Ruby (golden comet) is 16 weeks old today. On Friday I noticed her staying in the coop more when everyone else was outside in the run. I got excited because I thought she might be checking out the nesting boxes and planning to lay her first egg. When I went out to shut them in for the night, everyone was roosted in their normal spots, but she was laying on the floor. I put her up on the roost and she laid down and stayed there.
Saturday, much of the same, not eating or drinking as much though, but she did eat some tomatoes I gave them as treats. Again, when I went to put them to bed, she was on the floor in the corner. And I noticed her panting. It has been hot, but they have had shade, cold water, tall grass that they like to lay in in the shade. I see them panting sometimes. But this wasn't the same, for one it was cooler in the evening, and it was more like mouth-breathing. I left her there since she seemed content.
Sunday morning when I opened their door, everyone came out except her. She was inside and laying down and doing the mouth breathing and her breathing in general seems labored even when she doesn't have her mouth open. I took her inside the house and let her rest. She was laying on a towel and stood up to poop, and it was white liquid diarrhea with brown bits. Not yellow, not watery, no blood. I checked her vent and it looked normal - fleshy color, no blood or drainage. But she had the white liquid on her feathers beneath her vent. Abdomen feels full and soft. I do not feel anything that feels like an egg. I did not inspect her vent internally, as I have never done that and I'm afraid of hurting her.
So to summarize: mouth-breathing but no coughing, gagging, sneezing, no drainage from nose or eyes or mouth; white liquid diarrhea, lethargy. She drinks when I put water up to her beak. But has not eaten since Saturday evening. She just lays down, doesn't walk around, sleeps, breathes heavily. Mouth-breathing seems to be less today, but still doing it.
Even prior to this, I had been treating the flock with Corid since I saw some runny but normal brown, green poops in the run.
I started giving her PolyViSol in her water when I brought her in yesterday.
Found a vet that sees chickens. Can do that this evening if I can get off work in time.
Wow, that was long. Sorry!
Saturday, much of the same, not eating or drinking as much though, but she did eat some tomatoes I gave them as treats. Again, when I went to put them to bed, she was on the floor in the corner. And I noticed her panting. It has been hot, but they have had shade, cold water, tall grass that they like to lay in in the shade. I see them panting sometimes. But this wasn't the same, for one it was cooler in the evening, and it was more like mouth-breathing. I left her there since she seemed content.
Sunday morning when I opened their door, everyone came out except her. She was inside and laying down and doing the mouth breathing and her breathing in general seems labored even when she doesn't have her mouth open. I took her inside the house and let her rest. She was laying on a towel and stood up to poop, and it was white liquid diarrhea with brown bits. Not yellow, not watery, no blood. I checked her vent and it looked normal - fleshy color, no blood or drainage. But she had the white liquid on her feathers beneath her vent. Abdomen feels full and soft. I do not feel anything that feels like an egg. I did not inspect her vent internally, as I have never done that and I'm afraid of hurting her.
So to summarize: mouth-breathing but no coughing, gagging, sneezing, no drainage from nose or eyes or mouth; white liquid diarrhea, lethargy. She drinks when I put water up to her beak. But has not eaten since Saturday evening. She just lays down, doesn't walk around, sleeps, breathes heavily. Mouth-breathing seems to be less today, but still doing it.
Even prior to this, I had been treating the flock with Corid since I saw some runny but normal brown, green poops in the run.
I started giving her PolyViSol in her water when I brought her in yesterday.
Found a vet that sees chickens. Can do that this evening if I can get off work in time.
Wow, that was long. Sorry!
