A few days ago, I noticed my Wyandotte was in the second nest box, with my broody barred Cochin in the other, when I opened the coop up for the day. I scooted them both out, and didn't think much of it. Looking back, she's been kind of quiet, listless, but it's been hot, so I attributed it to that. Last night, I got home from a cookout after dark {which still scares me, after predator issues} and did my usual count check. Only 9?! Wendy was still outside; finally found her under the coop. Phew! I took her from there, and put her on the roost inside.
Today was the 2nd morning Wendy has stayed in the coop after the other girls, still on the roost while the others got out for water & breakfast. I did the same thing as yesterday, picked her up and brought her to the water dish. I'd offered her a handful of feed (she did peck at it, but I don't think she took any). She just kinda sat there, too relaxed looking. I'm not sure if she drank any from the dish, but she did not take any from my cupped hand. So I brought her over to the log we have as an outside perch/roost. She slipped off, and just lay there on the ground. I was talking to her, thinking about a trip to the vet, which I simply cannot afford, asking her what is wrong, petting her, etc.
After I chased off another hen who was about to peck her comb (I've seen this when the various broody hens get literally picked on when I let them out in the yard with the other girls), I moved her back to the floor of the coop. She moved, kind of twitched (I remember thinking convulsion) her eyes were closed, and I started to think, "This is it." And it was, because I then saw liquid drizzle out of her beak.
Knowing I couldn't leave her (body) with the others, I carried her out of the coop, and put her in a plastic tote in the yard, (hosed the liquid off the coop floor, where some of the other hens were mighty curious), came in the house, washed up, and hit the phone book & computer. It was about Q to 8, and the vet wouldn't open for 15 min. Once they did, I was told they could do a necropsy, but it would cost $80.00 to start, and depending on what samples they had analyzed, it could end up costing me a couple of hundred dollars. He recommended I call UConn, as it would probably be cheaper. I'll say! I looked up the info online (http://cvmdl.uconn.edu/), waited for them to open, and called. As a state resident, the university will perform a necropsy for my chicken at no cost, not the expected $90. I even had the option of having her picked up, saving me a 40 mile trip. They may end up having to charge me for additional tests (virology, histology...) but they'll let me know beforehand.
Today was the 2nd morning Wendy has stayed in the coop after the other girls, still on the roost while the others got out for water & breakfast. I did the same thing as yesterday, picked her up and brought her to the water dish. I'd offered her a handful of feed (she did peck at it, but I don't think she took any). She just kinda sat there, too relaxed looking. I'm not sure if she drank any from the dish, but she did not take any from my cupped hand. So I brought her over to the log we have as an outside perch/roost. She slipped off, and just lay there on the ground. I was talking to her, thinking about a trip to the vet, which I simply cannot afford, asking her what is wrong, petting her, etc.
After I chased off another hen who was about to peck her comb (I've seen this when the various broody hens get literally picked on when I let them out in the yard with the other girls), I moved her back to the floor of the coop. She moved, kind of twitched (I remember thinking convulsion) her eyes were closed, and I started to think, "This is it." And it was, because I then saw liquid drizzle out of her beak.
Knowing I couldn't leave her (body) with the others, I carried her out of the coop, and put her in a plastic tote in the yard, (hosed the liquid off the coop floor, where some of the other hens were mighty curious), came in the house, washed up, and hit the phone book & computer. It was about Q to 8, and the vet wouldn't open for 15 min. Once they did, I was told they could do a necropsy, but it would cost $80.00 to start, and depending on what samples they had analyzed, it could end up costing me a couple of hundred dollars. He recommended I call UConn, as it would probably be cheaper. I'll say! I looked up the info online (http://cvmdl.uconn.edu/), waited for them to open, and called. As a state resident, the university will perform a necropsy for my chicken at no cost, not the expected $90. I even had the option of having her picked up, saving me a 40 mile trip. They may end up having to charge me for additional tests (virology, histology...) but they'll let me know beforehand.
