90% dead leghorn from my new flock- can I save her?

[leebrown5]

1) What type of bird , age and weight.

just bought 30- he said they were about a year old. they were in DEPLORABLE conditions-I almost didn't take them,but they had to be rescued...
my guess on wt-2 or 3 lbs

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

My daughter said one died- I went to remove it but when I picked it up upside down she flopped her head 2 times

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

sometime between 4pm and 5 pm

4) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

all girls are slowly getting feathers back, but otherwise look intact (scrawny)

5) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

nothing I am aware of. she is the most featherless,possibly skinniest...

6) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

unknown- they all free range in a 2 acre fenced in orchard, with layer feed 2 times daily and fresh water

7) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

they all sleep in 1 house, have seen no bloody poop, all looks fairly solid-ish, and larger than I thought it would be

8) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

she is in a towel in my lap,warming up. I have been dripping water off a towel into her mouth,during which she pooped on me... maybe thats a good sign?

9 ) 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?

I dont plan to vet her, if I can help her I will. I am also concerned for her mates out in the field...

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

any pic would just look like a half plucked, dead chicken

11) Describe the housing/bedding in use

they live in a 6x12 chicken tractor at night, and free range during the day. they don't roost- they sleep in the nesting boxes- 4 or 5 to box, we think perhaps because they are so featherless (to keep warm), and they had been kept so crowded they probably dont know any different.
the floor is covered in ground corn cob, and the boxes are filled with cheap hay from the dairy down the road. not good feed,(full of burdock), but dry,no mold.

 

[Imp]

Good of you to take them in.

I'm not very experienced with emergencies, but I would suggest keeping her inside and warm. I think anything you do would be better than nothing. Vitamins & electrolites, anti-biotics, probiotics, any other supportive care. You could add sugar to the water, it might give her a little energy.

Good luck

Imp

 

[Chickiemama1010]

there are many "home remedies" I have read on here too. Search ACV or apple cider vinegar on the forum. People swear by it for things ranging from pasty butt in hatchlings to watery eyes in adult birds to giving a boost to a bird that has been pecked featherless in a spot by the rest. Also I hear about a liquid vitamin supplement for human infants that you can buy at the regular drug store called poly-vi-sol but the type with no iron. I believe enfamil makes it. Im no expert by any means, but I have read tons of this forum and these are 2 things I see repeated over and over when it comes to a weak bird.

 

[TXmom]

I agree with the above, plus see if she'll eat some scrambled egg or chopped hard boiled egg. If she's still too weak to eat, I've heard of others mixing raw yolk with water and trying to get her to drink that. The yolk has tons of nutrients she needs.

 

[leebrown5]

well,the result is she died shortly after I posted. and as of this morning,7am, the rest of her mates look ok. I wish I knew why she died, it's worrisome to think perhaps I should be doing something for the rest. they were here for 8 days, so anything with an 8 day-2 week incubating period would show up now.
If it does,I'll post back.

thanks for the suggestions.

lee

 

[Imp]

Sorry,
Keep an eye on the rest and post again if anything shows up.

Good luck & I hope you have no more problems

Imp