Hen laying on side breathing heavily

[Gary335]

Hi all, hoping someone can help me out. One of my hens is not looking good. She’s laying on her side, and breathing heavily. It’s over 100 degrees here today, so I’m not sure if I’m dealing with a heat issue or an illness. I don’t see any droppings where she was laying. Don’t see any discharge coming from mouth or nose. Her comb and waddle look normal. Eyes look normal. I dipped her in a pool of cool water, and have been misting her with cool water. Doesn’t seem to be doing any good yet. Any ideas what I might be dealing with here? I just had one die a couple weeks ago but the symptoms aren't quite the same here. This hen does not seem to have any leg problems, other than simply being too weak to stand. None of the other chickens in my flock are exhibiting any issues. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Bring her in to a cooler area, not AC, but a cooler area, such as a garage or basement. Put her on a towel to check for any droppings. Do you know if she has been laying eggs recently? Is her crop empty or full, rim or puffy/squishy? Do you have shade where they are hanging out? Is there multiple water locations in the shade? Offer some water to her beak, and add a tsp of sugar and a small pinch of salt to a quart of water. I hope that she survives.

 

[Gary335]

Bring her in to a cooler area, not AC, but a cooler area, such as a garage or basement. Put her on a towel to check for any droppings. Do you know if she has been laying eggs recently? Is her crop empty or full, rim or puffy/squishy? Do you have shade where they are hanging out? Is there multiple water locations in the shade? Offer some water to her beak, and add a tsp of sugar and a small pinch of salt to a quart of water. I hope that she survives.

I couldn’t tell you for sure if she is currently laying or not. I’m getting 2-3 eggs per day from 7 chickens and I couldn’t say which are laying. I keep them in a run due to predators unless I am outside to supervise, and half of the run is constantly shaded. I have two water stations, both shaded. I noticed this bump on her foot, could it be bulmblefoot?

 

[Anon112]

And this is a sudden onset?

 

[Gary335]

And this is a sudden onset?

Yes, she was healthy last night when she went to bed. I came out to give food and water this morning and did not have any unhealthy chickens at that time either.. when I returned home from work this afternoon was when I found her.

 

[Anon112]

Yes, she was healthy last night when she went to bed. I came out to give food and water this morning and did not have any unhealthy chickens at that time either.. when I returned home from work this afternoon was when I found her.

That does sound like heat stroke. I don't have personal experience treating it, but the advice above about putting her in a cooler (but not cold) place seems really good. (As well as all the other advice above.)

Here's an article that might help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/identifying-treating-chicken-heat-stress.77767/

 

[D Uccle Uncle]

If she was overheated, it can take a while to recover.
It looks like bumblefoot, which can cause big problems.
Do you know her egg status? Check to see if she's egg-bound?

Follow Eggcessive's instructions. To those I would only add to, for the next few hours, offer the liquid in a spoon up to her beak every 15 minutes or so, idea being to try to encourage extra fluids. If overheated and dehydrated, her brain can be too woozy to think straight.

 

[Gary335]

Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. I have been treating her this evening with cool water, both externally and trying to get her to drink a little bit. I had a small bowl that I placed by her head with cold water in it, and she did seem receptive to sticking her head in there a little bit and drinking some water. I also treated the bumblefoot a little bit by cleaning it with water and applying some Betadine. She seemed to appreciate that as well. I’m just hoping she’ll make it through tonight so I can keep treating her tomorrow. I don’t know where to put her other than in her coop. My basement is even colder than the main floor of my house. I don’t have a garage. My shed is about 300° so there is no improvement over the coop. I feel bad, leaving her in the coop, but given the options available (none really) I feel like it’s the safest and best option.

 

[Anon112]

You said that the run is partly shaded. Is it also well-ventilated? Do you have any way to put a fan out there for them?

If not, is there anyone who can bring them fresh water during the day while you are at work?

I hope she recovers.

Some suggestions from others I have been following during this heat wave that really seem to be helping are:
1) Adding even more shade to my run
2) Putting out a few shallow containers of water so that they can stand in it
3) Freezing some plastic water bottles/containers overnight, then putting them in the waterers so that the water stays cool during the day
4) Wetting an area of the ground
5) Running a fan (I am VERY lucky to have electricity out at my run)

 

[Gary335]

You said that the run is partly shaded. Is it also well-ventilated? Do you have any way to put a fan out there for them?

If not, is there anyone who can bring them fresh water during the day while you are at work?

I hope she recovers.

Some suggestions from others I have been following during this heat wave that really seem to be helping are:
1) Adding even more shade to my run
2) Putting out a few shallow containers of water so that they can stand in it
3) Freezing some plastic water bottles/containers overnight, then putting them in the waterers so that the water stays cool during the day
4) Wetting an area of the ground
5) Running a fan (I am VERY lucky to have electricity out at my run)

The run is constructed entirely of chicken wire, so yes, it is as ventilated as it could possibly be. I do have electricity nearby so a fan would definitely be an option I could do. I put a shallow pool of water in the run and they were all very interested in drinking from it but none have been brave enough to actually step in yet, we’ll see if that changes! Most of the time I work from home (it’s my business and it only occasionally takes me out of the house, this week has been one of those rare instances where I’ve had to be away each day). I usually refresh the water several times in a day, especially in conditions like these.