellon rhind this evening. She dug right in to it and that was the first time she ever had one. I will go down to the garden in the morning and get her a fresh tomato. We didn't plant any lettuce yet this year, might early fall. But I am going to go to the store in the morning also so I am trying to make a list of the things that would be great for her to have. Oh yeah our garden is organic. Any other fruit and veggie suggestions?

 

[chkn]

Well, I gave my little hen some Trader Joe's chicken salad (picked out the pecans and cranberry) and man, did she gobble that up. I made some beef stew tonight and I was thinking of trying that on her tomorrow. The thing is she is sooo skinny right now I need to fatten her up a bit. (it's got carrot, celery and potato cooked in). A big breeze could blow her over right now.

She's been out in the orchard eating the plums and apricots that have fallen on the ground. For some reason she craves them being sick. I can tell you chickens love gourmet food, just don't use unions or garlic. I'm sure any left over peas, beans or cooked carrots would be good. Most of the time my girls can work on an uncooked carrot or what have you but with the sick one, I have to give her things that are easier to eat.

I traded antibiotics on her because I realized I was giving her the wrong one and her coloring is finally improving. I'll tell you this I have treated my hens to both Valbazen and Ivermectin simultaneously this last two weeks (we've had severe bug problems this year) and man I have never seen more beautiful, ruddy cherry red combs. I took a chance because I know they've got tapes and I know they have external parasite problems. I haven't mentioned it to anyone here because I wanted to see how they did. I was going to recommend, if for some reason, your girl starts to go downhill again after 3-4 days like before that maybe you should go ahead with the Valbazen.

Anyway, keep up the good work. I found something funny with this sick girl. Some of them love to have their ears, ear lobes and cheeks rubbed.

 

[jjthink]

Mine love blueberries, blackberries, and grapes best. They enjoy apple, watermelon, cantelope, and raspberries most of the time. My roo will wolf down cherries at times (began giving to him for suspected gout and it works). All my birds for the past 15 years have snubbed their beaks at strawberries! Except for watermelon, I cut all fruit up into little pieces. Perhaps micromanaging, but Murphy's Law rules my world it seems and if I can preempt anything from getting stuck as they attempt to swallow, it's worth it.
JJ

 

[PAchickenlover]

WOW great! thanks chkn and jjthink for your input on diet. I gave Red a fresh tomato this morning she took a couple of bites of it and left it alone. I went to my local mill and bought a fresh pkg. of both Durvet, vitamins and electrolytes, and Duramycin-10, Tetracycline Hydrochloride soluble powder. Put some in her water immediatly(sp) after getting back home. I know I am giving her Pennacillin now also but I am desperate to try anything to get her back on her feet! Comb still has not turned red it is still a pinkish color. She just pooped and I just changed her towel, does this look normal to you?

I know who really wants to talk about poo but im trying to cover all the basics here with her.
I just put her in my large dog crate not long ago, she seems to be moving around a little more. Or else its just that when she was in the large cat carrier I just couldn't see her moving as much. Aww, she is dozing off in front of her fan. Not sure what else to do for her. I am afraid that if I take her to a vet they are going to want to put her down right away. I dont know what to do!!!??? She does look a little better, I think. It looks like she is starting to spread her toes out a little more when she does move..... ??????
Mollie