I have a sick chicken!

[10 pollos]

I'm very new at this. I've only had my chickens for a couple of weeks and I seem to have one that is not doing very well. She has been like this for a few days, One of her eyes seems to be closed most of the time, she sits quietly in the corner and as far as I could tell she only drinks when I give her water with the dropper. Could anyone help?

 

[meriruka]

How old is she? Does she freerange? Is she laying?

 

[10 pollos]

She is about 5 months old, and has not started laying yet (none of them have) They are in a fenced area about 20x10.

 

[California Ducken]

Get electrolytes in the water. If the chick is "just hatched" get her under a heat lamp at 95 - 98 degrees. PLEASE be exact in temp so get a thermometer. To low or to high will now be good.
How old the chick is will depend on the temp. of the brooder.

 

[California Ducken]

Oops disregard my heat lamp suggestion.

 

[meriruka]

Check her for poultry lice. Lift the feathers at the back of her neck in several places, see if there is anything moving on the skin. Check around her vent for mites.
Feel her abdomen to make sure it is not to hard or too soft. (Pick up a healthy hen to compare)
Has she been wormed?

 

[meriruka]

Thought of more stuff......

Is her poo normal?
Try giving her mashed hard boiled eggs w/ plain cultured yoghurt and some electrolytes or poultry vitamins.

 

[10 pollos]

Thanks! I will do that as soon as I get home.

 

[10 pollos]

I'm not sure if they were wormed.They were vacinated. Do I feed her with a dropper?

 

[meriruka]

Use the dropper only if she refuses food completely. She should be enticed with the eggs & yoghurt.
If she's not drinking, use the dropper to keep her hydrated......