Dehydration?

[Uzuri]

Anyone know how to tell if a chicken is getting enough water?

My rooster's in solitary due to the kind of shape he's put the hens in (not helped by the fact that I think they're in their 9 month molt). I've made him a waterer out of a milk carton -- cut a hole in the side of the carton, fill with water to the edge, tie the handle to the side of the cage so it can't be turned over -- but I'm worried that I haven't actually seen him drinking out of it. That doesn't mean he HASN'T drank out of it, I mean, I haven't sat out with him all day watching him, but when I had my one hen in solitary to try to get her to lay inside, I did see her put her head in once or twice.

I did make the hole bigger because I was afraid he couldn't get his head in, but now it's big enough that you could drive a bus through it, so he should be fine there. But I'm still a little bothered that I haven't see him drink.

So, anyone know a way to have an idea of whether he's hydrated enough?

 

[patandchickens]

Look at what's coming out the other end

If his poos are infrequent or very dry and pellet-y, he is dehydrated; if they are normally wet, he isn't.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Uzuri]

Why didn't I think of that? XD

Heheh, thanks. I'll look into the other end, so to speak.

 

[cobrien]

My vet has been able to tell me that my chicken was dehydrated by a physical exam of her face. But I didn't know exactly what he did, so I googled and found this:

"...Birds suffering from dehydration may have crinkly skin around theirs eyes. Another way to diagnose dehydration is to pinch their skin for a second (which is possible in chicks or birds with unfeathered areas on their bodies). Dehydrated skin will remain tented for several seconds, rather than bouncing right back."

Makes sense. Maybe you can compare the skin around his eyes to well hydrated chickens in your flock?

Note on the second part about pinching the skin - as a former vet tech we did this all the time with dogs and cats. It was very easy to tell the hydration level in this way - the difference in the skin 'bouncing back to normal' is drastic with hydrated vs. dehydrated animals. I have never tried it on a chicken and don't know what part of their body I'd try - maybe some loose skin around the inner thigh? Again, I'd compare to a bird that you are pretty sure is well hydrated.

 

[Uzuri]

Ah, I actually knew about that with cats and dogs (and people). He seemed to be OK today, dropping-wise, but I'll double-check him with the skin.

I think I'll also try and get him some grapes tomorrow. If he's not happy about drinking out of the milk carton, he'll get some water that way.