Hen Lethargic (Heat Stroke)

[RichardHCanterbury]

At about 4:30 PM today I found my hen basically dead (barely breathing, completely limp, eyes shut). I brought her inside and put her in ice water for an hour and have been trying to get her to drink to no avail. Now she can stand up and is somewhat alert but mostly just stands with her eyes closed and her poop is bright green. Is this heat stroke or something else? What should I do?

Also, as I type this she is starting to make some small noises that sound like she’s straining a bit.

 

[RichardHCanterbury]

UPDATE: Now it sounds like she’s having trouble breathing. It’s steady but it makes a noise. Here’s a link to a video of it: https://govease-my.sharepoint.com/✌...lLrP3NwxqH534B_w2EKYKoSYFvNbkO_DJoSA?e=sbOQ1T

 

[RichardHCanterbury]

UPDATE: Now it sounds like she’s having trouble breathing. It’s steady but it makes a noise. Here’s a link to a video of it: https://govease-my.sharepoint.com/✌...lLrP3NwxqH534B_w2EKYKoSYFvNbkO_DJoSA?e=sbOQ1T

Even crazier, as I was typing that she laid a really soft egg. I looked up and it was there

 

[alinas2010]

I’m terribly sorry about your hen. How is she doing?

I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think you’d dunk her in ice water immediately to try to cool her down, but more so gradually try to cool her down by placing her in a cooler environment if you think she has heat stroke. I don’t blame you for doing so, though, it sounds like a very scary situation and I can’t say I wouldn’t immediately want to do the same. But I do know for sure to treat for heat stroke do immediately try to get her to drink an electrolyte solution or even some room temp Gatorade. You may have to dip her beak in to get her to drink it. Be prepared to tube “feed” it into her crop if she doesn’t take it. <— tubing it into her may be necessary if you’re actually dealing with heat stroke is what I mean, I hope that made sense

If you still need some help we can call on some experts @azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, it can be dangerous to put a chicken (or any animal, humans) in icy water to cool them down. Cool water on the legs will do the job. Cool wet wash cloths under the wings can be good. Sugar water, or electrolytes, even Gatorade are best given by dipping the beak or dropping onto the side of the beak. If you have a syringe they can be put down the chicken’s right side of the throat into the esophagus. Keep her in a quiet dim space. Once you get her stabilized and can access her, then give mor details. Once she is drinking fluids, then you can offer wet mushy chicken feed and soft cooked egg. How old is she? Is her crop empty or full? Check it again first thing in the morning when it should be empty. Has she been laying eggs recently? How hot has it been there?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good suggestions and questions from everyone.

Hopefully she will stabilize more as you get fluids into her.
Answering some of the questions posed can help us better understand a few things so we can offer other suggestions as needed.

 

[alinas2010]

Even crazier, as I was typing that she laid a really soft egg. I looked up and it was there

The link to that video makes us log in to a Microsoft account. You can post a YouTube video and link it here if you want, that’s usually easiest. Was she better after laying an egg? She may have been egg bound. You should give her a human calcium plus D3 vitamin since she laid a soft shelled egg.