HELP! Theres something wrong with Smudge!

[Ursuline Chick]

I would do anything that can help and can't hurt. But that is my HO

 

[Weeg]

Please try to remain calm. Her survival may depend on it. The #1 first priority is heat. She needs to be moved to a calm, warm environment.

She may have obturator paralysis (temporary paralysis related to her egg issue, if she is having trouble laying.
She might be flapping her wings trying to right herself (get herself upright). Can you gently help prop her up into an upright position?

If you can get her to drink fluids, that would be great. If she were mine, I’d probably pop a calcium citrate plus D3 into her beak. It might help her muscle contractions with passing the egg. You might also insert a gloved, lubricated finger into her vent and feel for an egg.

Thank you! I haven't done calcium yet not being entirely sure if it is an egg issue.

She is in our garage, not that warm, but I can move her into the kitchen as well. Going to try to get her to drink as well. Thank you!

 

[micstrachan]

@azygous do you think she ingested a toxin? I was going a totally different direction. You are more experienced than I, so I hope you can help. It sounds rather urgent.

 

[STACEYH]

This really sounds like marek's disease
https://extension.psu.edu/mareks-disease-in-chickens

 

[azygous]

There's about an equal possibility of either toxic poisoning and egg binding. But activated charcoal would absorb the calcium if you tried to treat for both at the same time.

You could give the calcium tablet and wait two hours and do the charcoal flush. Maybe the egg will pass and resolve all her issues and there will be no need for the charcoal.

 

[Weeg]

There's about an equal possibility of either toxic poisoning and egg binding. But activated charcoal would absorb the calcium if you tried to treat for both at the same time.

You could give the calcium tablet and wait two hours and do the charcoal flush.

Got it, I'll try this.

Another update: She definitely can't see, she's stretching her neck trying to look around, and seems throughly confused as to why she is blind. She has fight for sure though. She drank water when I dipped her beak, and snapped at the water on her own once as well. I also moved her into the kitchen, so she can be warm. I'll try calcium now.

Symptoms-

Blindness
Can't use legs
Wet/white droppings on her back side
Pulsing vent

New Symptoms

Tail down

I think this might be an egg issue, I would be really surprised if it was poisoning, I can't imagine anything could have gotten in their pen.

 

[azygous]

A poisonous bug dropping down into the run from trees overhead or a bird dropping it. This actually happened to me two summers ago when a poisonous caterpillar dropped down at the feet of two small chicks I had. Both reacted immediately with all the classic symptoms of toxic poisoning. I couldn't save either one in spite of charcoal right away.

 

[Weeg]

Just moved her into the bathroom, and turned on the shower to steam it up. She's definitely confused, but I think she feels safe. No longer closing her eyes, and some good news! She is standing! Not sure if the egg is moving since I gave her calcium, or if she is just more confident in her situation, but she's using those legs!
Still can't see, and has white "liquid" dripping from her vent, but I'm hoping if it is egg binding, she'll pass the egg soon and be just fine. Thank you everyone!

 

[Weeg]

A poisonous bug dropping down into the run from trees overhead or a bird dropping it. This actually happened to me two summers ago when a poisonous caterpillar dropped down at the feet of two small chicks I had. Both reacted immediately with all the classic symptoms of toxic poisoning. I couldn't save either one in spite of charcoal right away.

I read about this story, it was very sad. The run they are in has a roof though, unless it crawled into their run I don't think it would have dropped. Googling what poisonous species we have in our area, thank you.

 

[micstrachan]

Yikes, things were posting so quickly, I did not see azygous’ first couple posts before I posted mine.
I am very glad to hear there is some improvement!