I have an Americana pullet about 18 weeks old that I noticed today has been lethargic, sleeping a lot. Her left eye stays closed. I checked her and did not note any lice but she does feel like she's lost weight. There are no physical signs of injury such as cuts, scratches, no blood. I think she is the lowest in pecking order as she lost all her tail feathers and she is terribly skittish when the others come near her. I've started introducing layer feed but she has not laid yet. There are no roosters that could have hurt her. Her poop looks normal as I can tell. She let me pick her up which is very unusual also. I have 24 mixed breed girls, no roosters, coop is elevated. My husband built a screen to go over the double doors so I can keep open and let the breeze flow through. She never leaves the coop, I have to physically take her out to the run or fenced range area, then she stands at the gate waiting to get back in. She does not associate with the others at all.
Now I plan to give her some pedialyte as soon as I can get to the store, but what else can I do? Should I separate her and if so how do I do that? I only have a dog crate that is in use but would that be okay and if so should I keep her in the crate in the coop? I really love this chicken, she looks like an owl, black, white and gray with white fluff around her face. In fact her name is Mrs. Owl per my granddaughter. This is a long post but any info I can get will be greatly appreciated. I am very new to the website, still trying to learn my way around. Also my first flock.
Now I plan to give her some pedialyte as soon as I can get to the store, but what else can I do? Should I separate her and if so how do I do that? I only have a dog crate that is in use but would that be okay and if so should I keep her in the crate in the coop? I really love this chicken, she looks like an owl, black, white and gray with white fluff around her face. In fact her name is Mrs. Owl per my granddaughter. This is a long post but any info I can get will be greatly appreciated. I am very new to the website, still trying to learn my way around. Also my first flock.
You could separate her and give her some good high protein feed (like Game Bird feed which is around 20% protein) along with a few drops of Poly-Vi-Sol WITHOUT IRON in her water, or vitamin and electrolyte supplement such as Save-A-Chick put in water also, vitamin B Complex, Vitamin B (I have it in a bottle with an dropper) and put some drops in her beak to help stimulate her appitite. I have done this with several birds over the past several years and it has mostly worked well. Pedialyte or gatorade is also good. It will be a few days before you may notice much or she may perk up some rather quickly. Each bird is different and depending on how she is at the moment. Sometimes I put a little vitamin water in the feed to moisten it a bit and sometimes the bird will eat it better. Good luck.
