Belly hard for two days, then suddenly goes soft. Please help!!

[chickensarefamily2me]

Nope. Not a single surviving case of pasty butt. I had a chick with it, but it only survived a few days.

Ursula would remain sitting while pooping, thus covering herself in poop.

 

[jjthink]

Way way too many deaths - something really wrong. .....

Is oyster shell available at all times?

If no egg for a week or two this could be an eggbound situation. Get and crush a Tums in a little bit of water and administer to her very gently by dribbling along her beak line, so she swallows on her own and doesn't choke. If you need to do it in 2 or 3 short sessions spaced a few minutes apart so she doesn't overly stress, do that. The baths - could be helpful if eggbound. Fill sink to a height that will cover her vent area with quite warm (but not hot) water and stay with her while she soaks in there for 15 minutes or so if she'll stand it. She may sit down and relax - just may sure water is not too high. Make sure house is cool enough that this does not overheat her. Gently dry her with towel once she's out. Put her in very comfy dimly lit area (to try to discourage her body from trying to make more eggs).......

Is she still breathing hard? <----if so, constitutes emergency.

JJ

 

[chickensarefamily2me]

I have grit, but no oyster shell. I've given her a couple baths, and she seems more relaxed. She isn't breathing as hard anymore, but she's still tired. She's eating a little bit of scrambled egg, but that's only when I'm not watching. Should the Tums mixture be watery or like paste. Flavored or unflavored?

 

[jjthink]

Grit is for helping them digest food, oyster shell to help give them what they need to properly form eggs.

Have oyster shell available free choice 24/7. Those who need it will take some, those who don't won't. My hens always eat oyster shell the night before they are going to lay an egg - it's an amazing and fascinating thing, how they know just when they need it. (I suspect it's used to form later eggs, the one about to be laid having consumed calcium in their body, thus making them crave more).

The Tums/water mix will be easier for her to swallow if it's watery - any type of Tums will do.

JJ

 

[chickensarefamily2me]

Okay, Ursula is awake this morning, and I've got the Tums mixture. I lifted her out of the box I'm keeping her in, so she could move more. I lifted her out at 8:10, and she started panting when I set her down. She's still panting! But, she is a little more mobile. She squirted some of the most foul smelling liquid this morning.

I noticed something odd this morning, when I was giving her another bath. She refused to sit in the water, remaining standing. When she walked, one of her wings came out, as if she was trying to catch her balance. When I put her in the warm water, her face pinked back up to regular. Now that she's out of the water, her face is back to pale. And she has a black ring around her eyes. I don't know if this is a because she's a black bird, or what. She's sleeping now.

I don't have a syringe, is there anything else I can do to give her the Tums mixture? Thanks for everyone's help!

BTW, my clock is an hour forward on this website. Always minus an hour for me.

 

[chickensarefamily2me]

Okay everyone. Now I'm confused! Ursula hasn't moved at all, pooped once early this morning, won't eat, I've forced her to drink through the use of a syringe, and done nothing but sleep! Her face is pale, but her comb and wattles aren't. She returns to a normal color when I put her in a warm bath. She leans to the left, hasn't eaten yet today. Drank half an ounce of water. She has black rings around her eyes, and is panting since this morning. What is wrong with my bird???!!!! She still utters some chicken noise, preens sometimes. When she stands up, her face pinks back up. She is alert, but when she stands, it's like her balance is off. She won't walk.

 

[jjthink]

Can you call Peter Brown as suggested? She is gravely ill and every hour that passes diminishes the odds of saving her.
JJ

 

[chickensarefamily2me]

JJ, I can't afford it. He has a charge just to talk to him. I couldn't even get through to him. I called thirty times, every five minutes. I'll try again. I can't do anything about her. I've tried the Tums, and the baths, nothing worked. Is there anything else I can do that anyone knows of????

 

[jjthink]

Well, they're closed now (closed at 4:30 EST) but their service allows leaving a message or sending an e-mail (just tried it). If they don't see today, it is likely too late.

Ack - I see you didn't do the Tums. All pharmacies have droppers - are there any nearby? Really don't know if she's eggbound but it's worth trying. An eggbound bird without resolution will have heart failure and die.

Isn't there anyone who can help you with all of this? It's so sad for a bird to suffer like this. Is there a wildlife rehab center that might make an exception and help a non-wildlife bird? A 4-H club that has acces sto more resources?

How long has she been ailing at this point?H er symptoms could mean so many different things - she could be eggbound but she could also have other issues.......

Keep posting any and all info so this thread is seen by more people.

JJ

 

[chickensarefamily2me]

URSULA ATE A GRAPE!!!!!!! IT WAS GREEN, AND KINDA BIG!!!!! SHE ATE A GREEN GRAPE!!!!! I'm sorry, I'm sorry.... She hasn't eaten anything all day. Absolutly nothing, until NOW!!!!! Whooo!!!!!!!!! She still needs to resolve quite a few probs though.