HELP. Chicken in distress!

[Thebossbaby]

So, I'm going to dry a towel so it's hot and I'll take it out o her and wrap her up in it. I'll then put a few packs of hot hands around her inside the towel, but what do I do about her vent? She has already pooped all over herself, and I swear I cut a whole, but the poop was like a centimeter form it. I was able to get it out, but it is still in her feathers. So I did a stupid thing and dunked her butt quicklt into a hiker of water, but now it really won't come off and she is even wetter.do I just let her sit in her filth today? And hopefully tomorrow after school give her a bath outside in a baby pool or something? I've never bathed a chicken, and I know they are filthy sometimes and have dirty habits, like rolling in the mud, so should I just wear gloves and wash her as best as I can?

 

[Thebossbaby]

I have 2 freind with chickens, but they don't know what to do either. I fact my freind Olivia has the same problem with one of her chicken, but she has supportive parents and they let her take her inside. So she's warm, but she still won't walk around at all. So the only difference between my girl and hers, is that hers is warm. I'm going to go do what I said I'd do with the towel and hot hands. Be back in a bit

 

[rebrascora]

This bird is sick and not eating and therefore she will struggle to maintain her body temperature without a heat source, no matter how much you wrap her up. The pop bottles of hot water are a temporary solution. The Tarp would be better pegged over the cage like a tent to ensure the water runs off. Wrapping it like that will cause water to puddle on it and may find a way to run along a crease or fold and drip onto her.

 

[rebrascora]

The hot hands are a good idea. Ordinarily you would give a soiled chicken a warm bath to clean them up and then blow dry them with a hair drier but since you can not take her in the house this is obviously not an option. The fact that you dunked her in a water butt to clean her speaks volumes for your good intent but lack of understanding and need for guidance. Do you have grandparents or other adult relations that you could go to for support and help.

 

[calichicken]

X2.. best bet is to try and find someone who also has chickens living near you to help

 

[Thebossbaby]

Nobody near me except my freind have chickens. She is warm rn, and should be throughout the night. I just went back out and felt in her car and it was about 60 in there, but I'm not good with temperature just based off of feeling. It seems pretty warm, but not WARM excactly... better than it was by a long shot...

 

[rebrascora]

better than it was by a long shot...

Well that is the most important thing. I know you are trying to do your best for her in difficult circumstances.

 

[Thebossbaby]

She is set as warm as I can get her. I'll check on her tomorrow after school and tell y'all how she is going. If she doesn't get better in a few days, should I put her down in regards that it might be marriks

 

[ThatParrotLady]

Sometimes the expression F*** the police applies here. Take your chicken to your friends house and ask her to care for her and work out something if you can, I know you love her but you have to realize that your chicken is uncomfortable and miserable in half of these posts, if your friend is your friend, ask them plainly and offer to do something in return.

As for your dad complaining about the chicken in the truck. Just say you're borrowing the truck for two hours, put the chicken inside a cardboard box ontop of a tarp with a towel covering it and secure it with a seatbelt (I've done this) and take her to the vet or to your friends.

Because the reality of this is hon, if this got worse, and it happened to your whole flock, the humane society would be on you and you would be subject to scrutiny over ALL of their living conditions or having the animals taken if it was severe enough. And it's just not worth it, please reach out to your friend and take her to her if you can't muster the courage or finances to take her to the vet. Or even give her up to the pound, there might be people there able to care for her.

 

[rebrascora]

Sadly, I think she will most likely save you the trouble and die before then, but if she is not eating and still not able to walk and soiling herself and you have no means to keep her clean and constantly warm, then I do believe the kindest thing would be to end her suffering. It may also be in the interests of the rest of your flock to do so, because as you are aware, if it is Marek's, it is contagious and she ill be actively shedding the virus whilst she is sick like this.
I have had birds make some miraculous recoveries from attacks of this disease though so it is possible, but usually once they stop eating, it is near the end.