Found injured hen on the side of the road - Update

[Chickenmaven]

Quote:
Did you introduce a new bird/birds?

 

[puddinbabe]

She'll be quarentined for awhile, but how would I ever know if she were a carrier. I am certainly not going to put her down if she makes it. Aside from the wound and being a little sleepy, she's doing ok. I need to get her to eat some food and then I'll know a little more. She pooped once and it looked alright.

If she pulls through, what should I do?

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sounds to me like someone got tired of caring for their birds. Dom and other fancies aren't usually found on people's plates.
It could also be the the birds were illegal and someone ratted the owners out.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
I was kinda thinking the same thing.

Did you happen to notice if the other birds have similar injuries to their heads? Perhaps they hit them on the head with something to kill them and this one was only stunned?

 

[Andora]

Quote:
Did you introduce a new bird/birds?

Yeah, I bought some birds from a guy who told me his birds were vet checked and healthy. They were fine for a little while, and then the other chickens started getting sick. Turned out his birds were carriers of Coryza and Avian Leukosis! (I had a necropsy done.)

You're in such a difficult position. I would have definitely rescued a hen by the side of the road too, and of course you wouldn't want to cull her if she recovers...hmm...the only thing I can think of to do is to isolate her for 30 days, and then if she's healthy put her in with another chicken or two and isolate them for awhile and see if anything happens. If they are all fine after so many days, then I would probably risk it and introduce them back to the flock with the new bird. But that seems like so much effort...I don't know.

 

[puddinbabe]

After a long rest, she decided to eat some mushy crumbles. She pooped a little, and I saw a small bit of blood, but nothing major. Its too early to tell what's going on.

I looked at the dead birds a little more today. They didn't seem to have any injuries that I could tell, but I didn't pick them up. Didn't see any blood. Their heads weren't smashed. Feathers and weight looked healthy. They may have been breeding pairs as two fo the dead ones looked like roosters.

 

[tiki244]

Poor Thing......Bless your heart.


I have heard of people putting a chicken of their own with a new arrival (after a months quarantine) and then quarantine both together for another month and see if your chicken gets sick.

 

[puddinbabe]

I only have 3 other hens, one brand new, so I'm not sure what I'll do. To make matters worse, I'm headed out of town next week and don't really have anyone to hand off a special needs chicken to.

I just checked on the girl and she had some decent sized, healthy looking poops (no blood) and has decided to eat some more. She seems to be favoring one side more than the other, but I'm sure she's got some wounds besides the cut on her head.

 

[puddinbabe]

Update on the orig. post.