[Mel]

Hi all.

Ok,so you know that Sal has been staying in the house,now for quite a few weeks,she has been treated for worms-nothing there.I put her on Tylan,no change. Last night she started wheezing,when she tries to stand up,either one of her wings drop down-like she is very unstable.as you already know,she was having problems with walking.She does not have bumblefoot or scaly leg.

Down below are pictures,one of her trying to stand,one of the egg she laid yesterday,and one of her poop-it is graphic ok.

Regards her yolk,does anyone know what on earth are the crater like marks upon the Yolk,this has to be something relative to what is wrong with her?! I took two pictures at different exposures.

I am absolutely lost with her now,I cannot find anything on the web which can confirm what actually is the problem.I do not normally take hens to the vets as made this mistake once,cost me near £100.00 just for some Tylan!

if you can offer any thought as to what this may be,please do enlighten me as I have been through the book,in her poop is a tiny amount of blood,I am wondering if it is coccidiosis,however,I don't think it is bad enough,some like this are supposedly normal.

I might also add,that ok,she has laid last night,is still very talkative and chirping most of the time,she is even giving that chicken Purr. this is most bizarre.

Mel

[Mel]

And the Poop

[chrismahon]

Hi Mel,

Can't really see the egg problem but those solid lumps at the bottom don't look right. Craters in the egg may be due to obstructions in the ovaduct early on. The wing drop and walking problem could be arthritis, as our Daffodil has. It could also be Lymphoid Lucosis -tumours forming in the body and pinching nerves, which may explain the egg. The poo is very green and full of grit. Presume this is her morning 'flush out' poo and she has been eating cabbages or something green. It could also be because she has been on antibiotics as that is the effect on our birds. Green poo for infection stays green until off antibiotics. Have you given her probiotic yoghurt or Beryl's probiotic after the antibiotic course? Baytril wrecks the flora in the gut a vet told me and it needs to be restarted with probiotic 24 hours then a week after the course finishes. The small amount of blood there is negligible -coccidiosis I've seen is all blood and guts. Adult birds may have it but can tolerate it.

How old is Sal? I am amazed she is laying despite being ill. Never happened with us. Not laying is the first sign of an impending problem.

[Mel]

Hi Mel,

Can't really see the egg problem but those solid lumps at the bottom don't look right. Craters in the egg may be due to obstructions in the ovaduct early on. The wing drop and walking problem could be arthritis, as our Daffodil has. It could also be Lymphoid Lucosis -tumours forming in the body and pinching nerves, which may explain the egg. The poo is very green and full of grit. Presume this is her morning 'flush out' poo and she has been eating cabbages or something green. It could also be because she has been on antibiotics as that is the effect on our birds. Green poo for infection stays green until off antibiotics. Have you given her probiotic yoghurt or Beryl's probiotic after the antibiotic course? Baytril wrecks the flora in the gut a vet told me and it needs to be restarted with probiotic 24 hours then a week after the course finishes. The small amount of blood there is negligible -coccidiosis I've seen is all blood and guts. Adult birds may have it but can tolerate it.

How old is Sal? I am amazed she is laying despite being ill. Never happened with us. Not laying is the first sign of an impending problem.

Hi Chris,

I thought the lumps were meat spots? Sal has had them for a couple of years now with no adverse problems,I have had her 3-4 yrs now,she was over a year when I got her so she is getting on,however,her sisters Val and Beryl are fine.

Yes I have her some brussel sprouts which she loves and was pecking at some oystershell grit on the floor-quite a lot of it too.I have given her normal fresh Yoghurt,not probiotic,I should maybe try some of this tomorrow see if it helps.

She is not on any antibiotics now,well not for about 4 or 5 days.

Her egg came because I had been feeding her on growers with antibiotics-I don't normally but thought I would give it a try,no change.She did not seem happy so I gave her some mash and she loves picking out all the little bits,day after she was chirping away and the egg was there.

When she does come out,she shall get down for me,like she wishes to be mated,so she may even have some broodiness in there too!

[Cinderhills]

Don't know about the egg or poo, but just wanted to say I forgotten about her and this was a nice reminder to see her pic.  She just looks so sweet and helpless.  Give her a kiss from me. 

[Tilly]

Hi Leghorn    .....nice to have an update on Sal.
I`m no chicken expert so can`t help with that I`m afraid - but can only praise you for all the TLC you have given her 

Tilly

[chrismahon]

Hi Mel. She sounds absolutely fine to me, apart from being a bit wobbly and perhaps that's lack of exercise. Obviously she knows her digestive system isn't up to full capacity, hence the grit binge. It's the probiotic element in Yoghurt that does the business so I'd get her that or Beryls even better. She's in good hands anyway Mel so lets see what she's like in a week or so.