Help!! What is wrong with my chicken??

[kara_leigh]

(typing with one hand b/c i'm holding the chicken).

I went out to give my chickens a treat of chopped up tomatoes, and when i called them one was laying in the grass not moving. I went over to her and she tried to run but her legs weren't working well. I picked her up and she is jerking really badly, and her head goes at a funny angle when i walk with her, like she has bad vertigo. kwim? Her eyes keep blinking over and over, and, she has a fever (she is VERY hot). Every once in a while she panics and pants like she is having a hard time breathing. Also, the dilation of her eyes keeps changing rapidly like she is trying to focus but can't, but her eyes still look normal. Yesterday she was fine, no other chickens are exhibiting these symptoms. I checked her over, and she has no signs of injury or trauma. She refuses to eat, we offered her some tomatoes, which she normally loves, but she wouldn't eat them.

She is about a year old, a sex link, and of course she is one of my favorite chickens.

What is wrong with her? Can anyone help me? If this is something that she will not recover from, I'd rather put her out of her misery than see her suffer.

 

[kara_leigh]

WTH? Now she is acting like she is perfectly fine. I had isolated her, but I took her out to see how she was acting and she is walking perfectly normal, she ate, the color has returned to her ears and comb, and her fever is down. Now she is out in the yard like nothing ever happened.

I thought it was botulism, b/c most of her symptoms fit, but she wouldn't bounce back that quickly, would she??

We went out to call them to feed, and we realized that 7 of our hens are missing, including my most favorite one. *cry* We looked for them as much as we could, but we have 5 acres that they have free roam of, and they also roam the woods on our neighbor's property across the road, and our other neighbor's cow pasture behind our house. It is getting to the time where they should all be close to the house b/c they should be heading up to the coop soon. It makes me so sad to think they may be gone.

 

[cafarmgirl]

So maybe a predator or dogs went after your chickens today. That would explain the missing chickens and could also explain her behavior if she was chased/ traumatized/extremely stressed.

Some of the missing ones may simply be hiding and may show up when it's time to go in. Or maybe not until tomorrow. Keep looking.

Whatever it was will probably be back, might want to keep them in their coop/run for a while and keep an eye out.

 

[kara_leigh]

They didn't come back for roosting time tonight. Hopefully they come back tomorrow. I made sure the remaining hens were all locked up tight in the coop tonight.

I'm assuming that they were attacked in our neighbor's woods (didn't want to trespass to investigate further) b/c there are zero signs of a battle (feathers, blood, etc) on our property anywhere. Our dog was freaking out about something this morning, but we couldn't figure out what. Perhaps she could hear them being attacked. Maybe they are hiding. I can hope.

 

[cafarmgirl]

If they are well hidden over night it's very possible they may be outside waiting for you in the morning. I would go out and check very early and go and call for them in case they are to afraid to come out. I'd be surprised if all the missing ones were taken, unless it was a dog that got after them.

 

[kara_leigh]

None of the missing ones ever did come back, and we looked everywhere for them. We never did find a single sign of what happened. It's as if they just disappeared. Something happened, though, b/c all of my chickens have been massively on edge the past couple days.

My favorite chickens are gone. All of my Speckled Sussex are gone.

My oldest chicken (pictured below), the only one that was left of my first group of chickens I ever owned (the rest of that group were all roos, so they were butchered), that I successfully nursed back to health from a prolapsed vent, who then went on to lay jumbo blue eggs daily, and had the cutest puffy cheeks and such a sassy attitude, is gone.

My flock seems so small now. I'm so sad.

RIP Mama

 

[lindsay297]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. That is really hard to deal with, especially when you dont know what is wrong.

I would agree that it sounds like an attack of some kind. Attacks dont always leave signs or anything! If your dog was carrying on then they knew something was wrong!! I agree that what ever it was will be back and if the other ones are nervous I would leave them "cooped" up so to speak. That way they will know they are safe and you will know they are safe. Do you have an enclosed run for them to be in??

 

[JoePa]

Sorry - but what you have experienced is a factor when you let your chickens free roam - if anyone decides that they will let their chickens roam free they must consider the fact that a predator can get them at anytime - it's part of the choice that you make - I know the chickens seem happier

when they can run all over the place but happiness has it's price - me - I don't let my chickens roam free - they are healthier and safe in their coop and run -

 

[kara_leigh]

I understand that, I'm not an idiot, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. Thanks for you great sensitivity, I really appreciate it. *dripping with sarcasm*

My chickens are definitely happier, and for sure have better living conditions than most that I've seen that are stuck in a run their whole lives.

I certainly hope you never lose any of your animals and receive a reply like you just left.

 

[Vickilynn45]

So sorry for your loss- that would be devastating to lose so many at once.