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

[Robin'sBrood]

Unfortunately there is not much to report on Barbara today. Even though she is still on her legs she is sluggish and awkward when walking. Her keel bone is protruding terribly so I'm afraid she is actually losing weight. Belly is still full but doesn't feel quite as tight as it did a few days ago. One thing about feeding her all that garlic... her poops nearly ran me out of the house yesterday! P U!!!!!

No sign of worms and her poops still look normal. I'm really afraid this is an internal laying problem. I'm afraid the best I can do for her is keep her comfortable and warm in the house, and wait and see.

 

[speckledhen]

Im sorry. It does sound like the same thing that Ivy is dying from. There's not much you can do; sometimes penicillin fixes it for awhile, sometimes it doesn't. At some point, her comb will turn purplish from the fluid pressing on her organs and she will have trouble breathing. Ivy is at that point now, but she seems to be relaxed in the warm house, so she's staying inside till it's over, unless we suddenly get some much warmer weather.

 

[chicmom]

I also am concerned about the penguin position. Is her bottom dirty? Sometimes other chickens seem to know when one isn't feeling well and then they will pick on that underdog.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I'm SOOOOOOOOOOO excited to report this news, I can hardly stand it!! My Barbara seems to be on the mend. After 15 days of being in my bathroom "hospital" she is acting about 98% back to normal! I went in to feed her this morning (grits & eggs) and when I left the room I left the door open when I came out, like I've done many, many times before. Well, this time she decided she was ready to roam the halls and she came out. This is the first time she has even attempted to come out, she doesn't normally even get out of the box, much less the room! And she was standing up almost like a normal chicken!! I scooped her up and gave her a nice warm soak so I could clean her rear end (a little dirty from roosting in a box on pine shavings) and she has been waking around my bedroom for the past 30 minutes or so, being curious about everything, pecking at the ground, preening herself. She is slow when she walks but I'm assuming her leg muscles are probably weak since she's been box-bound for over 2 weeks. After she fully dries I'm going to take her outside for some sunshine and grass. If she keeps acting like this I'll get the tractor ready to move her into so she can be with (but separated from) her flock.

 

[krzybo]

GREAT NEWS! I am so happy for her and you. You are a great Mom!

 

[briana1975]

That is great news!!!

I hope she is able to go back with her flock soon.

 

[speckledhen]

WooHOOOOOOOOOO! You know what did it---grits and eggs! The Southern cure for what ails ya, LOL.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Well, I'm sad to report that Barbara only had one good day before going downhill again. Her legs actually seem worse than before, she looses her balance a lot and stays pressed up against the side of her box.

So, I moved her out into the tractor today, really hoping the extra room will help her legs if her muscles are weak

, since she'll have a lot more room to move around. The tractor is just outside the run so she is beside her flock... maybe that, and the warm sun, will help her rally back once again. I can't tell you the last time she drank water, she absolutely refuses it. The only way I get it into her is by mixing it in with her oatmeal/egg/yogurt mixture. It's just not looking good for my girl.

 

[speckledhen]

Darn! My Ivy, Ginger and Olivia are all still the same, too. I'm sure I'll lose all three very soon. Sometimes, it's just beyond our ability to help them and I know how helpless that feels, Robin. I'm sorry about Barbara.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Thanks, Cynthia. She spent the day in the tractor yesterday but since it got below freezing (in the dang 20s AGAIN) last night we brought her back in the house. It's going to be in the mid 60s today so I'll put her back out once it warms up. Poor girl, I hope the sun and fresh air does her some good.

I'm sorry you've got 3 sick ones. The Lord must know that one is all I can handle right now.