The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: JD on June 08, 2009, 09:07:17 pm

Title: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: JD on June 08, 2009, 09:07:17 pm
One of my chickens has been acting a bit strange today. She has not been as active as usual either standing or sitting in one spot for a long time. This evening she had a long, white membrane type substance hanging from her vent which I cleaned off. She has been laying regularly until today. My other three chickens appear to be fine.  Any advice would be appreciated.
JD
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: jameslindsay on June 09, 2009, 07:45:22 pm
Hi Jim, how is your wee one today?

James
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: JD on June 09, 2009, 07:54:28 pm
Hi James she is fine today although she was slow to come out of the coop for breakfast this morning. I seperated her from the others and gave her a special breakfast of oats, honey and bananas as recommended on here and she has been fine since although no egg. I was really worried about her and hoping someone on here could have told me what the problem was. Guess am still learning. Thanks for asking James, I see you have added a few to your collection.
JD
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: jameslindsay on June 09, 2009, 07:58:58 pm
Thats good, it is always a worry when you don't know what to do for the best. I now have 7  :chook: and all except 1 are laying now. I now keep them in the paddock with the Pygmy Goats and rabbits until we get rid of the fox family!! They all get along fine which is good. Fingers crossed for continued improvement.
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: JD on June 09, 2009, 08:02:39 pm
Marian couldnt believe how worried I was about the chicken but I have grown very attached to them in just 3 weeks. Good luck with the fox.
JD
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: doganjo on June 09, 2009, 08:15:36 pm
I did read your post JD but had never seen anything of this ilk so thought some of the chicken experts might help first.  The white membrane could have been the remains of a soft egg.  They occasionally lay weird eggs, and it can make them a bit poorly.  You've done exactly what I would have done.
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: JD on June 09, 2009, 08:23:04 pm
Thanks Annie, I think it was one of your posts which recommended the special breakfast.
JD
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: doganjo on June 09, 2009, 08:52:35 pm
Quite possibly - I gave my sick hen porridge with honey and milk, and a drop or two of citricidal.  She still keeps herself to herself but eats and drinks fine now.  I only get about 4 eggs from 6 ex batts so don't know if she is laying or not.  I bathed her in warm water with TCP in it anyway in case she was egg bound.  So with all the treatments I don't have a clue which one worked.  Maybe just the TLC? ;D
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: Rosemary on June 09, 2009, 10:17:14 pm
May well have been a soft shelled egg. Some TLC shoudl see her OK.
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: jameslindsay on June 21, 2009, 10:12:57 pm
Hi Jim. your girls all doing ok now?

James
Title: Re: Poorly chicken any advice please.
Post by: JD on June 22, 2009, 08:33:19 pm
Hi James, three of them are great but the one I was worried about is still not 100%. One day she seems fine then the next she is withdrawn and sits in a corner. She has passed a few soft shelled eggs so I think it is something to do with that although I give them oyster shell and grit. I have noticed she drinks more water than the others so I have added apple cider vinegar and I have just bought citricidal, as recommended on here, so will try that too.
Thought your pics were great was showing them to all the family.
Thanks for asking James.
JD