Sick Chick

Since the last post, we've had a worrying few days.

Mabel had suddenly started just sitting on the ground or in the coop and not eating.

We noticed she wasn't as active as the others about a week ago and spent a lot of time in the nest-box sitting on the other ladies' eggs but not really laying any of her own.
We assumed she was just broody and made sure we took any eggs away quickly and moved her off them regularly.

On Tuesday I noticed that she was standing still in the run and didn't come over to the door with the others so i watched her and then started filming her. She actually falls asleep on her feet at one point and then wakes herself up by nearly toppling over!

(Forgive the camera-work, I was watching Mabel rather than the screen so it's a little jumpy)

We decided that this was getting silly so called the vets and made an appointment to see one of their specialists on the Wednesday.

Vets have diagnosed a bit of an infection so given antibiotics (in pill-form which means we have to tip her head back, open her beak and pop them in 1/4 at a time as they're huge! Each 1/4 is the size of a Smint) plus some MetaCam to lower her temperature.

She seems to have perked up a little - she's now fighting against us when we try to open her beak, pecking at the ground a little and taking live worms (mealworms and waxworms) from our hands. Her comb is still droopy, but is now getting some of its colour back plus when in the garden she is definitely more active. Still a worrying time though as she's not insured (can you insure a chicken?) and the vets are talking about blood tests etc!

So it's now Saturday and I think we've had a breakthrough...

After much consultation by email with Rachel from Widgets Farm where we bought them from, I think we've diagnosed Sour Crop which, for those who don't know (we didn't), is basically where food becomes trapped in the crop of the chicken and goes sour.

[The crop is like a hamster's pouch where food is stored until the stomach is ready for it and gets filled during the day but over-night, the chicken processes it all so that in the morning it's ready to go again.]

The treatment for Sour Crop is Cod-Liver Oil squirted down the throat and then massage of the crop. You then have to tip the bird upside down until she vomits whatever it is that's not passing.

So we've done that for 2 days, as well as the HUGE antibiotics and this morning Mabel seemed more perky. She's walking about with the other ladies and showing more interest in the bugs / grass. Her comb has reddened up and lost a little of it's waxy glaze so I think we're definitely on the mend!!