[spencers mum]

HI there - can anyone help with a 'croaking' chook that sounds like she has a sore throat/cold?  very new to chooks nd chat rooms!! Have 3 - cuckoo maran,bluebell and rhode rock all bought at pol although as mentioned earlier nothing yet. In last 3 wks all seem to have had this 'cold'.  All vaccinated and wormed (wormed by me too jic). She's still making all the usual noises but seems croaky too. Thank you!

[shetlandpaul]

i think your going to need to see the vet. sounds like you need antibiotics. you may lose a hen but don't feel to bad if you do they can die quickly from bugs.

[spencers mum]

Thanks  for that.  thought I might - last week called breeder with my concerns who said he'd bring antibiotics and haven't seen him since. As chook picked up thought all was ok.  Could this explain frothy poos too do you think?

[Hermit]

What did you worm with? if it was herbal they are no good as worm killers,only as inbetween deterents. There is a worm that lives in the throat that makes the chooks gape and look like they are struggling to breathe. Flubenvet is a worm killer and needs to be done regularly.

[spencers mum]

Hi Hermit - when I got them they were wormed I was told.  THen I noticed this gaping you describe, Read a bit more talked to others and they suggested like you this worm.  Contacted breeder he came and gave me flubenvet? put that in food and also gave verm x jic.  this was all end of last week so we've had a clear 8/9 days??

[shetlandpaul]

you need to give it for 5 days.

[spencers mum]

what the flubenvent?  Can you buy it over the counter or is it a vet?

[shetlandpaul]

easiest to get it from the vet. its not POM but they have toughened up the rules. make sure that you get the dose right under dosing will do no good. but if they have frothy poo and a cough it may be worth checking while your there about treating them for a possible gut infection coccidiosis.

[spencers mum]

thanks shetlandpaul. I've had a first 'soft shell' egg since my initial posting. Is coccidiousis contagious? Ie if one's got it will the others? Also does anyone happen to know if they do have infections or something does their poop infect the ground.  They are free ranging over my 'potential' veggie garden as we speak and have been for 3 weeks now. Thanks.

[shetlandpaul]

coccidiosis is highly infectious. most birds in the free range system have had it and are immune but are carriers. as these are new chucks that are in a new area its odds on that they will get it. its spread by Pooh so keeping it clean helps. most birds are not badly effected but if they are young it can kill them or reduce there egg laying. however this is just a guess. but the treatment is cheap and is relatively easy to do. if they have a worm load this will of course make them weaker. not being sure of the suppliers has lead me to hatching my own.

if its just the odd Pooh you don't need to worry to much they produce a lot of odd shapes and colours. if you start seeing blood staining then start getting bothered and if it goes bright orangery yellow the same. coming into lay also stresses them so give a vit supplement.

[spencers mum]

Hi Shetlandpaul. I did some more research whilst I awaited your response!  You should consider writing on Google for a living as your explanation is a tad easier to understand!!  They are clean, happy and 'appear' free of any infestations.  I checked them all tonight and they have clean bums and under their wings looks good too.  The 'egg' apart from it's shell looked perfect.  They follow me every where and eat anything 'talking' all the time.  The frothy poo is sporadic but not isolated to one chook.  They've all at some point over the last 3 wks appeared lethargic, cold like and croaky and the one which was croaky this morning is very vocal now?  I'll keep a close eye over the weekend and if no change I'll take them to the vet.  I know what you mean about 'where they come from'.  Tomorrow I will resort to using another mobile phone in an attempt to see if the breeder answers a number he doesn't recognise.  Returned every call I made till I got them and now voice mail all the time.  That annoys me as after service appears to count for nothing and clearly I'm not going to recommend him now am I?  Thanks for your help though!!

[plumseverywhere]

Hello

I had similar with one of my bluebells when I first bought her. She was gaping and kept her head under her wing. I went back to the domestic fowl trust where I bought her from and was told it could be stress. Have been giving her aloe vera (bought from DFT) and she perked up quickly. now one of my white stars is snoring away too so I think she's also affected.
all of mine have always done the odd frothy poo ( I think its described as caecal?) and is considered normal but you could take a sample to the vet for testing if you are worried.
Hubby takes the mickey out of me for worrying about all my girls but as I explained to him only this morning If I don't keep an eye we could lose the whole lot if it is something serious so its worth keeping a close eye I think!!
hope your girly picks up
Lisa x

[spencers mum]

Thanks for your message Lisa.  My husband thinks I'm a twit too!  How many do you have? How long have you had them? It sounds to me like you've had similar experiences. 

[plumseverywhere]

Hi SPencers mum

we had just 3 to start with (they've been with us over a year now) but I expanded our flock when we bought our smallholding. we now have 11.
there's bluebells,white stars, black rocks, marans,some xbreeds and speckeldy's and they are my pets and stress relief all rolled into one    I spend ages with the children watching them.
my current poorly one has just bowled out of the shed running for food and water but her comb is still a bit pale and I'm sure later she'll be resting under the bush again  might have to call vet  tomorrow if she's still poorly. I was amazed how quickly the other on epicked up though on aloe vera and now she's laying her first eggs too.

Lisa x

[spencers mum]

Morning Lisa The girls seem very happy this morning! Poos overnight never seem much to worry about but one has just done a mucus/pinky one -she's the one that layed yesterday?? Others are huge with abit of froth again.  Throughout the day they become more normal. Hubbies verdict is 'they're fine' and still going through settling in process.  I too will see what today brings - dog has to go to vet 2moro, maybe we should go with the girls too....enjoy your day and thanks for your ideas/advice!!