Drunk Looking Pullet

[ShannaES]

16 wk old pullet looks unsteady on her feet, almost like she's drunk. The rest of the flock are fine and all are vaccinated for Mareks. She is eating/drinking and seemed fine yesterday but we're on our fourth day of 100 degree temps. I have turned them out under my orange tree and wet down the soil, added Poultry Cell to cool water and provided watermelon and frozen peas. Does this sound like dehydration from the heat or vitamin deficiency?

I lost 3 chickens a few weeks ago and can't bear to lose another.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Separate the pullet from the flock on a brooder. This way she can get the food and water it needs, and you can monitor her. If the weather is hot, she may be overheated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, it could be dehydration. Is she drinking water? You can give the Poultry NutriDrench orally 2-3 ml daily. Offer sips of water as often as possible, and you can briefly dip her beak to give her the message. Do you have plenty of shade and shaded water available?

 

[ShannaES]

Separate the pullet from the flock on a brooder. This way she can get the food and water it needs, and you can monitor her. If the weather is hot, she may be overheated.

Thank you I've been watching her all day. She has been drinking poultry cell water, eating fermented feed, watermelon & cold peas all day. She was laying under my orange tree in cool soil that I thoroughly wet down earlier. Should I add probiotics to the poultry cell water?

 

[ShannaES]

Yes, it could be dehydration. Is she drinking water? You can give the Poultry NutriDrench orally 2-3 ml daily. Offer sips of water as often as possible, and you can briefly dip her beak to give her the message. Do you have plenty of shade and shaded water available?

Thank you for your response. She has been drinking poultry cell water and she ate fermented feed, quite a bit of watermelon (her fav treat) and drank the juice at the bottom. I had them under my orange tree all day after I wet down the soil to keep them cool. Trying to decide what else I could do for her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she pooping and what does it look like? I would continue to watch her behavior. Do you know the cause of death for your 3 chickens a few weeks ago? What were the symptoms?

 

[ShannaES]

Is she pooping and what does it look like? I would continue to watch her behavior. Do you know the cause of death for your 3 chickens a few weeks ago? What were the symptoms?

A dog killed the the other three. They all have watery poop with the heat and increased drinking. I've been checking her hourly and plan to give her a thorough once over when they get in the coop tonight

 

[ShannaES]

My drunk pullet is not getting better (or worse). I have her separated and change out her supplement daily( Nutri-Drench, Rooster Booster or Poultry cell). I'm guessing this is a vitamin deficiency. It's been hard to treat since nobody is eating as much in this heatwave. I'm giving watermelon, a tiny bit of greek yogurt, peas on top of food. Any advice is welcomed.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she still eating well? Could there be something wrong with the fermented feed? You could try just feeding fresh feed or make a small amount of moistened fresh feed for her to eat. It is possible that she has worms or coccidiosis, or might have eaten something bad for her. Corid treats coccidiosis, and wormers such as SafeGuard or Valbazen are good to use.

 

[maryn7]

When my chicken molted she stopped eating and lost some B vitamins as a result and did the drunken walk. There probably is more going on here, as others have suggested, but popping her a B vitamin pill might help.

I'd also see if you can get her to eat some cat food or tuna for the protein if you're worried about her eating levels.