Hen with Extreme Stress and Anxiety when Picked Up

[tt1912]

Hi! One of my hens is currently experiencing some respiratory issues and I have been giving her VetRx to help. Whenever I pick her up to apply it, her body completely freezes and she begins heaving and panting like crazy.
I don't pick her up aggressively or snatch her, it usually takes a bit of chasing and i always make sure to be gentle and not pick her up in a way that would crush her lungs. This has happened previously when I tried to pick her up and wash her bum, to which she almost passed out. Afterwards, she stays frozen for a while and immediately walks back to the coop.
I've had her for years now and she has no problem with me being around her, but when it comes to picking her up, she freaks out. I'm worried because I NEED to give her certain medicines to help her and sometimes I really need to make sure her hygiene is right!

Any tips on what to do or how I can help her? Thank you so much!

 

[User690263]

Is it possible to administer the medication without picking her up?
If not try wrapping her in a towel and covering her head, that should calm her down. You could also try doing it after it's dark out, as chickens seem to turn into "zombies" when it's dark.

 

[User690263]

Is it possible to administer the medication without picking her up?
If not try wrapping her in a towel and covering her head, that should calm her down. You could also try doing it after it's dark out, as chickens seem to turn into "zombies" when it's dark.

By zombies I mean that they're slow and generally more relaxed, sort of in a trance-like state

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do not chase her in the heat of the day! Chickens can die of heat stroke. Wait until evening when she's on the roost and it's dark. Chickens don't see well in the dark. Either have a helper to hold her, or tuck her under one arm like a football, pinning her wings so she can't struggle, or wrap her in a towel. Work quickly to minimize stress. It helps to have a head lamp to leave your hands free and if you can get one with a red light option that would be best. Wal mart should have them for about $5.

 

[tt1912]

Is it possible to administer the medication without picking her up?
If not try wrapping her in a towel and covering her head, that should calm her down. You could also try doing it after it's dark out, as chickens seem to turn into "zombies" when it's dark.

It's less effective if I dont apply the medicine directly to her beak/comb. And thank you for the tip! Recently I've been trying to do it at night, but she's still a bit jumpy. i can still get the job done though! Thanks!

 

[tt1912]

Do not chase her in the heat of the day! Chickens can die of heat stroke. Wait until evening when she's on the roost and it's dark. Chickens don't see well in the dark. Either have a helper to hold her, or tuck her under one arm like a football, pinning her wings so she can't struggle, or wrap her in a towel. Work quickly to minimize stress. It helps to have a head lamp to leave your hands free and if you can get one with a red light option that would be best. Wal mart should have them for about $5.

It's not actually very hot during the summer where I live, highest usually being around ~75. Heat isnt much of a concern, but I'll definitely keep that in mind! I've been trying to give her the medication at night which is for sure a little easier at least, so thank you for that. I'm just afraid that even if I tuck her or wrap her in a towel, she'll start heaving. It's a bit hard when her head keeps moving around and she wont let me touch her face lol, but thank you for the tips and the head lamp suggestion! I'll be trying them soon.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Not sure VetRX is the best medication for this. My understanding is it's sort of like Vicks for chickens. Let me tag @Eggcessive , one of our Educators, in here, and see if she can suggest something more effective.

 

[Eggcessive]

@tt1912 what exactly are the respiratory symptoms that you are seeing? Is she sneezing, gasping, shaking mucus from her beak, have bubbles or foam in either eye, any eyelid or facial swelling, or rattles/wheeIng when she breathes? It sounds like handing her is really causing more stress. I would agree that doing it after she goes to roost in the dark, and just before daylight are the best times to handle her. A red light on a head lamp is what many of use use to get them off the roost in the dark.

 

[tt1912]

@tt1912 what exactly are the respiratory symptoms that you are seeing? Is she sneezing, gasping, shaking mucus from her beak, have bubbles or foam in either eye, any eyelid or facial swelling, or rattles/wheeIng when she breathes? It sounds like handing her is really causing more stress. I would agree that doing it after she goes to roost in the dark, and just before daylight are the best times to handle her. A red light on a head lamp is what many of use use to get them off the roost in the dark.

Hi! Her symptoms include sneezing and heavy breathing. Some days she does fine, and other days she's breathing with her mouth opening and closing. Her comb is noticeably darker than my other hen, who is the same breed as her. Not exactly purple, but looked concerning to me. Thankfully, she doesn't have any of those other symptoms. I do notice she naps a lot, and keeps her head tucked in a lot of the times. For a long time i felt these could be symptoms for something else, but I was never sure. My guesses were either older age or being overweight, since she is 5 years old and is quite chubby. She eats a lot and waddles a bit when she walks.