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Post by newchook on Sept 10, 2009 10:19:33 GMT 8
I've recently read somewhere that you musn't use cedar shavings either. Hope Boo is getting better and yes you do have to "force feed" if they're not eating as I said they lose condition quickly, although she looks bigger than my little Edie (who members might have read about a couple of months ago) she lost the battle in the end. I hadn't realised she hadn't been eating enough until I took her to Brian and he showed me her breast. So check her out Ashley.
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Post by ashley on Sept 10, 2009 18:40:23 GMT 8
Life Of Boo Cont....
Annie, I don't think there is anything poison round here, no woodchips or chemicals are used in the yard. I suspect she was really sick a couple of weeks ago (when I first posted about her) and didn't really get better when I thought she did (wishful thinking on my part). I picked up one of the other girls today and had "a good feel" so that I could compare her to Boo. Boo is about half her weight and her brest bone is much more pronounced... infact I think she's really really skinny... she's also so much more lethargic. Little Sister was a battle to hold on to, I hardly need to hold Boo when I force feed her.... oh yeah, I force fed her some egg yolk and rolled oats mixture this morning (with some parsley added ;-), and again this afternoon... I was much less scary than I thought it would be... and I found her crop too, which was "nice and soft and bouncy" after I fed her, according to the interweb that's a good thing.
Cross Fingers she lasts through tomorrow, at least then I'll be home for the weekend and I can feed her more often during the day.... she seems to have dropped her wings over the last day or so, so I'm still not letting myself get too hopeful. If nothing else I'll be much more prepared next time something like this happens.
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Post by fluffychook on Sept 10, 2009 19:12:38 GMT 8
Your doing a great job Ashley, well done. She is getting the best care you can give her, you cannot ask anymore than that. Just a thought, putting her under heat might also help as it is cold and she won't have to use up energy to stay warm. A reading lamp or similar is fine if you have one.
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Post by Duck Diva on Sept 11, 2009 8:28:29 GMT 8
Hi Ashley, I hope to hear Boo is doing good today Thinking of you both xxx W
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Post by ashley on Sept 11, 2009 17:49:34 GMT 8
Today I found myself in the supermarket buying freerange eggs to feed to my chicken :-)
Boo is looking good today, she's still really skinny and much weaker than the other girls but when I fed and dosed her tonight she struggled more than yesterday, and I think she might be holding her wings up a little higher.
I scarificed my bedside lamp to her last night (thanks for the idea fluffy), it's just an $11 ikea one but regardless of my cheap tastes I think the appreciated it. Her hospital kennel was pleasantly warm when I got home today even though it's been a horrible cold day here.
Tonight when I got home her crop was about the size of a golf ball and felt quite full, I force fed her a couple of 'bullets' then thought I'd better check, is i possible to overfeed her? If the crop feels full should I stop force feeding her? And one last question for the day, presuming she is getting over her illness (touch wood), how quickly do chickens gain weight? Not that it really matters, I'm in for the long haul now but it would be nice to know if I'm going to be playing nurse for days, weeks, or months?
Thanks as always!
Ashley
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Post by fluffychook on Sept 11, 2009 19:26:46 GMT 8
The cheap ones are great because they give off heat which is what you want. I would not force feed her if her crop is the size of a golf ball. She is eating which is fantastic. If she continues to feed herself she will pick up condition fairly quickly. As for a time frame it really depends on her and if we have found what ails her.
If she is looking spritely think about putting her back in the coop, remember she will have lost her place in the hierarchy and will have to re-establish her place so be sure to introduce her as you would a new hen.
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Post by annieyokie on Sept 11, 2009 19:34:40 GMT 8
:DSuch great news ,You have done a great job.Hope it continues ,it may take a while for her to pick up .But a great start
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Post by ashley on Sept 12, 2009 18:03:19 GMT 8
Just a quick update...
Boo is eating well today but I'm not convinced she's over what's ailing her yet. This morning she was drinking a lot and she's got dioreah again. She also keeps shaking her head when she eats (peck, shake, peck shake, peck shake) and is still very wobbly on her feet too... but I guess slow progress is better than no progress.
I saw some bird antibiotics at the pet store when I there last, I'm wondering if it's worth giving them a try too.
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Post by annieyokie on Sept 13, 2009 7:51:54 GMT 8
:DI would be careful about mixing drugs but it may be very good for her Id ask at the pet shop about combining them. the head shaking can sometimes be a parasitic infection ( this could also be the cause of the diaherria )but could also be a stress reaction. She is obviously very sensitive at the moment.Sounds as though your doing a great job with her and what your doing is helping.
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Post by ashley on Sept 14, 2009 17:55:02 GMT 8
I though you might like to see the patient... I put Boo down in the garden (I use the term loosely - i's not exactly well kept) today while I cleaned out her kennel. Her condition hasn't changed much, her balance is still shot, she fell over a couple of times on the uneven ground. She's also still got horrible bottom, I restrained myself from washing it when I got home from work so she wasn't damp overnight... I'll do it in the morning. She's still eating by herself, but maybe not enough... I gave her a couple of 'bullets' this morning and again tonight since her crop didn't feel full . Regardless, she seemed to enjoy herself having a wonder about and a peck at a the weeds.
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Post by fluffychook on Sept 14, 2009 18:20:25 GMT 8
Thanks for the update, good idea leaving the washing until tomorrow. Having a clean bottom always makes them look better and gives you an idea if they still have runny poo or not. Keep us posted when you can.
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Post by ashley on Sept 18, 2009 10:44:14 GMT 8
Eureka! I think I've finally worked it out... Tape Worm!
I was reading a book called Backyard Poultry Naturally last night and a passage about tape worm said that heavy infestation can lead to to leg weakness because the tapeworms produce a toxin that effects the nerves. That also fits in with the dirty bottom and weight loss she's had.
Apparently slugs and snails can be tapeworm carriers... i didn't realize this! When I find snails in the garden I often throw them in girls run... I figured they were a treat... maybe not such a good idea after all.
I've tried worming them in the past with one of those treatments you put in the water, but they didn't seam to drink much of it. Two days ago I mixed the treatment with some rolled oats and force fed it, she's still a bit shaky on her legs, but she's perked up heaps!!! I've given her a garlic treatment today too, so hopefully that the end of that!
:-) :-) :-) Very Happy!!!
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Post by annieyokie on Sept 18, 2009 11:31:20 GMT 8
:DGood to know .The trouble with Parasites,worms etc is they can sneak in on a lettuce or cabbage leaf ,through the ground ,in a slug (as you say )and the same thing happens to people although I haven't been eating slugs lately :DHa1Ha! We worm the chooks, a new batch of the little buggers(worms) come along an infect our babies and we think their safe .I use a herbal formula in the water for 3 days then give them a dose every 2 weeks in there water.The reason for that is to catch any more but most of all the eggs that the original ones had laid will have hatched by then and it kills them to.
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Post by fluffychook on Sept 18, 2009 14:36:04 GMT 8
Wonderful, so glad you found out what the problem is.
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bazza
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by bazza on Dec 16, 2010 13:11:23 GMT 8
Eureka! I think I've finally worked it out... Tape Worm! I was reading a book called Backyard Poultry Naturally last night and a passage about tape worm said that heavy infestation can lead to to leg weakness because the tapeworms produce a toxin that effects the nerves. That also fits in with the dirty bottom and weight loss she's had. Apparently slugs and snails can be tapeworm carriers... i didn't realize this! When I find snails in the garden I often throw them in girls run... I figured they were a treat... maybe not such a good idea after all. I've tried worming them in the past with one of those treatments you put in the water, but they didn't seam to drink much of it. Two days ago I mixed the treatment with some rolled oats and force fed it, she's still a bit shaky on her legs, but she's perked up heaps!!! I've given her a garlic treatment today too, so hopefully that the end of that! :-) :-) :-) Very Happy!!! So was that the end of the story. Did she get fully better. Great story. But was the, "no new good new" as it is in my family or was it no more no new bad news. cheers. I am new to chooks. cheers
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