762
Songster
We didn't notice anybody being lethargic yesterday, and everyone piled into the brooder as usual before dusk. We have twenty 7-week old Orps and nine 12-week old Wyandottes that kick the leaves in a small space in our yard (50'x20') and file into the outdoor brooder nightly. When they are ready to settle in, they literally pile on each other. There is PLENTY of space (8x4') for each of them (and other sources of heat), but this is what they choose to do, and the all seem happy with it.
As they filed out, this one was left. She does not move. She will raise her head when SHE is being moved. Occasionally she pecks at the blanket...it's like 2-3 seconds, and then lays head down. She also wags her tail slowly back and forth for about 10 seconds about once evert 10 min. We are giving her water with electrolytes by dropper every hour; she opens her eyes for that and swallows. She has kept most down, but one whole hour after the second set of water drops, she opened her beak and a decent amount of water came out. It's been 3 hours since, so I think the rest is staying down now.
Her crop feels empty...I have never had to feel one before but I feel neck bone in the front and nothing else. Her vent is pinkish and she has had liquidy white evacuation only. Not a lot.
Could this be an injury/result of some sort of asphixiation from the pile on? I feel like all of them are big enough to bust their way out if they can't breath, but I don't see why it couldn't happen during sleep. Could something be broken? Neck does move, but back? I have gently palpated her spine, ribs, wings and legs with no reaction, and even if it was something broken, would she be so lifeless?
As they filed out, this one was left. She does not move. She will raise her head when SHE is being moved. Occasionally she pecks at the blanket...it's like 2-3 seconds, and then lays head down. She also wags her tail slowly back and forth for about 10 seconds about once evert 10 min. We are giving her water with electrolytes by dropper every hour; she opens her eyes for that and swallows. She has kept most down, but one whole hour after the second set of water drops, she opened her beak and a decent amount of water came out. It's been 3 hours since, so I think the rest is staying down now.
Her crop feels empty...I have never had to feel one before but I feel neck bone in the front and nothing else. Her vent is pinkish and she has had liquidy white evacuation only. Not a lot.
Could this be an injury/result of some sort of asphixiation from the pile on? I feel like all of them are big enough to bust their way out if they can't breath, but I don't see why it couldn't happen during sleep. Could something be broken? Neck does move, but back? I have gently palpated her spine, ribs, wings and legs with no reaction, and even if it was something broken, would she be so lifeless?
. Very sad. Any ideas what caused this?
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