fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[Mother of Chaos]

I gave her 1/2 tablet of Calcium +D3, they're so big for a bantam.

I haven’t decided whether to feel guilty about this or not , but I jump-started the Littles into laying (per their combs and behavior it was time!) and sorta got the Bigs going again with 600 mg calcium/2000 IU Vit D tablets crushed in soft cat food over the past week. It worked!

Maybe between her brutal molt and the short days, it’s taking a while for her body to get back in the laying program. I hope that the calcium supplements will help her pass any crud that’s clogging her system. Mine have had some calcium in their feed plus the usual oyster shell, but it wasn’t until they got hit with 600 mg Ca every other day that anything started happening. They’re also tearing through the saved eggshells, so something seems to have awakened them to the need for calcium, maybe.

Stay with us, Esther, you’re beautiful, we’re rooting for you, and we love you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's hanging in there isn't she. I hope she's improved tomorrow!

 

[fuzzi]

Esther was not on the main roost last night, but was on a lower branch. That's an improvement from huddling under the wheelbarrow.

I brought her inside for the night. She did not have an epsom salt soak, but I gave her 1/2 a calcium citrate+D3, a couple grapes, and a dose of Corid. This morning she ate a couple grapes, I gave her another 1/2 a pill, then out to the run she went.

She came out of the carrier on her own, and had several drinks. Abigail is not bothering her here.

Esther then moved away and did some scratching.

Fresh water is available but they rushed over when I broke the ice on this tub. I'll rinse and refill it later.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Esther was not on the main roost last night, but was on a lower branch. That's an improvement from huddling under the wheelbarrow.

I brought her inside for the night. She did not have an epsom salt soak, but I gave her 1/2 a calcium citrate+D3, a couple grapes, and a dose of Corid. This morning she ate a couple grapes, I gave her another 1/2 a pill, then out to the run she went.
View attachment 4286888
She came out of the carrier on her own, and had several drinks. Abigail is not bothering her here.

Esther then moved away and did some scratching.

View attachment 4286889
Fresh water is available but they rushed over when I broke the ice on this tub. I'll rinse and refill it later.

Making progress! I'm so happy to read this.

 

[Shadrach]

No improvement. Esther won't eat, but did drink when I held the cup in front of her beak.

I brought her out of the crate, set her down.
View attachment 4286028She didn't take a step, or try to move, but eventually settled down a little on her left side. She did look around some, but not much.
View attachment 4286029
Room was not brightly lit. I used flash here.

She ejected this mess
View attachment 4286026
which smelled like rotten eggs.

But all she ate today was scrambled egg.

Any input?

She's NOT perking up.


@lightm @Wyorp Rock @CoopBoots @Shadrach

I would be thinking about an oviduct infection.
Reading ahead I see you've already done what I would do and that is get her back out with her mates. Very few chickens I've known like to be away from the group for long and I've usually found that they eat and drink more when they're with their group and are generally happier.
I've had this problem a few times in the past even with chickens that would when healthy be turning up at the house of their own accord.

I would be reluctant to try and give antibiotics; again in my experience they make the bird feel worse in the short term at least and all those helpful microbes in their digestive tract get wiped out along with any bad stuff.

 

[fuzzi]

She's been eating, and passing feces.

It's going to be very cold tonight, so I brought her in again. She was roosting on the edge of the wheelbarrow,. Since I brought her inside she's had another 1/2 calcium tablet, drank some water, and is settled on a thick towel in the carrier.

I'm thinking about the epsom salt bath. Her vent feathers are messy, and when I very gently felt her vent area I found something on the left, feels very much like an egg. Although I was gentle just touching it made her squawk.

 

[fuzzi]

I gave Esther an epsom bath soak, but cut it short as the water wasn't deep enough. Trying to add more water wasn't feasible. Her vent is now pink and clean. I did take a little coconut oil and rub it around and just inside her vent.

She looks upset in this photo, but she was actually relaxed in the towel. I stroked her and she closed her eyes.

Prebath photos...she's not eating enough?

Wet and white here