Chicken sick! help!

[Watson Flock]

She was very stumbly this morning, falling forward, can't stand up.. she is also tilting her head back at times when she breathes and sticking her tongue out some.. her legs feel a little cool also.. she doesn't have mucus but breathing is labored a bit, more at times and less at times..

Any ideas on what it could be? and what could help?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. We need more details, such as age, if she is laying, if she has been eating, and if she has had any vaccines. Pictures can also help.

 

[Watson Flock]

Welcome to BYC. We need more details, such as age, if she is laying, if she has been eating, and if she has had any vaccines. Pictures can also help.

She's almost a year old, layed just two days ago. Barnvelder. She was eating and running around the yard fine yesterday, made her way in to the coop at sundown, but was wobbly then; as in, she wouldn't rest on the roosting bar like they all normally do.

I don't recall what all vaccines she had as a chick.. we got her when she was two days old and we haven't administered anything to her. They are free range in our backyard, so exposed to other birds, mostly bluejays, doves, cardinals, grackles.

 

[Eggcessive]

First I would check for a stuck egg by inserting a clean finger inside her vent an inch or two. Egg binding can sometimes cause a temporary lameness. She might be showing signs of wry neck or star gazing which can be a sign of Mareks disease, head injury, or vitamin B1 and vitamin E deficiency. I would separate her or bring her in tomwatch her closely, and feed some Poultry NutriDrench or vitamins with electrolytes. Try to get her eating, and some things to try would be watery chicken feed in a small bowl, bits of scrambled egg, canned cat food and tuna. Water is important now, since ahe may be dehydrated, and just that can cause balance problems.

 

[Watson Flock]

ok, got her plenty of water; i can feel it in her crop. so, just checked out the vent and there's definitely an egg in there and she pooped all over the place, rather quickly, and it didn't seem like normal poop. much like water and feed, but has a more foul smell, like poop would.

so, i think she's not digesting well, but if it's an egg that's bound, how do you help her get it out?

Her vent is moving a lot, like she might need to get an egg out.

 

[Watson Flock]

and thank you for your replies!

 

[Eggcessive]

Some soak egg bound hens in warm water to relax them to help pass the egg. But it can push a sick hen over the edge, so it would be good to place her in a warm humid room, such as on a warm moist towel. If you have a heating pad under that, set it to LOW. Calcium or Tums can help her to pass the egg, and drinking water so that she is not dehydrated, can help as well.

 

[Watson Flock]

we soaked her.. read that you can also soak in epsom salt, so tried that too... she hasn't succeeded yet, so may try soaking again and i'll update here.

 

[Watson Flock]

UPDATE:

Well, she laid an egg.. but is still moving her head up and down when she breathes and breathing with her beak open.

Will give water and try to feed her, but she is still laying down and not going anywhere.

 

[Eggcessive]

Well, that is good that she laid the egg. Is she overheated? Hopefully, she will feel better after resting.