Sorry, another poo question!

[Lucylou]

I'm keeping a close eye on my little Campine as she's had slightly runny poo for a little while. I lost another chook about 4 weeks ago with symptoms of diarrhea but the vet couldn't diagnose exactly what the problem was & she didn't respond to anti-bios & died about 2 weeks after the course.

My Campine isn't nearly as bad as the other one was but I'm wanting to make sure I do everything possible to nip it in the bud, I couldn't bear to loose her she's so cute (& rare apparently)

So far I have wormed them (last week with flubenvet) will do a repeat in 3 weeks. They have ACV for a week per month & garlic in the water. Being very thorough with hygiene, making sure containers are clean etc. Checked house for the dreaded RM & can't see anything, also checked her over for mites/lice but its so difficult to see on her stripy feathers, but don't think there's anything. Don't know if its significant but the number of eggs she's laying has reduced, all summer she's been laying 5 consecutive days out of 7, now its maybe 2/3 a week.

Is there anything else I should be doing? Anyone got any more idea & advice please. Thanks everyone.

 

[podstable]

Just. A thought----if you lost another with the squits do you feel it may be worth getting microscopy done on a faecal swab? Can be done on the spot by vet to exclude sinister pathogens? My vet charged me 11 pounds for this which I felt was well worth it for an instant diagnosis this meant I was able to start appropriate treatment within an. Hour for a potentially nasty flock infection.Hope all goes well.Ros

 

[Lucylou]

Hi Ros, Yes, I was thinking of sending a sample off to the lab that Tim's mentioned on here a few times but might do as you suggest & phone my vet first. Its a bit worrying as I think another one is doing runny ones too now. Its always the way, they do it when you're not looking & then you don't know who did it!!

 

[snifter]

I'd isolate her for a few hours so you can be sure its her poo you are collecting/seeing.

Also is she a seasonal layer or all year round? It could be she is coming to the end of her laying cycle if seasonal and perhaps heading into a moult.

Personally, if you are using ACV in the water and garlic I'd not keep worming them with Flubenvent. I use only ACV one week a month and then worm my birds twice a year only, in spring and autumn.

If she is well in all other respects you may find that her droppings return to normal on their own. I've had birds have loose droppings for a bit that then returned to normal. I'd keep her on a simple diet, nothing fancy and ensure she can free range safely. She may well not have anything like what was wrong with your other bird. So hard to know without an actual diagnosis of the other bird.

 

[Lucylou]

I was wondering if she was coming into moult as she was too young last year to moult properly (just lost a few feathers here & there)so not sure of the early signs.

I only wormed them again as the last time was in Feb/march so it was more or less due but I only did 1 week & no follow up, so just thought I'd do a real thorough dose. Do you think it would be better just to leave it at the one week that they've had? I was thinking of the worm cycle & the advice of the 3 week 2nd dose as a thorough precaution.

The poo's seem to have improved but still keeping a close watch, so haven't had them analysed yet.