|
Post by edwards on Feb 18, 2010 7:58:37 GMT 8
I have a sick 6 week old ormington. She is panting and sitting with her eyes closed. Doesnt look like she will be around much longer. No runny nose - no marks. Cant seem to find these symptoms anywhere on line. I have given her some garlic water with an eye dropper. Any one know what it could be.
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Feb 18, 2010 9:16:08 GMT 8
Is she in a hunched up position? If so it sounds like coccidiosis. I would give her some sulphaquin and separate her from the flock. Also if heat is a problem make sure she is not heat stressed. If she is just heat stressed keep her in a cool place and give her some electrolytes like Soluvet plus. You can also make up your own electrolytes.
I got this off the net
Homemade Electrolyte Receipe
2 tbl honey or molasses ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp baking soda 1 cup water
Molasses and honey contain certain nutrients, but neither really has any nutritional advantage over another. So choose either to your preference.
Molasses
Molasses is the crushed up plant material with or without some of the sugars removed. It has a characteristic taste and a mild antioxidant quality that can delay the spoilage of food to which it is added.
The quality of molasses depends on whether it is the primary product or a byproduct of sugar production. Good, unsulfured molasses is made with a 200-year-old process using mature cane and aged before selling. Sulfured molasses is a byproduct from sugar production using green cane. It contains the residue of sulfur extraction of the sugar. Blackstrap molasses is the lowest grade of molasses-the remaining product when all the profitable material has been extracted.
Honey
Honey symbolizes natural and healthful foods; people with sensitivities are less likely to react to honey than to sugar. In a raw state it contains beneficial enzymes and nutrients, but the nutrients left in honey depends greatly on the method of extraction used. Honey from a reputable organic source is a healthy replacement for refined sugar, but there are a few things you should be aware of if you do not buy certified organic honey. Honey in the comb is no guarantee of buying raw honey, since treated honey is frequently put into clean, empty combs. Botulism spores sometimes appear in low enough concentrations that they will not bother healthy adults, but children under two and anyone with a compromised immune system could be. Honey combs may also be fumigated by toxic chemicals, leaving pesticide and herbicide residues in the honey.
What Are Electrolytes and how do they work?
As a first line of defense, I would always try to give young or baby birds some electrolytes after they first hatch and if they are not eating and drinking, and are weak. Chances are the electrolytes are out of balance in their bodies, and this will get things going. If they don't respond to this, you will know that perhaps the problem runs deeper.
Electrolytes are minerals, acids, bases and salts found in the blood and other bodily fluids (such as sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, and bicarbonate). Electrolytes carry an electric charge which regulates how and where the fluids are distributed throughout the body. It is important for the balance of electrolytes to be maintained, because they affect the amount of water in your body, blood pH, muscle action, and other important processes.
Sodium plays a major role in regulating the amount of water in the body. Also, the passage of sodium in and out of cells is necessary for many body functions, like transmitting electrical signals in the brain and in the muscles. Dehydration from diarrhea or inadequate fluid intake can cause the sodium levels to become abnormally high or low and can cause weakness or lethargy.
Potassium is essential to regulate how the heart beats. When potassium levels are too high or too low, it can increase the risk of an abnormal heartbeat. Low potassium levels are also associated with muscle weakness.
Bicarbonate prevents the body's tissues from getting too much or too little acid. The kidney and lungs balance the levels of bicarbonate in the body.
|
|
|
Post by edwards on Feb 18, 2010 13:55:49 GMT 8
thanx for that fluffychook. i have her on electolights now. I dont think it is coccidiosus. (no diareah) I have separated her from the others. She eats and drinks a little - looks really bad otherwise. Wobbly, still panting.
|
|
|
Post by pianochook on Feb 18, 2010 14:07:44 GMT 8
sorry to hear your chookie is sick, cate hope she'll get better soon!!
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Feb 18, 2010 14:45:16 GMT 8
Diarrhoea is not always a sign of cocci, it can include blood in their droppings or just the typical hunched position. Another thing you can give her is the ricketts diet, this will give her a boost too. This information comes from the BYP site.
It is a diet that Sandy came up with that is designed to give a sick bird vitamins, minerals and energy very quickly. It is high in protein and can be fed to a sick bird as a tonic. You can replace ingredients with others with similar nutrients. It's just a guide. It was initially meant for birds that have developed rickets as a result of deficiencies, but it's also very helpful for most sick birds, particularly those that haven't been eating well.
A sick bird can often be helped by the Rickets diet. Feed the birds once a day for three days or until you feel the bird is looking and acting better - usually 3 weeks.
This amount feeds one bird. Each serving consists of:
½ to 1 x cooked egg yolk… crumbled into mixture 1 teaspoon of cod liver oil.. 1 very small drizzle of honey 2 x tablespoons natural yoghurt - no sugar 2 to 4 tablespoons rolled oats or Baby rice 1 dessertspoon of beef tin cat food…… Not dog food A few grains of multi vitamin powder 2 tablespoons of grated apple.. Mix to make a crumble mixture not runny, if you have to roll into pellets and force feed, and then gently massage the neck in a downward motion to get it down into the crop, then do it, the bird may be too weak to eat or have lost the desire to eat….
Always have fresh clean water available at all time for the bird and good quality food Feed the rickets diet in the morning. Also have her ordinary feed and fresh clean water available at all times: if it has not been fully eaten with in 12 hours throw it out... make another one the next morning.. don't add to it.. clean out the dish it was in also before adding the new mixture.
|
|
liz
Junior Member
Posts: 64
|
Post by liz on Feb 18, 2010 20:02:10 GMT 8
What ever you do dont force feed sick chickens all you do is get food in their wind pipe and make problem twice as bad with a compacted crop. There is a product called vy-trate buy it from landmark, wesfarmers any farmer will tell you about it good for everything from chickens to cows. It is electrilyte with glucose for energy add it to their water. If chicken is not drinking put it directly into the crop with a crop needle will be the only way to save it. A sick chickens crop closes down so they do not absorb normal food if it hasnt gone too far you stand a chance with absorbing liquid no digestive juices needed laymans way of explaining it to digest. Especially if it is heat stress. If you can not get hold of vy-trate today put some in your fridge for later(any one who has any type of animal should have it in their fridge all the time for emergencies) and get some normal human electrlytes ( gastalite or icy poles you buy kids from chemist with glucose in them) will help hold till morning till you can get some vy-trate
goodluck liz
|
|
|
Post by edwards on Feb 18, 2010 21:25:36 GMT 8
Thanks every one. Ive got her on melted electrolight iceblocks. she is a little worse tonight so I dont think she will see the night out. I rang the breeders -to see if they had any others go down with any thing- and they havent seen any thing like this. Its a brand new coup- so i dont think there would be any viruses in it. The other 5 are happy. Could of been something she ate- ive been cleaning out the pantry and found old christmas cake and coconut and out of date dried friut? If she is still around tomorrow i will mix up the rickets mix. thanks again.
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Feb 19, 2010 8:27:53 GMT 8
How is your little one today?
|
|
|
Post by edwards on Feb 19, 2010 9:11:32 GMT 8
She is much worse today I am not even going to try and give her anything i have her in a quiet warm place. Maybe she had a stroke. ?
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Feb 19, 2010 15:44:24 GMT 8
Oh dear, poor thing.
|
|
|
Post by edwards on Feb 19, 2010 17:58:10 GMT 8
Now burried in the garden. The others are looking healthy and well.
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Feb 19, 2010 19:23:58 GMT 8
I hate it when they go, but at least you know you tried to help her and she went peacefully.
|
|
|
Post by pianochook on Feb 19, 2010 23:28:49 GMT 8
oh dear, that's not the outcome you want! I hope the others keep well.
|
|
|
Post by ikbokchook on Feb 20, 2010 12:01:24 GMT 8
Sorry to hear about your poor little chooky Hope all the others continue to do well. It's hard when you lose one, especially when you don't know why
|
|
|
Post by lakelands on Feb 21, 2010 8:57:37 GMT 8
Sorry she didn't make it.
|
|