Corgisbunniesnchicks
Songster
- May 3, 2020
- 69
- 75
- 116
I’m a newbie and as much as I read, research, and try to do what’s best for my animals...the fact is I don’t have experience with chickens. We had 6 d’Uccles—9 months old—and we lost one about a month ago. She was the smallest but otherwise she had no symptoms—no warning that anything was wrong. We just found her dead just outside the coop in the run. There was no sign of any wound or injury.
Now the next smallest hen is not acting right. She likes to be held but I’ve noticed she breathes more heavily and sometimes open-mouthed when she is held. I’ve noticed this for probably 3-4 months, though it seems to be getting worse. She eats fine and lays eggs but I don’t know how often because I haven’t figured out which eggs belong to which hens. I just know that some days we’ve had 4 eggs since Mulan died and we only have 4 hens now, 1 rooster. Today when we let them out to spend time with them, she just didn’t seem herself—less active, scratched a bit but half-heartedly and her breathing became very labored when we held her. I brought her inside to check her more thoroughly and it seemed like her vent was pushed out so I thought prolapse. I put her bottom in a warm bath but then it looked like it wasn’t pushed out as far so I’m not sure. I gently pushed it back anyway. But I’m afraid the whole bath process really stressed her out so she looked BAD afterwards—wouldn’t stand up, eyes closed, breathing hard. We warmed her up and waited and she seemed to perk up but she’s still not right. I have her in a carrier now with some water. Also I felt her crop and it seems full and squishy but I’m not sure how it’s supposed to feel really—I just noticed that it’s more visible than usual. I checked on her a few min ago and offered some yogurt which she ate maybe a tsp. Also forgot to mention when we first brought her in the house I gave her about 1 tbsp of banana with a few drops of nutra-drench which she ate. I don’t think she’s had any water in the carrier but I gave her a few drops by syringe when I fed her the yogurt. I’m sorry this is so long...I was just trying to give any helpful info. I’m so worried...we LOVE our chickens!! My 6 yo daughter really loves them—the highlight of her day is going to spend time with them. This little hen, Bianca, is her favorite because she likes to be held and is such a sweetheart! I really don’t want this baby to die!! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Now the next smallest hen is not acting right. She likes to be held but I’ve noticed she breathes more heavily and sometimes open-mouthed when she is held. I’ve noticed this for probably 3-4 months, though it seems to be getting worse. She eats fine and lays eggs but I don’t know how often because I haven’t figured out which eggs belong to which hens. I just know that some days we’ve had 4 eggs since Mulan died and we only have 4 hens now, 1 rooster. Today when we let them out to spend time with them, she just didn’t seem herself—less active, scratched a bit but half-heartedly and her breathing became very labored when we held her. I brought her inside to check her more thoroughly and it seemed like her vent was pushed out so I thought prolapse. I put her bottom in a warm bath but then it looked like it wasn’t pushed out as far so I’m not sure. I gently pushed it back anyway. But I’m afraid the whole bath process really stressed her out so she looked BAD afterwards—wouldn’t stand up, eyes closed, breathing hard. We warmed her up and waited and she seemed to perk up but she’s still not right. I have her in a carrier now with some water. Also I felt her crop and it seems full and squishy but I’m not sure how it’s supposed to feel really—I just noticed that it’s more visible than usual. I checked on her a few min ago and offered some yogurt which she ate maybe a tsp. Also forgot to mention when we first brought her in the house I gave her about 1 tbsp of banana with a few drops of nutra-drench which she ate. I don’t think she’s had any water in the carrier but I gave her a few drops by syringe when I fed her the yogurt. I’m sorry this is so long...I was just trying to give any helpful info. I’m so worried...we LOVE our chickens!! My 6 yo daughter really loves them—the highlight of her day is going to spend time with them. This little hen, Bianca, is her favorite because she likes to be held and is such a sweetheart! I really don’t want this baby to die!! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
