- Oct 2, 2012
- 5
- 0
- 7
I tried searching before posting this but I couldn't find anything like my situation. Sorry if this has already been covered somewhere.
So we are new to the whole backyard chicken thing. We have 16 Freedom Rangers that are about 6 weeks old. So far they have been very healthy and seem to be doing fine. I got tired of messy water so I made a new waterer out of a 5 gallon bucket with three nipple waterers. Long story short, we finally figured out last night that I sealed the lid too tight and that there was a vacuum keeping water from flowing and the chickens were not getting the water they needed. This, in addition the feed issues we've been having with the mash not flowing out both a homemade and storebought feeder, make us feel really bad.
Anyway, last night after we figured out the problem we gave them more than enough water for them to drink and 15 of the 16 seem to be back to normal. However, there is one that seems sickly. He seemed a little off last night too, but I carried him over to the food and water and he seemed to both eat and drink, so I thought he'd be ok. Today I found him flopped over on the ground with one foot all curled up and his eyes were closed. I picked him up and tried to make him drink out of my hand, which he did do a couple times but seemed very lethargic. So I brought him inside the garage and now he's got his own supply of food and water and I do have a heat lamp on him as well.
He's standing up, but is all balled up and is not actively moving around the box. He just sorta of stands right by the food and water and occasionally pecks at them both. When his head gets droopy and he shuts his eyes sometimes I've tried just touching him and then he wakes up and eats and drinks a little and then gets droopy again. When I go out there check on him he's still just standing in the same spot, occasionally eating and drinking. Compared to this morning he's a little better, but not like normal. His poop is watery and it looks like there's bits of green grass throughout.
Is there something else I can do or do I just need to wait it out and see what happens? Thanks in advance.
So we are new to the whole backyard chicken thing. We have 16 Freedom Rangers that are about 6 weeks old. So far they have been very healthy and seem to be doing fine. I got tired of messy water so I made a new waterer out of a 5 gallon bucket with three nipple waterers. Long story short, we finally figured out last night that I sealed the lid too tight and that there was a vacuum keeping water from flowing and the chickens were not getting the water they needed. This, in addition the feed issues we've been having with the mash not flowing out both a homemade and storebought feeder, make us feel really bad.
Anyway, last night after we figured out the problem we gave them more than enough water for them to drink and 15 of the 16 seem to be back to normal. However, there is one that seems sickly. He seemed a little off last night too, but I carried him over to the food and water and he seemed to both eat and drink, so I thought he'd be ok. Today I found him flopped over on the ground with one foot all curled up and his eyes were closed. I picked him up and tried to make him drink out of my hand, which he did do a couple times but seemed very lethargic. So I brought him inside the garage and now he's got his own supply of food and water and I do have a heat lamp on him as well.
He's standing up, but is all balled up and is not actively moving around the box. He just sorta of stands right by the food and water and occasionally pecks at them both. When his head gets droopy and he shuts his eyes sometimes I've tried just touching him and then he wakes up and eats and drinks a little and then gets droopy again. When I go out there check on him he's still just standing in the same spot, occasionally eating and drinking. Compared to this morning he's a little better, but not like normal. His poop is watery and it looks like there's bits of green grass throughout.
Is there something else I can do or do I just need to wait it out and see what happens? Thanks in advance.
