Drowned chicken recovery--

[cassandrapettersson]

Apperantly, without my knowledge, my mother had put up a water barrell in the chicken run that I was not aware of, not untill today, when she scream out ''Barney is dead'', pulling out the soaked, seemingly dead rooster out of the water.

First thought, he is so dead. Barely any signs of breathing, he seemed to be unconscious at first,, maybe? We really thought he was dead and it took us a long few minutes to figure out that he wasn't.

I'm putting way too much detail into this-- We held him upside down, but no water seemed to come out. We quickly put up the heat lamp and wrapped him up, we tried massaging him, to get him going though who knows if that really helped. At first i held his head up, I didn't want to leave his side as I tried to read through every BYC thread I could find about this. He'd squint his eyes and gasp for air, though the gaps between him breathing were worringly long.

I get warm water bottles and put them wherever, I started with one that he supported his head on and the other against his side. He seemed to get better, and started lifting his head on his own! Shortly after, he started kicking his legs and stretching his wings. At first it seemed like a really good sign, but now that movement is worrying. If I dont have the water bottles evenly distrubed under both his wings, he wobbles- like, realllyy wobbles. His breathing is fine, but this movement just worries me a lot, seems like he's spasming or something. He'll also shake his head with the movement.
I also tried to give him warm sugar water, mostly because I don't have anything else.. Might've killed him with that, who knows? Not me at least ..

So, that's where I'm at now.
Am I asking for help? Yeahh.. Literally what do I do ..

 

[cassandrapettersson]

Apperantly, without my knowledge, my mother had put up a water barrell in the chicken run that I was not aware of, not untill today, when she scream out ''Barney is dead'', pulling out the soaked, seemingly dead rooster out of the water.

First thought, he is so dead. Barely any signs of breathing, he seemed to be unconscious at first,, maybe? We really thought he was dead and it took us a long few minutes to figure out that he wasn't.

I'm putting way too much detail into this-- We held him upside down, but no water seemed to come out. We quickly put up the heat lamp and wrapped him up, we tried massaging him, to get him going though who knows if that really helped. At first i held his head up, I didn't want to leave his side as I tried to read through every BYC thread I could find about this. He'd squint his eyes and gasp for air, though the gaps between him breathing were worringly long.

I get warm water bottles and put them wherever, I started with one that he supported his head on and the other against his side. He seemed to get better, and started lifting his head on his own! Shortly after, he started kicking his legs and stretching his wings. At first it seemed like a really good sign, but now that movement is worrying. If I dont have the water bottles evenly distrubed under both his wings, he wobbles- like, realllyy wobbles. His breathing is fine, but this movement just worries me a lot, seems like he's spasming or something. He'll also shake his head with the movement.
I also tried to give him warm sugar water, mostly because I don't have anything else.. Might've killed him with that, who knows? Not me at least ..

So, that's where I'm at now.
Am I asking for help? Yeahh.. Literally what do I do ..

Oh and; He's not a chicken, per say. He's a rooster, beautiful, big boy

 

[casportpony]

Do you have a hair dryer?

 

[cassandrapettersson]

Do you have a hair dryer?

Nope! But its been so long, so he's dry and warm- maybe a bit humid still

 

[Muser]

Depending on how long he was in the barrel, he may be exhausted. Let him dry and remain quiet for a couple of hours or seek professional medical advice from a vet. I would just make sure he's comfortable and steady whilst he recovers. If you've ever tried to swim long lengths for a long period of time, wobbly legs and arms is a symptom of overworking the muscles, in his case, to try and stay afloat as long as possible or trying to get out.

Oh and shaking of the head can sometimes mean they have water in their ears... which I'm imagining, he absolutely has if he was fully submerged.

 

[cassandrapettersson]

Depending on how long he was in the barrel, he may be exhausted. Let him dry and remain quiet for a couple of hours or seek professional medical advice from a vet. I would just make sure he's comfortable and steady whilst he recovers. If you've ever tried to swim long lengths for a long period of time, wobbly legs and arms is a symptom of overworking the muscles, in his case, to try and stay afloat as long as possible or trying to get out.

Oh and shaking of the head can sometimes mean they have water in their ears... which I'm imagining, he absolutely has if he was fully submerged.

Well that's a relief to hear, hopefully it's that and not some seizure, spasm thingy.

Right now he's sitting on his knees, he's repositioned himself a lot. He seems to be doing good but I don't know how long he'll be able to live if he survives this, considering antibiotics is something only vets can prescribe, you can't really buy it in feed stores. And my mom is not psyched about bringing a chicken to the vet

 

[Muser]

Well that's a relief to hear, hopefully it's that and not some seizure, spasm thingy.

Right now he's sitting on his knees, he's repositioned himself a lot. He seems to be doing good but I don't know how long he'll be able to live if he survives this, considering antibiotics is something only vets can prescribe, you can't really buy it in feed stores. And my mom is not psyched about bringing a chicken to the vet

Antibiotics wouldn't be offered as a solution to a near drowning, they are usually only prescribed when there is a respiratory illness or some other type of wound/infection. They would just be able to look him over and give you some advice on why he's doing the kicking motion. I'm still guessing it's exhaustion though, keep him nice and quiet, and let him rest <3 I really hope he makes it, poor guy!

 

[cassandrapettersson]

Antibiotics wouldn't be offered as a solution to a near drowning, they are usually only prescribed when there is a respiratory illness or some other type of wound/infection. They would just be able to look him over and give you some advice on why he's doing the kicking motion. I'm still guessing it's exhaustion though, keep him nice and quiet, and let him rest <3 I really hope he makes it, poor guy!

Oh I mean I've just read a lot of people giving their chickens antibiotics for risk of pneumonia after drowning. Though I didn't read too much into it except for the browsing in the threads.

 

[Muser]

Oh I mean I've just read a lot of people giving their chickens antibiotics for risk of pneumonia after drowning. Though I didn't read too much into it except for the browsing in the threads.

Ah! I understand now! Some people often suggest Nutri-drench for their birds to help them recover, never used it myself though, just see people mention it a fair bit, maybe something to look into if he looks like he's going to recover <3

 

[cassandrapettersson]

He stod up!