Chicken got too hot and not recovering?

[sarahkin]

My family was out of town and we had someone checking on the chickens but not letting them out to range (coop is about 70 square feet for 5 chickens). 2 chickens are almost 9 years old, indestructible. 1 is about 5. 2 are 1.5 years old so this is their 2nd summer. 1 of the young ones died on day 2 and the other was not looking well when we returned after 5 days. Weak, comb white, other chickens pecking at her.

I dunked her in water and brought her inside where she has been hanging out for 4 days now. She perked up a bit, comb looks normal but she still can't walk around much and isn't eating, can't tell if she's drinking. She's pooped, twice today, pretty runny. Is this still from the heat? Could it be something else? Will she recover? Unfortunately she can't live in my house forever and it will be over 100 in Texas for another 3 months. When I've taken her outside to wash her off (poop) the other chickens have run over to peck at her right away.

I'm guessing these 2 younger chickens are not as heat tolerant as the others, which I did not know. They did ok last summer in the same type of weather but were never kept cooped up for days. Any ideas appreciated.

 

[Tookie]

Check her crop early in the morning before she eats or drinks anything and see if its empty.
Is her abdomen bloated at all?
Have you checked your flock over for mites or lice?
I would give her Nutri-Drench if you have it.

 

[sarahkin]

Check her crop early in the morning before she eats or drinks anything and see if its empty.
Is her abdomen bloated at all?
Have you checked your flock over for mites or lice?
I would give her Nutri-Drench if you have it.

I'll check her crop and for mites in the morning. Her abdomen feels normal to me but honestly these chickens very rarely let me pick them up so I'm not sure what "normal" feels like.
I can go to the feed store tomorrow, assuming they'd have Nutri Drench?

 

[Kiki]

You aren't sure if this particular bird was eating while you were gone, correct?

Never put an I'll bird in water. The shock of doing so can kill it.

I'm in Texas. Is you coop well ventilated?




The bird needs to be hydrated. Is she drinking on her own? If not do you want to learn how to tube fluids?

 

[sarahkin]

You aren't sure if this particular bird was eating while you were gone, correct?

Never put an I'll bird in water. The shock of doing so can kill it.

I'm in Texas. Is you coop well ventilated?




The bird needs to be hydrated. Is she drinking on her own? If not do you want to learn how to tube fluids?

Hello, yes it is - open on all sides (hardware cloth) and shaded. I've had chickens for 9 years and been lucky not to have problems with any type of illness (just raccoons).

Interesting, everything I read online about an overheated chicken said to dunk them and it did seem to help her. I don't know if she's ill per se or just not well following a heat stroke/exhaustion event.

Unfortunately the person keeping an eye on them wasn't very familiar with them so I'm not sure if she was doing poorly before we returned and he just didn't notice. I watched a video on tube feeding, so I can give her water tonight and the Nutri Drench when I can get it tomorrow.

 

[sarahkin]

So the crop is empty, didn't see mites. Has anyone else experienced a chicken getting too hot and just not bouncing back or should I be looking for something else? I did give some water last night and this am, will get the Nutri Drench after work. How much water should I give?

 

[Tookie]

So the crop is empty, didn't see mites. Has anyone else experienced a chicken getting too hot and just not bouncing back or should I be looking for something else? I did give some water last night and this am, will get the Nutri Drench after work. How much water should I give?

I'm not sure if its from the heat, if it was I would think she would be back to normal by now. When was the last time she laid an egg?
I would start by giving her 4 tablespoons of water.

 

[sarahkin]

I wasn't able to get the Nutri Drench, as the feed store was out. The 100 year old cowboy that works there said that tons of chickens are dying from the heat and that Salmon Favorelles (this one and the one that died) are too sensitive for this climate and to be around the other chickens I have (they are def bullies). Not too hope inspiring.

I've been tube feeding her water and now water with electrolytes and she seems the same, not really better or worse. I ordered some Nutri Drench online... I really can't have a house chicken but I suppose I'll continue to monitor for now.

 

[sarahkin]

Oh, and I have no idea about the eggs, all of them are really intermittent and hers and her sister's are the same color. They haven't been doing much all summer.

 

[Tookie]

I wasn't able to get the Nutri Drench, as the feed store was out. The 100 year old cowboy that works there said that tons of chickens are dying from the heat and that Salmon Favorelles (this one and the one that died) are too sensitive for this climate and to be around the other chickens I have (they are def bullies). Not too hope inspiring.

I've been tube feeding her water and now water with electrolytes and she seems the same, not really better or worse. I ordered some Nutri Drench online... I really can't have a house chicken but I suppose I'll continue to monitor for now.

Oh, and I have no idea about the eggs, all of them are really intermittent and hers and her sister's are the same color. They haven't been doing much all summer.

Hopefully she'll improve.