I'd like to save her if possible; she's young, a good momma. I just saw her this morning. My chickens all free range, and they've been going broody like crazy - most use the nest boxes, but several disappear into the blackberry forest or elsewhere and reappear with chicks in tow.
She just reappeared this morning, with 3 chicks, and has injuries to the back and side of her head. Otherwise she seems ok. The surface injuries seem to be healing ok, it's the area under her beak at her throat, by her wattle, that is swollen and discolored. Her beak is slightly open, and she can't seem to close it all the way. She's walking around, alert, interested in food and water, just can't make it happen.
I caught her and her 3 chicks, put them in a large plastic dog crate in the shed, with a bowl of feed mix, and a quail dish tower for water (less mess in the tray with the chicks), with a capful of Apple Cider Vinegar in it.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
California White hen, about 1 year old, don't have exact weight, but she's thin.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
She's unable to eat or drink. Beak is slightly open, seems unable to close it due to injuries resulting in swelling and discoloration around the back of her jaw and top of her throat.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Just found her this morning - mine all free range, and she just returned with 3 chicks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Beak doesn't seem broken, puncture wounds around the back and side of her head.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Looks like a days-old predator attack.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I give fresh clean water daily in the goat water trough (half barrel); it has a spigot that is on constant slow drip into the water bowl for the chickens. Feed is a mix of X-Cel's layer pellet, turkey crumble, scratch grains.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
She's in isolation now; I will monitor when she provides a sample.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Isolation in the dog crate, bowl of food at least for her chicks, fresh water with a capful of ACV in it. I inspected her body and found no other injuries.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Vet is not an option; too expensive. I'd like to treat her at home, by myself, and try to save her.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Large plastic dog crate, douglas fir shavings
She just reappeared this morning, with 3 chicks, and has injuries to the back and side of her head. Otherwise she seems ok. The surface injuries seem to be healing ok, it's the area under her beak at her throat, by her wattle, that is swollen and discolored. Her beak is slightly open, and she can't seem to close it all the way. She's walking around, alert, interested in food and water, just can't make it happen.
I caught her and her 3 chicks, put them in a large plastic dog crate in the shed, with a bowl of feed mix, and a quail dish tower for water (less mess in the tray with the chicks), with a capful of Apple Cider Vinegar in it.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
California White hen, about 1 year old, don't have exact weight, but she's thin.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
She's unable to eat or drink. Beak is slightly open, seems unable to close it due to injuries resulting in swelling and discoloration around the back of her jaw and top of her throat.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Just found her this morning - mine all free range, and she just returned with 3 chicks.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Beak doesn't seem broken, puncture wounds around the back and side of her head.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Looks like a days-old predator attack.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I give fresh clean water daily in the goat water trough (half barrel); it has a spigot that is on constant slow drip into the water bowl for the chickens. Feed is a mix of X-Cel's layer pellet, turkey crumble, scratch grains.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
She's in isolation now; I will monitor when she provides a sample.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Isolation in the dog crate, bowl of food at least for her chicks, fresh water with a capful of ACV in it. I inspected her body and found no other injuries.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Vet is not an option; too expensive. I'd like to treat her at home, by myself, and try to save her.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Large plastic dog crate, douglas fir shavings
