Domineak SICK (Updated) Friday, Thanks for your help!!!

[barg]

When I raised bugies, if a bird looked puffed up and sickly, it meant that the bird was almost dead and that, short of a miracle, the bird would be dead within a few hours.

Question: Do chickens show their illness earlier.
Are they willing to show illness even when it is not imminently life threatening



Domineak the Dominique is keeping her right eye closed.
She has opened it and there doesnt seem to be anything wrong with it but most of the time today she has kept it closed.
She is puffed up and not moving around allot.
Looks to be sick, although I dont see anything wrong with her.

She is 16 1/2 weeks, all the pullets combs and wattles have been changeing alot lately, much more red starting about a week ago.

Could this be a sign that she is about to lay or is it more likely that she's sick.

 

[bayouchica]

Hi barg, I'm just guessing, but maybe she is eggbound? Is she eating/drinking?
Does she keep her tail down & does she sit alot?

Maybe someone else can offer some more advice.

 

[barg]

I don't know much yet, I just noticed she was haveing a problem, my wife said that she was doing that this morning as well.
I was going to take her out and have a look but before I could she went into the chicken house, got up on the roost and went to sleep.

Before that I only observed her for a couple minutes and she was just standing there in the run, not really responsive while the other chickens were jumping around looking for treats from me.

I'm going to try to get a better look as soon as I can.
I gather this is not normal Pre laying behavior?

 

[bayouchica]

Doesn't sound normal to me. She could have a soft shell egg stuck & is having trouble passing it.
Can you take a poop sample to the vet? to rule out worms or cocci.

 

[barg]

I wanted to do that, I called the local vet that specializes in avain vet med and they told me my chicken was Livestock.
They don't do livestock.

 

[barg]

I went out and gave the chickens some treats to try and lure them out of their house, they all came except Domineak who stayed sleeping on the roost

 

[bayouchica]

That figures!! I have the same problem around here.Have to drive little over an hr. for a 21.00 poop sample.

Would they at least do a poop sample?? Maybe some other vet would do it? They don't have to see the chicken just deal with the poop!

Here's a link with some info on eggbound,scroll down to eggchel's post, give you some more info on treating your hen.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2528

Good luck & I hope your little hen gets better soon.

 

[barg]

I got her, and the other chickens, to come out by bribeing them with cracked corn.
She will eat from my hand but I havn't seen her eat or drink otherwise.

I have checked her rear and see nothing wrong there.
I have felt her crop and feel nothing wrong there.

The only consistant thing I see is that she
Closes her right eye.
She will only open it breifly if startled.
I have seen it open well enough to see Nothing obviously wrong with it.
She is still puffed up.

When I raised bugies, if a bird looked puffed up and sickly, it meant that the bird was almost dead and that, short of a miracle, the bird would be dead within a few hours.

Question: Do chickens show their illness earlier.
Are they willing to show illness even when it is not imminently life threatening

 

[thndrdancr]

Barg,

In my case, the pre egg laying behavior was pacing, and pacing and kind of crying.

From most of what I read, thats real normal, so it sounds like your hen is sick, not pre lay.

Sure hope she gets better, is it super hot there too, like most of the country?

Jill

 

[barg]

No it isnt hot at all here.
Its been very mild to cool wether actually.
I'm sure that temperature isnt a factor.
Todays high 69 degrees.