8 wk Black Orp pullet sick *UPDATE*

[needmorechickens!]

I have a sick pullet.

Yesterday I noticed her standing in a corner with her head under her wing when I was feeding the others. When I touched her she walked away, so although I was concerned I thought she may just be cold or sleeping.
Today she was all puffed up and slow moving, but was trying to get to the waterer, but she got crowded out. She is smaller than the others from the same hatch.
I have had her in the laundry room on newspaper for an hour now and there is no poop at all. She pecked at the food once, but is now standing in the corner puffed up again. She keeps closing her eyes but will walk away if I put my hand in the box with her.

1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Black Orpington, 8.5 weeks old, not sure how much she weighs

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Described above.

3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No
4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
She is smaller than others her age, may be getting crowded out of feed and water?

5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Nothing in the last hour. They have medicated starter and free choice grit at all times, cracked corn as a treat daily.

6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
None in the last hour.

7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Seperated from others, indoors, fresh water with Vit & Elec, medicated crumbles, chopped scrambled egg (which she hasn't eaten yet).

8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Want to treat on my own.

9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

10) Describe the housing/bedding in use
There are 15 chickens from 7 to 9 weeks together in a coop with a heat lamp, pine shavings (cleaned out and totally replaced last weekend) and an attached run that is opened to them every morning.

What else can I do or check to help figure out what's wrong?

~Rebecca

 

[SpottedCrow]

She could be constipated.
If she is, a drop of molasses will get things moving.

 

[needmorechickens!]

I don't have molasses, what about honey?
Anyone else...please?

~Rebecca

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I don't know of anything else to help her either. I've never had one do this at that age. Must be something wrong internally stunting her grow maybe?

I would think if the others were starving her out she would be wanting to eat.

I've never lost orps or any of birds that age with the way you have describe her acting and from the pics.

Try what SC says with a molasses flush but only once I think I've read. Maybe someone else with chime in with an idea.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm at a loss, too, Rebecca. Could be she has a heart defect, like one of my Delaware pullets I lost last week, which would explain her stunted growth, OR, could be cocci at that age, but with no poop to check, hard to say.

 

[needmorechickens!]

She has had one normal poo since this morning (no other poo at all). She has nibbled at the crumbles but has not eaten much. I can't tell that she is drinking much.
I did notice her gaping a couple of times while I was watching her earlier, but I haven't checked her crop yet. We have company visiting right now, so I will check her crop after they leave.
~Rebecca

 

[SpottedCrow]

Was this ploop very dry? What colour was it?

 

[MissPrissy]

Put a heat lamp on her. Puffing like usually they have a chill. Giver her some sugar water by beak using a dropper. The sugar water will make her start to poop. Once you have seen her pooping stop the sugar water and give her ACV in her water. A little yogurt would be good too. Warm, dim area and just keep a watch on her for other signs or issues.

 

[needmorechickens!]

ok i have given her some sugar water, put the heat lamp on her....I have seen her eat and drink and I hear her peeping every once in a while.
spottedcrow - the first poo was very dry, the second and third had more liquid with it

There is nothing in her crop, she is pretty thin.

~Rebecca

 

[needmorechickens!]

This mornings update...
She is eating....

She is curious...

and she is pooping...

Thanks for the help y'all...I am going to try putting her back in the coop at lunch time if she is still doing well. We're having a pretty mild day here so it's a good day for her to go back out.

~Rebecca