Pullet unable to stand, gaping every few seconds

LizzieEmGee

Hatching
5 Years
May 29, 2014
4
0
7
PA
I really need some help figuring out waits wrong with my EE pullet!

We found her on her back in the coop last night, eyes closed, barely moving, stretching her neck out and gaping every few seconds. I did some googling and thought maybe she had something in her crop? I tried massaging it for a while and feeding her drops of olive oil through a straw, which she seemed to respond to. She perked up a bit, opened her eyes, started wobbling around and pecking at some grit I had out for her. Still seemed unsteady though. I kept her in the house last night and this morning she is laying down and listless again. I gave her some water with ACV this morning, but she just looks awful.

She's new to the flock and has been nearly impossible to catch up until now, and when I picked her up this morning she put up no fight whatsoever. Does anyone have any suggestions of what I could do for her at home? The closest livestock vet is an hour away and I don't know if she would survive the trip. :(
 
There are any number of conditions which can cause the symptoms you describe. These range from aspergillosis to an infestation of gape worms. You need a very experienced chicken farmer or a veterinarian with poultry expertise to pin down the problem. Sometimes there is just no substitute for expertise. If your bird is within an hour of dying then there is not much anyone can do for her. I'd make that trip to the livestock vet were I in your shoes. Go! I wish you and your bird a happy ending.
 
My vet was able to direct me to an emergency avian vet near me. As soon as I arrived they called a code blue and rushed her back. They couldn't determine what was wrong, but she wasn't able to breathe. Based on how abruptly she fell ill, the vet speculated that she had inhaled an obstruction. She has now passed. Poor little Lucy.
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You have my condolences too. As callous as it might seem on the surface a necropsy might be in order to find out what really happened so that the poor thing might not have died totally in vain. I wish you and yours wellness.
The Zooman
 

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