Last night I went into the chook house to put our girls on their roost, as we do every night. One of our girls seemed particularly sleepy. I chuckled to my self (as she has been laying our first eggs about 3 of them) that our "big mama" tired herself out. She was much calmer than usual.
This morning I was heart broken to go out to the coop and find big mama on the floor under the roost, belly down, wings completely spread apart and head on the floor. She wasn't moving.
I ran over thinking the worst, to find that she is still alive and breathing. I scooped her up, she ruffled her wings once and then closed her eyes and dropped her head and body. She is still this way. She just lays in whatever position we put her in. I can't get her to eat or drink. She only keeps her eyes open for a few seconds if at all. The only time she moves is if I try to roll her over (searching for mites or scratches, anything!) she will stretch her wings once and then "go back to sleep", or if I put my finger in the grasp of one of her feet she will tighten to it as she would do when holding on to the roost - her other foot is unresponsive. I have no idea what to do. I am new to this, it's only my first batch of chickens ever. She hasn't worsened to our knowledge, nor has she improved. It was a little out of the blue as at just 4:30 yesterday she was fine, laid an egg, was foraging and such. Help please! I don't want to lose my Big Mama. We don't have any vets in our area that work with chickens. Gah.

This is her... My special needs cat hasn't left her side...

This morning I was heart broken to go out to the coop and find big mama on the floor under the roost, belly down, wings completely spread apart and head on the floor. She wasn't moving.
I ran over thinking the worst, to find that she is still alive and breathing. I scooped her up, she ruffled her wings once and then closed her eyes and dropped her head and body. She is still this way. She just lays in whatever position we put her in. I can't get her to eat or drink. She only keeps her eyes open for a few seconds if at all. The only time she moves is if I try to roll her over (searching for mites or scratches, anything!) she will stretch her wings once and then "go back to sleep", or if I put my finger in the grasp of one of her feet she will tighten to it as she would do when holding on to the roost - her other foot is unresponsive. I have no idea what to do. I am new to this, it's only my first batch of chickens ever. She hasn't worsened to our knowledge, nor has she improved. It was a little out of the blue as at just 4:30 yesterday she was fine, laid an egg, was foraging and such. Help please! I don't want to lose my Big Mama. We don't have any vets in our area that work with chickens. Gah.
This is her... My special needs cat hasn't left her side...
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