Help found chicken on back stuck behind bin

[Mglinski]

Ok. One of our girls was found in coop 3 days ago stuck behind bin on her back. Its very cold out here in WI. I brought her inside to clean her up and check her over. She had poo stuck to her vent and stuff and it was freezing to her feathers. Got her all cleaned and she was exhausted so I let her rest 4 the night. Next day I check her out. She will stand for a bit but not walking. Thought she must have injured a leg when she did whatever she did that got her in her predicament. She will drink water just fine, but still has not eaten in the 3 days I've had her inside. Her poo is liquid and she does not smell good (or as good as a chicken should smell). As of last night she has now started vomiting up water whenever I pick her up. I hold her by sides around wings so I'm very confident I'm not pressing on her crop. So to summarize, drinking yes, eating no, liquid smelly poo, not walking, vomiting water. Any thoughts on what to do or what her issues may be? She looks around kind of alert. But not standing except for a few times and is wobbly when she does. For the most part just lays around. Is there anything I can try or are we looking at needing to cull her? She is about 4 years old.

 

[Chickensandhorsesforlife]

Do not cull . She is probably just stunned and cold. warm her up and feed warm food. please update us on anything that happens!

 

[Mglinski]

Update. Still not walking. Still only drinking water. Poo still liquid, which I guess would make sense since she's not eating. We are on day 4.... she just sits like this all day long. I don't know what to do for her

 

[micstrachan]

What have you offered her to eat? My birds go crazy for soupy baby bird formula. Or you could put her pellets or crumble through the blender and mix with warm water. Can you also try a protein treat like scrambled egg or unsalted sardines?

If you gently press on the bottoms of her feet, does she resist or curl her toes around your finger? It’s hard to know if she is injured, has suffered frost bite on her feet or something else. Have you looked her over real well (parting her feathers) for injury? If you gently touch her legs and thighs, does she seem sore?

 

[Sublight]

Update. Still not walking. Still only drinking water. Poo still liquid, which I guess would make sense since she's not eating. We are on day 4.... she just sits like this all day long. I don't know what to do for her

One thing that I have done is to mix feed with water, and make a paste. Then I make her open her beak and give her a little bit.

I had a hawk that attacked a chicken, but it lived. Its energy was WEAK WEAK.
After making it eat a small amount of food a few times, its energy picked back up to the point where she would eat on her own.

Chickens are surprisingly resilient. Mine lost a incredible amount of blood and lived. Keep up the good work. That old girl will make it.

Have you force fed her any food?

 

[micstrachan]

I agree some sort of nutrition will be needed. It may come to needing to tube feed, but you can try other things first, as previously suggested. Keep us posted!

 

[Chickensandhorsesforlife]

so sorry.

 

[Mglinski]

One thing that I have done is to mix feed with water, and make a paste. Then I make her open her beak and give her a little bit.

I had a hawk that attacked a chicken, but it lived. Its energy was WEAK WEAK.
After making it eat a small amount of food a few times, its energy picked back up to the point where she would eat on her own.

Chickens are surprisingly resilient. Mine lost a incredible amount of blood and lived. Keep up the good work. That old girl will make it.

Have you force fed her any food?

No I have not. I did force some water with syringe for first 2 days till she started drinking on her own. I will try some paste food.

 

[Sublight]

No I have not. I did force some water with syringe for first 2 days till she started drinking on her own. I will try some paste food.

Make it a runny paste. Like baby food, or perhaps just little wetter. Also, you can get electrolytes from your local feed store. That may help also. Its really cheap, and it may not matter in her case, but it may help.

Keep posting pictures, we are all behind her (and you).

Personally, I drip a 6-8 drops down their throat, then set a alarm for 15 minutes, then do it again.

 

[Mglinski]

What have you offered her to eat? My birds go crazy for soupy baby bird formula. Or you could put her pellets or crumble through the blender and mix with warm water. Can you also try a protein treat like scrambled egg or unsalted sardines?

If you gently press on the bottoms of her feet, does she resist or curl her toes around your finger? It’s hard to know if she is injured, has suffered frost bite on her feet or something else. Have you looked her over real well (parting her feathers) for injury? If you gently touch her legs and thighs, does she seem sore?

I did press and feel around. She seemed indifferent on anything I did. When I push under her feet she grabs my finger with both feet. When I lift her, she pulls right leg up close 2 her body, left leg is straight out.