[Kitchen Cottage]

She seems SLIGHTLY more perky today.   I am still feeding and watering her by hand, but her eyes have been opened more and she's been standing (but is in a cat carrying case and not moving around.

The only thing I've found was mites (one or two) and she's been doused twice in the powder. 

Question is, how long do I give her to start feeding herself before I think about culling her.  I don't think she is going further downhill but she is not a well bird.  I have been hand feeding since Monday which has halted any deterioration and am here until next Wednesday (bar meetings) but after that I'm at work so she is left for 14 hours between feeds...

Like I said, she seems more alert today, but not a lot.  She is 6 but I don't know why she went downhill, she has been wormed

[in the hills]

Does her crop feel normal?


Were they lice or mites? Though not desirable, I don't think a few lice would cause illness. Red mite don't tend to live on a bird. Have you looked up mites eg. Northern Fowl Mite


Is she a hybrid hen eg. warren type, black rock? You obviously care a lot about her but it could be that she is just coming to the end of her days. 3 years is oldish for a hybrid bird though I did have one girl make it to 10 and just lost one at 8 years old. Think they are exceptions though and they say that hybrids tend to be shorter lived than pure breed hens.


A vet maybe able to diagnose something but you would have to think about whether it was worth putting her through any treatment, especially at that age.


You have given her every chance but I suppose you could now prolong the inevitable if you continue to hand feed and it is that the end is coming for her.


If it was me, I think I would either pop to the vets (maybe a course of antibiotics could help) or decide to let her go soon. I know it's really hard sometimes. 


Sorry, I know it is hard.

[Kitchen Cottage]

She is a sussex.  She has no signs of old age and in truth, she may only be about 4.  I think she was the survivor of my first 6 chickens.... ravaged by Mr Fox... but she may have been from the second set 2 years later.  I didn't take notice of her individually until she went "feral", she has a lot of character.

I am afraid she isn't going to the vet,.... I'll cull her first, the vet fee would be ridiculous for her, I am fond of her but she isn't a pet.

Given that she seems a little better today.  I'll feed her again in a minute and see how she is.  Her crop fills and empties normally, there is no scent and her poo is now normal, and regular.  She has more colour than she had.  I'm sure she isn't going downhill, but how long do I wait for her to start doing uphill?

I'll she what she is like by Saturday... That will give her 3 days for her to improve from when I first noticed an improvement. 

I really can't find any symptoms other than listlessness.... and you are right, its lice not mites.  Though I've done the coop for mites as a precaution, necessary anyway because I'm collecting some ex batties next Saturday 

Thank you.... and I'd LOVE a diagnosis

[manian]

 
how are things going
have a chat to your vet- ours give free advice, and will give treatment etc as they know your assessment skills
they also say that quick culling is better than the injection route for chickens as they(the chicken) get stressed trying to find a vein
Mx

[ZaktheLad]

Have you tried her with a bit of scrambled egg - works wonders on any of my hens that are looking out of sorts.

[Kitchen Cottage]

I hand fed her yesterday and put her in a rabbit hutch.  She hasn't eaten or drunk but jumped out this morning.  I'll let her have the day pootling and then feed and water her tonight.  She's not losing anymore condition, but she hasn't come back on her food.  Very strange!

[in the hills]

Well, that's a good sign.


Agree that they seem to like cooked egg and also canned cat meat and cheese if they are ill. 

[Kitchen Cottage]

Yay

Thank you sooo much for all your help!

Emily grabbed her boiled egg from me tonight and when I put her back in her cage, went off and got her water herself (the honey water not the normal water!)

She definitely seems on the mend and I am soooo pleased because I am very very fond of her.  I will wait til she is back on her food properly and worm her and I've ordered some frontline and a small syringe to do her and the other hens for mites   I know its not vet approved but my chap at the city farm uses it and says its fine.


Thank you again 

[in the hills]

 


Great news.