dreamofwinter
Songster
With the latest heat waves I'm sure this question is top of mind for many. This is my first summer having chickens in a hot, humid environment (have had them in southern CA, but the Northeast summers are a different thing entirely).
Saturday was sweltering hot with a heat index in the 90s. Our chickens have good shade and many watering areas, but I observed that one of my younger pullets seemed more affected than most as she was walking around with wings held out, panting, etc. Sunday was a little cooler, but she seemed worse, even spending some time lying halfway on her side and again with wings out and panting. I brought her inside the house for about 30 minutes to cool off, which seemed to help, and later she was up and behaving normally.
Yesterday (Monday) was a much cooler day, but she was still acting somewhat lethargic, spending time sitting with wings open or partly lying on her side but no panting. I started wondering if she might be egg bound. This morning, she came out of the coop fine and perched atop one of the structures in the run, but when she went to jump down, she was uncoordinated and needed to use an intermediate "step" rather than jumping straight down as she usually does. I brought her in the house and gave her an Epsom salt soak and set her up in a crate where she can rest.
The more I read, though, the more I think it's heat stroke. I worry it could be Marek's? But not sure she would have long periods of being coordinated in between her stumbling/lethargic episodes. I don't think she's egg bound as the posture seems wrong and she isn't straining to lay. One thing that may or may not be relevant here is that we noticed last week that she was drooling occasionally. That seems to have stopped. Also, her comb flopped over on Sunday.
Facts/summary
1) She is a 20-week-old Sapphire Gem from TSC who has been laying for less than 10 days. She's in the same body condition as the others her age.
2) Behavior: periods of lethargy, stumbling; sitting with one or both wings spread out. Two days ago, possible heat exhaustion.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 48-72 hours
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. High heat and humidity.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Good appetite. Has been eating layer pellets with rest of flock, drinking water. Since bringing her inside she's had scrambled eggs and grapes as well as some grower crumble and water.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Poop looks good! Normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Epsom salt bath, plus dripped some Sav-A-Chik solution in the side of her mouth a few drops at a time, which she swallowed (got about 10cc in).
What does everyone think - is this just a prolonged recovery from heat exhaustion/heat stroke, or should I worry it's something more serious?
Saturday was sweltering hot with a heat index in the 90s. Our chickens have good shade and many watering areas, but I observed that one of my younger pullets seemed more affected than most as she was walking around with wings held out, panting, etc. Sunday was a little cooler, but she seemed worse, even spending some time lying halfway on her side and again with wings out and panting. I brought her inside the house for about 30 minutes to cool off, which seemed to help, and later she was up and behaving normally.
Yesterday (Monday) was a much cooler day, but she was still acting somewhat lethargic, spending time sitting with wings open or partly lying on her side but no panting. I started wondering if she might be egg bound. This morning, she came out of the coop fine and perched atop one of the structures in the run, but when she went to jump down, she was uncoordinated and needed to use an intermediate "step" rather than jumping straight down as she usually does. I brought her in the house and gave her an Epsom salt soak and set her up in a crate where she can rest.
The more I read, though, the more I think it's heat stroke. I worry it could be Marek's? But not sure she would have long periods of being coordinated in between her stumbling/lethargic episodes. I don't think she's egg bound as the posture seems wrong and she isn't straining to lay. One thing that may or may not be relevant here is that we noticed last week that she was drooling occasionally. That seems to have stopped. Also, her comb flopped over on Sunday.
Facts/summary
1) She is a 20-week-old Sapphire Gem from TSC who has been laying for less than 10 days. She's in the same body condition as the others her age.
2) Behavior: periods of lethargy, stumbling; sitting with one or both wings spread out. Two days ago, possible heat exhaustion.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 48-72 hours
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. High heat and humidity.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Good appetite. Has been eating layer pellets with rest of flock, drinking water. Since bringing her inside she's had scrambled eggs and grapes as well as some grower crumble and water.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Poop looks good! Normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Epsom salt bath, plus dripped some Sav-A-Chik solution in the side of her mouth a few drops at a time, which she swallowed (got about 10cc in).
What does everyone think - is this just a prolonged recovery from heat exhaustion/heat stroke, or should I worry it's something more serious?
Hooray for poop! LOL. I come from a horse background and have been on poop watch for colicky horses plenty of times. Glad to hear it's a good sign here.
Would she look and act completely healthy except for the leg strength/balance issue, if it were Marek's?
