Flopping around

[Cheryl]

That is pretty much all I can say, 1 1/2 year old bantam cochin, really isn't moving much, more like dragging herself if necessary. I put her into a small pen, next to water and food and she is both eating and drinking, but still not moving. I put her inside the coop at dark, she was still sitting where I left her. She flapped her wings around and then kind of left them hanging out, and pulled herself over to a corner...not roosting. No idea when this happened, been gone for 10 days and my son told me he thought she broke her wing. No idea if she is laying, I will figure it out by tomorrow I guess. Should I just keep her isolated to see if she revives?

 

[purpletree23]

You're not giving us enough information. Can you answer the sticky at the top of the emergencies page? She probably need help ASAP if this has been going on for 10 days.

 

[Cheryl]

I have no idea when it started...she was fine went I left!!!!

1) What type of bird , age and weight. no idea what her weight is
2) What is the behavior, exactly. already explained
3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. already explained
4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. no idea
5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. layer pellets, water, cracked corn
6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. will figure it out in the morning
7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? isolated her
8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? not going to a vet
9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. no wounds
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use she is now in a small coop with enclosed pen, pine shaves

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
By weight, they mean is she very thin - do you think she's emaciated? If you can tell us tomorrow, please do.

Also, any time a hen is in this condition, please put her in a smaller coop or special safe area because the other hens will trample her. She was going to a corner to try to find a safe place, so it's merciful to help her by just providing one. It sounds like you did so?

You'll need to examine her carefully in the morning - all her skin (as birds hide wounds very well) for closed wounds that didn't heal right, her wings for breaks (tho I suspect they're not), etc.

I would not recommend just letting her heal on her own. Who knows what she' sbeen through, but not being able to walk you can bet she's dehydrated and probably anemic. It's a pretty easy fix, but you'll have to help her. Thankfully she's eating. I'd make her water a vitamin/electrolyte solution for at least four days. Make sure she has plenty of complete feed (laying crumbles or pellets) available free choice. Once a day for a couple of days (until we know more anyway) feed her a little boiled and mashed egg and yogurt as a once-a-day supplemental treat. The egg will help give her rounded nutrition and protein, the yogurt will help give her good bacteria and some nutrition, the vitamins in her water will take care of needs that she developed while she was gone.

 

[Cheryl]

How do I put together a vitamin/electrolyte solution? I will give her an egg immediately, right now I only have flavored yogurt, so will go out in a bit and get some.

 

[Judy]

This thread has instructions for making your own electrolytes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=221676

For vitamins, you can give a few drops of infant liquid vitamins without iron, available from a drug store, WalMart, etc.

Some feed stores carry a combination vitamin/electrolyte solution that you can use. Sometimes they also contain probiotics, which provide what the yogurt does as well. In a pinch, a bit of Gatorade can also be used for electrolytes.