- Jul 30, 2009
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I am new to chickens and just got three baby Cochin chicks. I lost my first flock of eight to a predator or to botulism (still don't know which) or something two weeks ago, so I got three chicks to replace them. I figured I'd keep them in a cage on the back porch where I could watch them, better monitor their water and food, more easily than I could in the chicken house.
It's really hot today and I went to check the chicks and the sun had moved and they were now in the sun. They were clearly over heated, so I got them more shade and fresh water. Two of them immediately got up to drink, but the other did not. She just sat there. I picked her up and she was really lethargic, and it looked like her one leg was dangling. I lifted her up to drink, and she got one drink, but then no more.
I decided to bring the chicks inside and the two dark ones immediately perked up. They drank a lot, ate a lot, and are now running around the pen, hopping and are doing great. The golden one, however, just sits. She perked up a little, and when I threw out the starter corn on the ground, she sat and ate it. But she did so sitting. I checked her and her leg was still dangling. She did eventually get up and move around, but she's flopping. I can't tell whether she has any use of the leg or not.
When I pick her up, the toes won't really grasp. They'll move a little, but they won't grasp, and the leg just extends out. Her wing on the same side also doesn't seem to be sitting right.
She has not been dropped, squeezed, or anything like that, as far as I'm aware. My children play with them, and she's squirmed and flapped to the ground (so have the others), but the girls are only three feet high. As far as I know, there is no reason for her leg not to be working right. They've been in an enclosed cage, so they've been protected. They've been in the house for two hours, and the other two are doing fine.
She just tried to stand up, was a little wobbly, but then sat back down.
Any ideas? Thanks.
It's really hot today and I went to check the chicks and the sun had moved and they were now in the sun. They were clearly over heated, so I got them more shade and fresh water. Two of them immediately got up to drink, but the other did not. She just sat there. I picked her up and she was really lethargic, and it looked like her one leg was dangling. I lifted her up to drink, and she got one drink, but then no more.
I decided to bring the chicks inside and the two dark ones immediately perked up. They drank a lot, ate a lot, and are now running around the pen, hopping and are doing great. The golden one, however, just sits. She perked up a little, and when I threw out the starter corn on the ground, she sat and ate it. But she did so sitting. I checked her and her leg was still dangling. She did eventually get up and move around, but she's flopping. I can't tell whether she has any use of the leg or not.
When I pick her up, the toes won't really grasp. They'll move a little, but they won't grasp, and the leg just extends out. Her wing on the same side also doesn't seem to be sitting right.
She has not been dropped, squeezed, or anything like that, as far as I'm aware. My children play with them, and she's squirmed and flapped to the ground (so have the others), but the girls are only three feet high. As far as I know, there is no reason for her leg not to be working right. They've been in an enclosed cage, so they've been protected. They've been in the house for two hours, and the other two are doing fine.
She just tried to stand up, was a little wobbly, but then sat back down.
Any ideas? Thanks.
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