Savannah has a cold

[MEGAN]

The flipping weather must be taking its toll when I let the girls out this morning I heard someone croaking and rattling. Turns out it was Savannah. She is still alert nice red comb and pottering OK maybe a little quieter than usual. Now for my quandary.
I just started worming with Flubenvet yesterday.
Sick bays have broody and chicks in them.
Savannah sleeps with Daisy and Dora the Dorkings. Daisy had a really bad respiratory infection the year I got her the vet told me at the time she would probably not make it and she would be prone for relapses. Up to press she has not had any touch wood, but would Savannah being ill kick it off for her.

As Savannah is such a large hen bringing her in would be a very difficult option, isolating her will be very difficult as all the sick bays are occupied.
My options are.
1. Move Billy and Katie young cockerels and try and move them in with the older hens so Savannah can have there house and run.
2. Treat everyone with abs as a precaution.
3. Syringe Savannah with abs and leave her in with the others and hope for the best. If anyone else gets it then go on to abs for all.

The other question anyone else used flubenvet and abs at the same time and if so does it cause any problems.

[275wright]

Hmm Megan that's a tricky one and I'm sure you will get different opinions from different people.

If it was me I wouldn't do the flubenvet and ab's together. Ab's are great when needed but I wouldn't want to bombard their systems with two powerful drugs at the same time. Your hens are wormed regularly, they are not going to die from worms for the sake of waiting a couple of weeks.

For the same reason I wouldn't want to give the healthy ones an antibiotic as a preventative. They are strong on their little bodies, they have to be. Also I like to use them only when they are really needed and they don't get used to them so can be more effective. I would separate as best I can and just be vigilant and ready to treat others as needed.......Sharon xxx

[monkeymummy]

Oh dear, not good.

Not that I'm an expert, but I think options 1 or 3 depending on how easy it would be to intergrate. I agree with Sharon re the ABs for everyone. Hope she is OK. Hows the knee?

[Littlechick]

Sorry about Savannah, this weather is unbelievable isn't it? Just right for the food to go bad fast too, warm (then cold) and wet, wet wet.

I agree about the worming, since you only started yesterday, I would just put a hold on that for a week or two.

Were you going to integrate the boys soon anyway? If so, just speed it up and start sooner (if you can face it!). Only other alternative is to treat Savannah and leave her in place, taking a chance. If Daisy did catch it, you would be onto it really quickly so hopefully it would be sorted. Do you think Savannah has been contagious for a while anyway now?

[MEGAN]

Sharon - yes I really do agree about the abs for everyone. I guess its this awful weather I don't spend as much time watching them looking for any problems so I worry I might miss something.
Sarah- Im getting there with the knee had my stitches out yesterday so hopefully I will soon be back to normal.
Jules - The little boys are integrated in the run now, its a large run and Billy (pilkie) can get away from the big girls easily if they start on him but in a confined house they could do a lot of damage to him. The other option is to put him in the Tweedle house but their run is much smaller and bossy Tweedle can be a little minx and might make mincemeat out of him.
Thinking out loud Iv just come up with a solution Billy and Katie could sleep in the other side of the broody house which is split in two but the attached run is so tiny, however they could come out during the day into the big run. I had considered this for Savannah but dismissed it as with just hardboard separating her from the chicks she could have infected them. Guess I will make use of this short blast of sunshine to sort this option out.

[Littlechick]

You have SUN???

And aren't you supposed to be resting your knee??

[MEGAN]

its just a window of sun I'm sure ti will soon be gone so i must act quick

Yes don't tell the doctor or OH or I will be in trouble. It won't be a full out clean and scrub out just a top up of bedding and sprinkle of statsfon F

[275wright]

We have sun here today too and guess whose out enjoying it.......only Morag!

I put her back out with the others a couple of days ago after much soul searching about what decision to make , she had been so poorly. Poor soul, the others had all forgotten who she was and didn't want her back in. Hens!!

I decided to take it one day at a time and she how she managed as long as she wasn't deteriorating.

She is still a little swollen, but not too bad and her colour goes from being quite good to dark at times. but last night she went up onto the perch and I have just been out to check on them and when I called them she came running, yes running to see what I had. I can't remember the last time she could do that. I know she could go back down again, but like I said I am going to take one day at a time and today I am happy

[MEGAN]

wow great news good on Morag I was wondering how she was going on but hardly dare ask. We can't have a little beauty like her poorly

[MEGAN]

all sorted Savannah is in big sick bay, she is still gurggling but very alert and a good colour so hopefully she should not take too long to sort. Iv put food in for her without the flubenvet but im still treating the others as I had started I will treat Savannah with ivermectin for the worms when she is sorted. It is torture going out to check on them though I practically get mugged for the none forthcoming treats. The fun will start tonight when I have to get Billy (Pilkie Cockerel and Katie wellsummers cockerel) into the broody house. I guess I will have to come clean to OH as I will need him to assist so im prepared for a lecture

Just as a side note tip to all concerned never work with relatives especially OH and your kids. they will drive you crazy. Moan over