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Hen is hot to the touch and laying down, no improvement overnight

Rubbishist

In the Brooder
Jul 29, 2022
10
6
34
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)

Barred Rock, 13 weeks, weight seems to be about the same as others

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

I noticed she was limping to some degree yesterday and then she started laying down more than normal. Her tail was also pointed down. She can walk and even fly but she seems to be lethargic unless agitated -- She made it into the coop last night and even up onto the roost after failing the first time. This morning, however, she didn't come out. She was laying down beneath the roosting bars. I immediately brought her inside because I didn't know what else to do. She was still hot to the touch, but when I put her in the box to bring her in she promptly flew out and was walking/running away from me for a second. I'm in Texas so it is hot but they have all been doing fine up until this point. I keep fresh water for them, and I have a kiddie pool that I fill with clean water and put bricks in once a day so they can try to cool themselves off. I was a little late doing that yesterday so I hope that didn't cause this. I also give the chopped up cucumber frozen in water but I was late in doing that yesterday as well.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

13 hours

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

Other birds are fine

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

No sign of trauma

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

Nothing that I know of other than being a few hours later than usual filling up the kiddie pool with fresh, cool-ish water and giving them the frozen treats

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

I saw her take a few sips of electrolyte water yesterday that I mixed up after I saw her laying down. I haven't seen her drink any this morning but when I brought her inside she did eat several bites of the chick grower that I've been giving them, maybe a dozen to a dozen and a half bites of it.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

I haven't seen her poop specifically but I haven't noticed any in the coop or run that looks different.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

Tried to give her electrolyte water yesterday, put her in ice bath after she came in the coop (just her legs). I now have her inside the house at 72-72 degrees, have food and water with electrolytes available to her.

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?

I would like to be able to treat her myself, and I'm not even sure if there is an avian vet near me. I just did a search and it's coming up with stuff many hours away at the closest and many states away as well.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

I've attached a picture of what she's doing -- just laying down. Not a whole lot of information in the picture but there it is. She did eat some more and drank a sip as I was trying to get the picture.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

Roofed coop and run, dirt in the run, pine shavings in the floor of the coop.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
 

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You said she was limping, have you checked the bottoms of her feet for a bumblefoot infection? You've got the electrolytes covered and you've got her separated, I really don't know what else to suggest at this time, I'd just keep an eye on her and see if her condition improves, she may have a bit of heat stroke, I'm in Texas as well so I know how hot it has been
 
Nothing is abundantly evident, the most I could say is there could be some slight swelling in the second picture. She doesn't react to me poking, prodding, and squeezing it though. I don't see a wound on either foot. I wouldn't know what else to look for in an early stage bumblefoot case, which I'm guessing this would have to be if it is indeed the culprit. If it was bumblefoot, would it cause this level of debilitation without being readily identifiable?
 

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She just did this (see attached photo). Watery green with watery white that she managed to partially cover up before I could get something to take a picture with.

Could this signify anything?
 

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Thanks for the reply.

She's been inside for a day and a half. What does the recovery for heat stress look like? She doesn't seem to be improving.
 
Heat stress can cause numerous symptoms. Like with anything it affects them internally.

What's the ambient temperature where you have her?

Have you checked her temperature? Normal is about 102F degrees.
 
75 degrees.

I haven't checked her temperature. Would you just use a thermometer designed for people in the vent?
 

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