HELP! Hen suddenly sick and injured *UPDATE* 3/15

[Robin'sBrood]

Yesterday afternoon I fed the chickens, collected eggs, etc. and all the birds looked healthy and normal. A few hours later I was watching them through the window while DH was getting ready to go out to eat and I noticed one of the bantams pecking at one of the other hens, who seemed to be lying on the ground. It was almost dusk and the birds were filing into the coop for the night. I ran out there to find Barbara, my 10 month old Barred Rock X, huddled up against the outside of the coop. She had a bloody comb

and was sitting in what looked like what I can only describe as a penguin position. When she tried to walk she had to put her wings down to keep her body upright, and could only move a few inches. I didn't have time to do anything with her so I picked her up and set her inside the coop on the floor. She managed to get behind the feeder and started eating. I left her there for the night. This morning I went out as soon as I got up and found her in a different area of the coop floor, still looking as bad as she looked yesterday. Brought her into a bathroom, and gave her water, a scrambled egg, and some plain yogurt. She is eating and drinking with gusto but I noticed after she eats or drinks she makes wheezy noises. I didn't notice her making these noises until after she got food and water.

This is how she looks today...

This what I was describing as the "penguin position"

Her poor comb

Any ideas as to what is wrong with her?


If YouTube will ever finish uploading I'll post video of her as well.15

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I just went and checked on her again. I can hear wheezing when she breathes now. She's been in the bathroom for over an hour and has not pooped yet. Poor girl, I feel so helpless. This is my very first sick chicken and, of course, she is one of my favorites.

 

[goldeneggtees]

I'm so sorry but I don't have any ideas to help. You did the right thing by bringing her in and giving her special foods. I hope someone else chimes in and can help soon. Good luck with her!

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Thank you. I don't know what else to do for her at this point. I have a nightlight on in the bathroom so it is relatively dark and warm. She has been fed and has had water, so I'm hoping being able to rest away from the flock will help her.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

She lost some blood and is feeling a little weak, give her some time as long as she is eating and drinking she will be ok.
Did you put anything on her comb to prevent infection?

 

[Cindy LouHou]

We have had chickens for over 5 yrs now. I am not a chicken expert, nor a doctor. But, I am a registered nurse. The bloody comb and head is commonly what is seen when chickens have been fighting. The only other reason her head would be like this, that I can think of, would be if the other chickens were picking at her. Picking normally occurs in caged chickens, or when a chicken already has a sore, or some type of a bloody, scabby, scaly area. The wheezing is most likely due to the blood clogging up her nostrils. Especially when she is eating, for most of her breathing will be thru her nose. If you can clean some of the blood away, at least from her nostril area, this should help her breath better, certainly while eating. You can saturate a soft cloth, or q-tip with peroxide and warm water(more peroxide, than water). Gently wipe or blot around her nostrils. She is probably very sore, so you might even try to irrigate the area with same solution in a syringe or by squeezing the saturated cloth over the area, allowing a trickle of solution to run over the area. Be careful to keep out of her eyes, for it would burn if this gets in her eyes. Peroxide will dissolve blood pretty readily, so if you can even get a little on her, this should help. You can also crush up a baby aspirin and give it to her in food or water for a day or two, once a day. This would help with pain and swelling. Keep her isolated from the other chickens until she is better. Then, be careful to watch when you let her go back with flock, you may just find your bully.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

So you think this is all due to fighting? The 14 chickens have a 40' x 16' foot run with plenty of room to get away from one another. When I found her like this she was in the run so I thought she was probably unable to walk/run and was "down" and that is when the comb attack happened. Whatever the case, I'll be sure to clean her nostrils up and see if that helps with the wheezing.

 

[speckledhen]

The penguin position is worrisome. She could be eggbound--that is the classic position they stand in. Perhaps the others were picking on her because she seemed weak. You'll need to check for that. Otherwise, I don't know. The wheezing could be straining to get an egg out.

 

[KKatknap]

I was wondering about that position, too. Gently massage her abdomen and see if you feel an egg-shaped mass.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Thanks, Cynthia. I'll check her out while I'm cleaning her nostrils. It's hard for me to get down on the floor these days (I'm hugely pregnant and can't get back up!

) so I want to do everything at once while I'm down there.

The bird in your avatar is GORGEOUS!