Dehydration: Symptoms, Cure and Prevention

[chicken4prez]

@casportpony
Thank you for your suggestion. She had a convulsion and died in my arms shortly after I wrote the post.

Now I know that if any of the others goes under the coop to be in the shade, I must put a bowl of water within their reach and not expect them to come out and walk the half a yard into the coop to get a drink. These are my first chickens, and I never realised that the heat was such a killer. Today my husband has fixed up an awning on the side of the coop to give them some more shade. They also have citrus trees, apple trees and olive trees to free range under. The one that died was a lot smaller than the others and a lot slower with her feathers coming in. I think she was the 'runt' of the hatch. Thank God that the other 3 chickens are bigger and more healthy. They are also suffering from the heat, but go under the trees and dust bathe to keep cool. I've been keeping a close eye on them since she died, and they DO go regularly to drink either from the waterer in the coop or from the bowls of water I place under the trees.
I suppose for cochins it's even more difficult for them in hot weather because of all their extra feathers...

I'm so so so sorry

 

[tmommie]

My husband discovered our 4 year old rooster a little while ago lethargic with runny/grainy green poo. I've read this thread so became aware of what is suggested to do. I brought him inside and gave him electrolyte water. He is drinking some and walking around but doesn't sound like his normal self. I've checked him and haven't found anything out of the ordinary other than the poo. We have penicillin, should we give him a dose? I took a picture of his rear but don't know how to post it. Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Penicillin and other antibiotics should not be given unless you have a good reason, such as for an infected wound, enteritis, or something that you know is wrong. Give him water with electrolytes and vitamins, offer some chopped egg, plain yogurt, and add some water to some feed to make it soupy. Green poops are a sign of not eating well. Check his crop for emptiness or being full or hard, feel for loss of weight in the vreast area. If you have a good relationship with a local vet, take in a few fresh droppings for a fecal float on Monday am.

 

[tmommie]

He is still drinking well. Didn't eat the feed I offered him. His crop is empty. I will try the chopped egg and add water to the feed and see how he does with that. If not better by Monday I will search for a vet that will see him. Thank you very much - I appreciate it. He is very special to me, only rooster that always lets me hold him. He lays his head on my shoulder and closes his eyes. Everybody thinks I'm crazy for having such affection for a rooster.

 

[elaineinspain]

My husband discovered our 4 year old rooster a little while ago lethargic with runny/grainy green poo. I've read this thread so became aware of what is suggested to do. I brought him inside and gave him electrolyte water. He is drinking some and walking around but doesn't sound like his normal self. I've checked him and haven't found anything out of the ordinary other than the poo. We have penicillin, should we give him a dose? I took a picture of his rear but don't know how to post it. Thank you!

NO!!!! Don't give him antibiotics! just give him the water with electrolytes in. Give him some scrambled egg, and soak his feed overnight (better still give him fermented feed)
Green poops could also be because of him eating greens and veggies. Does he free range?
Try and keep him somewhere cool. and make sure he has access to lots of electrolyte water. Put bowls filled with water in all the places he likes to hang out. Can you check his crop in the evenings to see if it's full?
if he's not better by Monday morning take him to a vet, and take some of his poop with you.
I just lost a bird to heat stress and dehydration, and would hate for it to happen to anyone else.
Fingers crossed he gets better!

 

[tmommie]

His crop isn't full but it does have stuff in it this morning. We had opened up a new area for them to roam on that had different types of vegetation - I didn't think of that but could be reason for green poop. I did check all the others last night and none of them have same problem. Last night he was making weird noises and almost looked like he was staggering. He is walking around acting more like normal now. We will keep watching him and hopefully he will continue to improve. Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[casportpony]

His crop isn't full but it does have stuff in it this morning. We had opened up a new area for them to roam on that had different types of vegetation - I didn't think of that but could be reason for green poop. I did check all the others last night and none of them have same problem. Last night he was making weird noises and almost looked like he was staggering. He is walking around acting more like normal now. We will keep watching him and hopefully he will continue to improve. Thank you for your suggestions.

Can you post a picture of his poop?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

This is from a hen that had some sort of bacterial infection:


-Kathy

 

[tmommie]

I'm trying to post a picture but it isn't working. It wasn't as bright green as your picture. And this morning there wasn't as much on his rear. We took him out of his crate and he was walking around well and was visiting with our cats and dogs.

 

[casportpony]

I'm trying to post a picture but it isn't working. It wasn't as bright green as your picture. And this morning there wasn't as much on his rear. We took him out of his crate and he was walking around well and was visiting with our cats and dogs.

I think you might need to post a few more times before you can post pictures.

-Kathy