slug pellets

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Help needed!!
My pekin cockeral has gone very lethargic and does not look well at all.
Tuesday evening I got home and found that he had taken himself off to bed at about 7pm, which is most unlike him and he seemed very dozy.
The following morning, when I let them out he still seemed very lethargic and also was kind of limping and seemed almost drunk. I sat and watched him for twenty minutes or so and in that time all he did was drink.
In the evening when I got home from work he was still looking a lot slwer than normal, though was eating and did come to see me, which is more like his normal self. His comb had gone considerably darker than normal, by this point. I noticed a blue tinge to some poo on the feathers below the vent, but other than that and the comb colour everything seemed normal.
Yesterday morning seemed to be an improvement, though he still wasnt right and was drinking a lot.
Yesterday evening he hadnt altered, (though thankfully not deteriorated!) He did eat some greens, along with the hens, (thinned out plants from the vedgie patch, swede, cauli and broccoli) and was very interested in some mixed seed that I put down.
This morning when I went to let them out, he stayed in the coup, (asleep on the floor rather than on the perch) I took him out for another check and nothing visualy stands out as allarming. I put him down with the others and he has had a drink and some food.
The only conclusion that I can draw, is that there was a small tray of seedlings in the garden, which did have a few old slug pelletts on and when they have been out on one of their free range forays they have eaten all the leaves. Given that this has happened and how dehydrated he appears to be, I can only think that this may be the cause. I absolutely gutted as he is such a nice little character and if my suspicions prove correct then its something that I should have prevented!!
Your thoughts please, but Im guessing that if it is slug pellets then renal failiure is on the cards, in which case am I beter to euthanase him? I really dont want him to suffer like that, particularly if it is going to result in him dieing.
 
It could be any number of things. So hard to know.

I'd bring him in, pop him in a box with some food and water and see how he does overnight. You could try all the usual things for him also. ACV in the water, some favourite foods that will help etc.

It'll also give you a chance to see how he poos and what colour etc they are. In with other birds it can be hard to work out what is his.

If the slug pellets are all gone now and he is the only one poorly I'd be surprised. I say this as usually when a cock bird finds food he never eats it himself first but always offers and calls to the ladies to come have their fill first. So I'd be inclined to think your hens would also be poorly, at least not just him alone. If that makes sense.

Is his crop filling and empyting ok also? Not hot and tender or anything? Swollen?

I'd probably try all the possibles and maybe take him to the vet if you felt you wanted to go that route with a view to trying to trreat whatever is ailing him. TBH if it was the pellets I'd expect him to be dead already. Even a small amount can kill a chook pretty quickly. It could well be he has something going on but its not easy to diagnose. Usually when they are that poorly they tend to be pretty far gone. But I've known some really sick birds bounce back given a bit of time and TLC. A hen of mine I spent a week treating earlier this year and for 3 days in a row I kept saying the next day would be her last as she didn't seem to be bouncing back as I had hoped. But I put it off each time and lo, she was then bright and chirpy and fit as a fiddle.

Let us know how you get on
 
Cheers for that snifter.
Today, (earlier this evening) he seemed a lot brighter, comb is returning to normal colour and he is more steady on his feet and moving around /chatting, though he is still very lethargic.
Been to inlawsfor supper and got back a little while ago and as per normal they have al taken themselves off to bed.......... except him, he is asleep on the ground in th enclosed run.
I have put him into the coup, for some warmth and safety , as I think that the reason he didnt go himself is he is a bit too unsteady on his feet to get up the ramp, into the coup. tomorow I will segregate and monitor him. What was the item you recomended giving him as a supliment? also I know Tim advocates using cider vinegar and crushed garlc in the water, What quantitiesshould I use ?
I have had a good look over him and all seemed normal, but I think that he may be a little underweight, from nomal, (blockage somewhere?) What is the procedure wth checking the crop, and administering remedy?
Thanks again lads, your elp is very much apreciated.
Cheers,
Matt
 
Most cock birds are on the thinner side this time of year. They are running round after the ladies and also offer the food they find to them first before having a bit themsevles. I always try to ensure I give my cock birds some extra feed on the side if I think they are too thin.

You should feel the crop easily during the day and before they go to roost at night as its on the front of the chest (see a diagram of a chicken to locate exactly where). If its still full in the morning before he goes out and has any food or water then there is a problem. If its hard and feels impacted then thats what it is. It needs unblocking and while I can explain how to empty it (if its is blocked) I think you might be best to take him to your vet and have him/her empty it.

If its hot to the touch and mushy feeling then its more sour crop and a probable yeast infection. You can help this by emptying the crop and then letting him eat some plain live yogurt. At least a tablespoon a few times a day. Again I am happy to write up who to empty a crop but unless you are confident and have someone to help hold the chook (usually wrapped in a towel if fiesty). But it can be a bit stressful for the bird especially if you are not experienced in doing this.

Let me know if the crop is swollen or mushy and then I can explain. Count back how many days he's been off colour as you need to treat it sooner rather than later before infection gets further. Also check his poo as you really need to know if he is digesting his food and absorbing the water. If he is then he should be ok to treat for a crop problem. Its when the poo is icky or not showing much at all that it may be getting too late.
 
Thanks Snifter.
Well his condition is still pretty concistant. He is able to move around and will eat when you give them some food, (some mixed seed) However, he is spending most of his time just sitting on the floor sleeping. His crop doesnt feel enflamed /enlarged and is normal temperature, so I dont think that this is the issue. He does seem giddy still when he first moves around, (after being sat down sleeping) and also when you put him on the floor after handling. It tends to be his right leg that gives him the problem, but more like he has a numbness in it as opposed to a pain, as he stumbles or falls, rather than limping and yelping. Dont know if this makes sense? I cant find any evidence of damage or thorns etc to the leg/s or feet, so it is still making me think some sort of virus, or poison, either from something that he ate, or a parasite, etc.
His poo is slightly yellow in colour and very runny, (watery as opposed to runny and sticky) this is what I have seen both on the feathers below the vent and where he was sleeping last night.
I have given the coup a thorough inspection and found no evidence of bugs, though having never seen them before, it is possible I am missing something. Cleaned out as per norm this morning and dusted with mite powder.
I am going to get hold of some apple cider vinegar for the water and allready have some crushed garlic in for him.
I will keep you updated on the progress. Any more thoughts appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt
 
Hi Matt,

Sorry to hear your cockerel isn't doing too well. I can't really add much - as Snifter says, it's really hard to know what the problem is.

For the ACV - you can add 2 - 3% to water but various places advise different amount - I must admit, I tend to give it a slurp out of the bottle into the water container rather than measure it.

The crushed Garlic in the water helps to boost the immune system. There are articles on the net singing the virtues of garlic for various animals as well as people but I find it's not something that's going to make birds better overnight, just like taking vitamin C if you have a cold, it needs time to give them a boost. I usually crush 2 or 3 good cloves into the water or put a sprinkle of granules in if I'm in a hurry. You can usually get bags of granules at the horsey shops.

Yellow / watery droppings can point to a number of things, including worms, dietary problems or respiratory problems.

Don't rule out a worm infestation, even if you have wormed recently - birds are constantly picking up eggs from their droppings and within a couple of weeks can have adult worms inside them again.

Good Luck,

Tim
 
Thanks for that Tim.
A friend came round for a look yesterday, (he is very experienced with keeping fowl) we have now moved the coup and run to "fresh ground" and he has advised to worm them again. (they have been having vermx pellets in the feed every day for three days each month) how soon can I re-dose them? Im thinking that I would be better with the liquid version, instead of the pelletted stuff to make sure that they are all getting some.
My friend had a look at the bird , (aswell as all the others which are all still healthy) and recomends worming them to make sure. He also seems to think poisoning of some form is the issue.
I had creosoted the run a short time ago and there was some dried on the grass which he thought the bird may have ingested. It would have been four days at least, prior to him getting ill, so I am really hoping that its something else and he will pull through.
This morning the bird is very giddy again, but is eating and drinking.
So I think that the long and short of it is that Im going to have to make a harsh decision in the next few days. see how he goes and if he is still very dopey and wobbly on his legs and not happy, then I dont want him suffering.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks again for your assistance lads, very much appreciated.
Matt
 
No problem Matt. Good luck, I hope he makes it through.

Worming is a good idea - as Verm-x is 100% natural, you can use it as often as you like. It's basically made with herbs.

Cheers,

Tim
 
Cheers Tim,
Well he has spent the whole day asleep outside. Has been drinking and eating, but the comb is very dark again and I fear the worst!! :cry:
I think that its best to hive him to the end of the week and see what happens, then if no improvement is forthcoming I am going to help him on his way, does anyone think this is to soon?
Also today is the day that the three eggs under my friends hen should have hatched, but as yet nothing, not even any cracks or pips. It would be very nice to see them hatch as at least then my litle friend has sired some offspring!!
I will keep you all updated
Matt
 
It's not an easy decition to make - only you can decide if he seems to be suffering or not.

Good Luck.

Tim
 
Well, the decision was taken out of my hands, as my little friend died on Sunday night.
I went to shut them in and while all the hens where in the coup, as per noraml, he was still asleep on the ground....... probably for the better he was permanantly asleep.
Im glad that he just slipped away in his sleep, but absolutely gutted that its something that I could have prevented! And to cap it all off, it looks like the eggs that I thought he had fertilised may not have been, as monday night was 21 days and so far nothing. Fingers superglued in the crossed position, as it would be very nice to have some of his offspring. Other that that, its two tail feathers in my kiwi hat band, to remember him by!!
Thanks everyone for your help again.
Matt
 
Oh I'm really sorry to hear that Matt. It's never nice losing birds, especially if you're losing a bloodline too. :(

Don't beat yourself up over it though, it could have been a number of things that caused him to die.

Tim
 
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