poorly hen, green droppings

Yes, we all hope you'll be postiung about her recovery soon.
Don't worry about 'withdrawal symptoms' for the bread and sweetcorn, just cut them out altogether for at least a week, and then give sweetcorn only in minute quantities as a treat sometimes (no more than a level dessertspoon per hen, once a week? if you really must? -or less?) and no bread at all, ever.
 
Yes, Ad lib layers mash or pellets are fine as are the greens but bread and maize is not good for them, other than in small quantities as a treat. Bread is low in protein for layers, as is wheat (around 10%). Layers need 16% or so to be able to put the protein into those yummy eggs. Once protein drops, egg numbers drop too.

Chris is right (Lewis Wright!) many fanciers give a handful of corn in the late afternoon as it takes longer to digest in the crop and keeps the birds 'full' over the long winter nights. I do this when I rememeber!

Don't overdo the mixed corn though (a handful per bird per day is my limit) or as Marigold says, hens will get fat and again egg production suffers.
It's the maize that's very fattening and the wheat that's low in protein.
 
Four slices of bread between 15 is nothing to worry about. Chickens have been fed with bread scraps included for years with no ill effects.
Futhermore, if only one of the 15 is ill, to me it would not point to a dietary problem, though long term I would be concerned about maize which is very fattening and there is a lot of it in mixed corn too.
As she doesn't appear unwell, I'd put her back with the others soon, if you haven't already, so that you don't upset the group dynamic.
 
Excellent post chuck :-)17

Green droppings apart from sometimes being normal are also sometimes indicative of of liver problems, could be disease or liver damage caused by toxins which is not uncommon.

Picture shows bright green bile pigment, not like any mustard I've seen :-)19
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/sites/agilestaging.library.cornell.edu.avian-atlas/files/avian_atlas_assets/3.3.08.DSC_0337%20x420.jpg
 
ccm said:
Excellent post chuck :-)17

Green droppings apart from sometimes being normal are also sometimes indicative of of liver problems, could be disease or liver damage caused by toxins which is not uncommon.

Picture shows bright green bile pigment, not like any mustard I've seen :-)19
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/sites/agilestaging.library.cornell.edu.avian-atlas/files/avian_atlas_assets/3.3.08.DSC_0337%20x420.jpg
Click to expand...

You should add the document along with the picture. that website is very informative. Had a look at it a while back for some resources for a vet i worked for. http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/examfinding/40 That is the stool of a bird with Avian Flu. Not necessarily liver problems. It contains bile stained matter and they are noting that it's abnormal. There is a lot more going on there, that is diarrhea, not solid feces, the OP has said her bird has solid feces. If a bird has liver disease or liver damage they would have diarrhea as well as many other symptoms(jaundice, thick legs/bowed out,yellowish/brown diarrhea/not always green depending on diet, darkening of comb/wattles etc).

I think you put it best previously ccm..."lets not frighten the life out of molliedog". :shock: :lol:

hope the link is helpful. :D
 
Bertie & The Chooks said:
ccm said:
Excellent post chuck :-)17

Green droppings apart from sometimes being normal are also sometimes indicative of of liver problems, could be disease or liver damage caused by toxins which is not uncommon.

Picture shows bright green bile pigment, not like any mustard I've seen :-)19
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/sites/agilestaging.library.cornell.edu.avian-atlas/files/avian_atlas_assets/3.3.08.DSC_0337%20x420.jpg
Click to expand...

You should add the document along with the picture. http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/examfinding/40 That is the stool of a bird with Avian Flu. Not necessarily liver problems. It contains bile stained matter and they are noting that it's abnormal. There is a lot more going on there, that is diarrhea, not solid feces, the OP has said her bird has solid feces. If a bird has liver disease or liver damage they would have diarrhea as well as many other symptoms(jaundice, thick legs/bowed out,yellowish/brown diarrhea/not always green depending on diet, darkening of comb/waddles etc). I think you put it best previously ccm..."lets not frighten the life out of molliedog".

hope the link is helpful.
Click to expand...

Bile pigment is bile pigment no matter what is going on disease wise with a bird and is the same bright green.
Don't see how this can frighten her as the bird in question is producing dark green faeces.

I do seem to be annoying you some what and its not intentional, just posted on this thread to try to add some more thoughts to the pot but you seen to be taking exception to it :-)19

Umm, whats a waddle?
 
ccm said:
Bertie & The Chooks said:
ccm said:
Excellent post chuck :-)17

Green droppings apart from sometimes being normal are also sometimes indicative of of liver problems, could be disease or liver damage caused by toxins which is not uncommon.

Picture shows bright green bile pigment, not like any mustard I've seen :-)19
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/sites/agilestaging.library.cornell.edu.avian-atlas/files/avian_atlas_assets/3.3.08.DSC_0337%20x420.jpg
Click to expand...

You should add the document along with the picture. http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/examfinding/40 That is the stool of a bird with Avian Flu. Not necessarily liver problems. It contains bile stained matter and they are noting that it's abnormal. There is a lot more going on there, that is diarrhea, not solid feces, the OP has said her bird has solid feces. If a bird has liver disease or liver damage they would have diarrhea as well as many other symptoms(jaundice, thick legs/bowed out,yellowish/brown diarrhea/not always green depending on diet, darkening of comb/waddles etc). I think you put it best previously ccm..."lets not frighten the life out of molliedog".

hope the link is helpful.
Click to expand...

Bile pigment is bile pigment no matter what is going on disease wise with a bird and is the same bright green.
Don't see how this can frighten her as the bird in question is producing dark green faeces.

I do seem to be annoying you some what and its not intentional, just posted on this thread to try to add some more thoughts to the pot but you seen to be taking exception to it :-)19

Umm, whats a waddle?
Click to expand...

OK. i'm going to agree to disagree with you regarding bile. my point was not to do with the colour, but the fact that the bird in question does not have diarrhea. my veterinary nursing career was such a waste i guess.

nah just annoyed you were repeating yourself. you've already mentioned the liver problems in a previous post, i felt it was a bit excessive and possibly scaring Heather. But this is just my opinion.

i meant wattle. lol :lol:
 
All very interesting stuff I am sure.

Hope there is a positive update from Molliedogsbottoms hen today!
 
Hi all,

good news about primrose, I placed her back in with all the others this morning threw in a couple of handsfull of mealworm and they all mingled together with no problems,( normally I would replace a bird at night into the henhouse but she was pacing up and down and it was a lovely morning so I took a chance).

she has had several nights of pampering in the kitchen and seems to be eating better now, so with fingers crossed I am hoping she will go from strenth to strenth.

I have also taken your advice about the sweetcorn and bread in the afternoon .

the mixed corn I mentioned I do myself, 3 of wheat, 1 of maize and 1 of layers pellets although I think I will increase the amount of layers pellets in the mix and hopefully get more eggs from the higher protein diet.

thank you all for your advice over the last couple of days.

heather
 
May I suggest that you leave the layers pellets out of the mixed corn and give them to your birds first thing in the morning on their own. That way they will get the balanced vits etc. and not fill up on the 'sweeties' being maize and wheat first. :)
 
Hi ,

yes that sounds like a good idea because I have noticed that the maize and wheat does go first and often they leave the pellets, will try pellets only tomorrow morning, thanks.

Heather
 
Heather, just be aware they will sulk at first and not want to eat the pellets (possibly) because they are used to filling up on the wheat and corn - clever things these chickens! They know how to manipulate us - but stay strong and give them a good talking too! :D
 
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