Hello everyone, It's been a while since I was on here last, but another of our chickens has come down with something very strange. Any help very much appreciated!! Symptoms Very floppy comb. Serious yellow-ish diarrhea. Bits of what looks like flesh/guts in the diarrhea. Not really eating or drinking at all. Chicken Type [FONT=arial, sans-serif]Ginger Hybrid[/FONT] Name "Lightning" [FONT=arial, sans-serif]Age[/FONT] [FONT=arial, sans-serif]About 7 years old[/FONT] [FONT=arial, sans-serif]Context[/FONT] Lightning is one of six chickens who we have had for over two years now. They live in a large coop in the front garden with a large run, and have access to the whole front garden on most days, so we consider them to be free-range. They have organic layers pellets in a feeder, and get fed sprouted millet seed every day, which they love. They also get fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen most days, including bananas and their skins, apple, onion, cucumber, and tomato bits, etc. They have water in a feeder which has apple cider vinegar and a bit of citricidal in it. The water is renewed every day and the feeder is cleaned occasionally. They are generally very happy, content little birdies. Lightning was looking rather off-colour a few days ago, with a very cold, floppy, comb that was a little blue at the back, so we brought her inside and put her in some warm water up to and covering her vent for about an hour. We then dried her and put her in my bedroom with a heater on with some newspaper in a cat basket for her to sleep in. She has not improved at all and really isn't eating at all or drinking much either. She also has serious diarrhea, some photos of which are here: Are the bits in the diarrhea bits of flesh?? ANY HELP APPRECIATED! Thanks, Finn
I'm sorry I can't be of much assistance here, but I would try to get her to eat and drink as much as possible. Although I'm not positive, the coldness and blueness of her comb may indicate a lack of circulation. Adding electrolytes or a or a nutritional supplement to her water would be good. Most important is getting her to drink. Try anything to get her to eat- fruits, vegetables, applesauce, maybe even chopped up pasta or bread. Adding water to her normal feed so it creates a mash would be good also. Hope she gets better soon!
Hi there BuffOrpington, Thanks very much for your advice, but unfortunately she really wasn't drinking at all, and so we took her to the vet today and they didn't think there was much hope for her, especially seeing as she was quite old. So she isn't suffering any more. R.I.P. Lightning We will miss you. Lightning (right) with her sister Ginger.
