I will look into the tubing tonight. Yesterday she was drinking and eating on her own, so I didn't think it was necessary, but this morning she did neither.
I'm not sure what she ate. She hasn't had access to grass since probably September, but I did put down straw in the run. Maybe she ate some straw? They do have access to grit and oyster shell at all times.
She's not looking very good today. Her crop was still full this morning and she didn't want to eat breakfast. She only pooped about 3 more times overnight. If she doesn't look better by tonight, I think I will be culling my first chicken
She pooped twice this morning and was drinking on her own, so I'll see how she is when I get home.
Is there a way you can tell if a chicken is dehydrated?
I'll be facing the same dilemma as you soon, (see my thread - Hen with impacted crop) except it's quite a bit colder here. But I keep my house at about 55F (overnight) and 64-66F (daytime) so maybe a similar range as you're dealing wtih.
I'm thinking at this point I may just put her outside...
Ok, I'm not going to be able to make it home at lunch today to massage her again, due to road closures -- a water main froze and burst on a major road (it's been that cold!) so I'll have to take care of her when I get home.
How much should I feed her? Can I let her have 2 scrambled eggs and...
Thank you for your help. I realize it must be hard to really understand what kind of cold I'm talking about, if you don't have that kind of weather where you are. . Opening a window would seriously risk freezing/bursting pipes and substantial damage to the house!
Thanks for the replies. To answer some of the questions:
I have straw and dried leaves on the floor in their run, and wood shavings in the coop.
I have not dewormed her.
I will not be attempting surgery.
I think the impaction is still there this morning, but not sour. I won't vomit...
This is the second time dealing with an impacted crop for this particular RSL hen. The last time, I was able to separate her, massage her, give her scrambled egg & olive oil, and after a few days I put her back with the flock. In retrospect, I may have put her back too early and perhaps the...
It's a lovely -26C (-16F) this morning. Do I need to keep the hens locked up in the coop, or can I open the door so they still have the option of going out? I would like to give them the option of going out but it will make the coop that much colder. It's a bit small in the coop for 11 hens to...
Any advice would be appreciated. We've already had frost here, winter will follow shortly (we usually see snow a time or two before Halloween) and snow will remain until at least April (we had plenty of snow in May here this year).
I have two that started laying at 16 1/2 weeks, and a third started at 17 weeks. I believe the two who started first are my Columbian Rock crosses. Not sure who the third is; possibly a BSL.
I'm just tickled pink to announce my first-ever chicken egg today!! I wasn't expecting any eggs for another month! How exciting! Should I switch them all (11 hens, about 16 1/2 weeks old) onto layer feed immediately, or should I wait until more of them start laying?
Ha, no kidding. But I have to say that one of my first thoughts upon finding her (after OMG!!!) was, "I thought only horses could find such strange ways to get hurt!".
Thanks for the replies. I have her separated for now, in the barn. How long would you keep wrapping up the wing? And should I put something on the wounds other than betadine? I have blukote, wonderdust, swat... not sure if any/all of those are safe for use on chickens.
One of my red sex link pullets managed to impale her wing on the small hook that the feeder is hanging from inside the coop. I found her hanging by the hook when I got home from work today :(.
I immediately gave her water (not knowing how long she had been hanging there) and she drank quite...
Did I read that correctly -- you drove to the hatchery, 2 hours one way, TWICE, and were told upon arriving that the chickens weren't ready, and you still went back a third time? Holy moly you are a forgiving person! Then I lol'd that they gave you a free chick for your trouble... like that...