3 sick hens this morning

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wouldn't eat the eggs until you know they are healthy.

 

[casportpony]

Do they have access to oyster shell? A calcium deficiency could cause the symptoms you're seeing, though I think that's would be unlikely for three hens to have it at the same time, especially if all three hens are on a good layer pellet.

-Kathy

 

[lou-q]

The only thing we think is that they ate something. We'll probably never know what. I hope it wasn't intentionally.
One eats of the spoon and pretty good, the other two are still eating from the dropper. Neither are eating as much as the third and with much difficulty.
The one that walked to the nest box didn't lay an egg so my wife brought her back in the house and she is back to mostly laying down. She is not the one that is eating the most.
Thanks,
Lou

 

[chickengeorgeto]

For what it's worth it sounds to me like your hens ate something contaminated by Botulism toxin. Almost everything is exposed to the botulism bacteria daily but it is not dangerous unless it has grown and produced preexisting poison or toxin.

It is unlikely that you or anyone else is to blame, it just happens sometimes when the right or maybe I should say when the wrong conditions come together.

 

[lou-q]

This morning they seem to be holding their eyes open longer and their heads up more.
Two of them stood up and walked a little. They are wobly like if they were drunk and still not eating on their own. It's been over 48 hours since we found them like this.
Time for hand feeding again.
I'll report latter as to how much the ate.
Lou

 

[casportpony]

This morning they seem to be holding their eyes open longer and their heads up more.
Two of them stood up and walked a little. They are wobly like if they were drunk and still not eating on their own. It's been over 48 hours since we found them like this.
Time for hand feeding again.
I'll report latter as to how much the ate.
Lou

Are they drinking?

-Kathy

 

[lou-q]

They are only drinking with the eye dropper. We are giving them liquid food with gatorade.
One is eating from the spoon pretty good.
When we offer the one that is eating from the spoon some dry food she pecks at it but only in mid air about an inch away from the food.
We'll keep hand feeding them until they are back to normal or die....
Thanks,
Lou

 

[casportpony]

They are only drinking with the eye dropper. We are giving them liquid food with gatorade.
One is eating from the spoon pretty good.
When we offer the one that is eating from the spoon some dry food she pecks at it but only in mid air about an inch away from the food.
We'll keep hand feeding them until they are back to normal or die....
Thanks,
Lou

They need 10% of their body weight per day in fluids, so 45 ml per pound.

-Kathy

 

[lou-q]

Thanks Kathy,
We are used to syringe feeding baby macaws but they help you as they naturally get fed by the parents.
Feeding a chicken that is kind of fighting you is more difficult so we are afraid of having it go down in their lungs.
Any ideas as how to get more fluids in them.
They seem better every time we feed them (every 2 hours).
Right now is feeding time and two were standing for a while which is an improvement. Their legs are shaking when the try to walk.
Lou

 

[casportpony]

Thanks Kathy,
We are used to syringe feeding baby macaws but they help you as they naturally get fed by the parents.
Feeding a chicken that is kind of fighting you is more difficult so we are afraid of having it go down in their lungs.
Any ideas as how to get more fluids in them.
They seem better every time we feed them (every 2 hours).
Right now is feeding time and two were standing for a while which is an improvement. Their legs are shaking when the try to walk.
Lou

I would tube feed.

Kathy