ChickenHawk12
Chirping
- May 7, 2015
- 153
- 6
- 76
We have 4 BO's that just turned 1 year old. We lost one in the fall, we think it was egg-bound and we didn't see the signs. Yesterday our remaining 4 were fine, but this afternoon I noticed one sitting on the ground in the run, not dust bathing but just sitting there. When I came into the run, it didn't get up like the others. I continued to observe it for the next few hours. It is just standing there in the corner facing the wall of the run, barely moving, eyes closing for 10-15 seconds at a time. It will walk around if prodded, isn't waddling, I even checked it's vent for a stuck egg and felt nothing. No visible signs of injury. I don't really know what I'm feeling for, but I felt the front of its throat and it didn't feel any different than the other chickens. I don't know if that doesn't count because it's not first thing morning or not. Another chicken went broody today and has been aggressive to the others, but the others aren't acting like this one. It's like she's dying and she knows it.
I'm not sure what else to do. I'm expecting to have to dispose of a dead chicken in the morning. Any thoughts? And is it normal to lose 2 of our 5 chickens in the first year? I feel like a terrible chicken keeper :-(
I'm not sure what else to do. I'm expecting to have to dispose of a dead chicken in the morning. Any thoughts? And is it normal to lose 2 of our 5 chickens in the first year? I feel like a terrible chicken keeper :-(