HELP! Something is terribly wrong!

[zoereef1221]

Walked out to see my chicken in this condition. She's not moving around much and won't sit. There seems to be a lot of fluid around her abdomen and bottom. Still laid an egg today. Her vent is intact

Any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

It appears that she has been attacked by a predator or pecked and the skin is gone over her lower belly. Was her bottom bare of feathers earlier? Chickens can vent peck each other to the point of cannibalism sometimes. I haven't seen one look this way in pictures before. She will need to be separated from the other chickens if you do not put her down. She will need to have her bottom soaked in warm water with betadine or chlorhexidene, or a mild soap daily, and kept clean. Then between baths I would apply neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment to her wound. Vetericyn wound spray is also good to use. The skin will need to fill in over a couple of weeks. So sorry this happened. If she is suffering, it may be best to put her down, but chickens can mend from some pretty bad injuries. Give her some chopped egg, and make sure that she can reach her food and water.

 

[zoereef1221]

We brought her in and gave her a bath, I initially though she had been attacked, although we lock them up at night so that seemed unlikely. It looks like her skin is hanging off the area under her vent. There's no blood anywhere and no smell. Please help Pepper get better! She is only about 1.5 years old btw.

 

[zoereef1221]

It appears that she has been attacked by a predator or pecked and the skin is gone over her lower belly. Was her bottom bare of feathers earlier? Chickens can vent peck each other to the point of cannibalism sometimes. I haven't seen one look this way in pictures before. She will need to be separated from the other chickens if you do not put her down. She will need to have her bottom soaked in warm water with betadine or chlorhexidene, or a mild soap daily, and kept clean. Then between baths I would apply neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment to her wound. Vetericyn wound spray is also good to use. The skin will need to fill in over a couple of weeks. So sorry this happened. If she is suffering, it may be best to put her down, but chickens can mend from some pretty bad injuries. Give her some chopped egg, and make sure that she can reach her food and water. 

I originally thought she was attacked as well but I locked her up last night and didnt notice anything (although I wasn't specifically looking, but she was up in the roost as normal) Also we were home all day and they are loud when predators are around. I'm concerned about her "puffiness" thenflyid seems to be all over her body. Her front neck area seems squishy and it looks like there's fluid under her skin all over. Also some feather loss behind her neck. She is inside now after her bath under a heat lamp but she is standing and hasn't moved an inch :-(

 

[zoereef1221]

Also, should we clip the hanging skin? You can feel where her skin is separating off too there are some pockets under it surrounding the area where the tissue has already come off ....

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds unfortunately like she is developing subcutaneous emphysema or leaking air sac under her skin. But fluid under the skin sounds strange. If a vet is possible, it may be best. You could clip the hanging skin, but it sounds like air is under there and separating. I have never seen this before on BYC. It sounds pretty grave. I'm really sorry. Can you mix up some homemade electrolytes to give her if you don 't have any chick electrolytes, Pedialyte, or Gatorade?

 

[Eggcessive]

If she has air under her skin up around her neck or back. You can sterilize a large needle and insert it just under the skin to deflate it. That is how to treat a leaking air sac. Will she drink anything for you? Could a dog or other animal have ripped the skin off her bottom?

 

[zoereef1221]

It sounds unfortunately like she is developing subcutaneous emphysema or leaking air sac under her skin. But fluid under the skin sounds strange. If a vet is possible, it may be best. You could clip the hanging skin, but it sounds like air is under there and separating. I have never seen this before on BYC. It sounds pretty grave. I'm really sorry. Can you mix up some homemade electrolytes to give her if you don 't have any chick electrolytes, Pedialyte, or Gatorade?

You don't think it could be fluid in her abdomen? And the skin pulls so tight it splits? I don't know just asking

ugh so frustrating. She's showing no interest in foood/ water right now in not sure if it's because she's inside now and it's a strange setting for her.

 

[zoereef1221]

If she has air under her skin up around her neck or back. You can sterilize a large needle and insert it just under the skin to deflate it. That is how to treat a leaking air sac. Will she drink anything for you? Could a dog or other animal have ripped the skin off her bottom?

I will look into this. And the only animal that could have damaged her skin is herself or the other chickens.... we do have two dogs and a fenced in yard but our dogs are very protective of the chickens. They promptly attacked a opossum headed to the coop not long ago.

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be fluid possibly from liver or heart failure. The fluid can collect in the lower belly near where her skin is ripped off or split when they develop ascites. People sometimes withdraw excess fluid from there with a 14-16 gauge needle (from a feed store) with or without a large syringe. But I have never heard of the skin just splitting open before. She could have torn it, but being ripped seems more likely. Do you have a vet who would see her? They are very expensive, but I'm not sure that she is going to make it, with or without vet care. Here is the recipe for electrolytes:

HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION
1/2 teaspoon salt substitute* leave out if you don't have it
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 gallon water