- Jun 10, 2011
- 4
- 8
- 62
Okay, I'm a total newbie here, but I wanted to get this question out as quickly as I could. I wish I would have done more research on whatever this is a while ago, but we discovered the sick chicken the same day I came home from the hospital after a c-section. Needless to say, figuring out what to do about Big Red was not at the top of my priority list. So here's the deal:
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Rhode Island Red, almost 3 years old. Not sure of weight...just average RIR weight!
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Big Red has been completely lame for the past two months. Her legs just aren't supporting her. She can take a few steps, so she's definitely not paralyzed. She just stays collapsed on her belly all the time and can only take a few steps at a time. She can't step over anything, though.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Almost 2 months exactly.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Nope.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No, everything looks totally normal (with the exception of her poor belly which has become raw and swollen from being on the ground all the time
) No swelling, cuts, splinters, or anything.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No freaking clue!
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Eating and drinking normally. She just eats the layer crumble from Southern States.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Totally normal. Maybe a tad runny, but not too far from normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Umm...not much. We separated her from the flock immediately and put her in a dog crate near the other chickens. That's it. Oh, I also added a bit of vinegar to her water a few times.
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 prefer to treat on my own since it seems to be IMPOSSIBLE to find a vet to treat chickens out here. I tried finding one when I had a chicken that I thought was egg bound, but no one could help me. I eventually talked to a vet long distance, and he was pretty helpful. Problem with that chicken disappeared when she got picked up by a hawk
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I sent my niece out with my iPhone while I was nursing my baby. I'll try to get a better picture tomorrow if need be.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
She usually hangs with the rest of the chickens in the mobile coop. It's a small coop with pine shavings as bedding and a large run enclosed by chicken wire. There are a couple of wooden roosts. I isolated her in a metal dog crate and left the bottom open so she could still graze on grass and bugs. That's all she has right now. I covered the top with the tray from the bottom to give her shade.
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Rhode Island Red, almost 3 years old. Not sure of weight...just average RIR weight!
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Big Red has been completely lame for the past two months. Her legs just aren't supporting her. She can take a few steps, so she's definitely not paralyzed. She just stays collapsed on her belly all the time and can only take a few steps at a time. She can't step over anything, though.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Almost 2 months exactly.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Nope.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No, everything looks totally normal (with the exception of her poor belly which has become raw and swollen from being on the ground all the time
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No freaking clue!
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Eating and drinking normally. She just eats the layer crumble from Southern States.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Totally normal. Maybe a tad runny, but not too far from normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Umm...not much. We separated her from the flock immediately and put her in a dog crate near the other chickens. That's it. Oh, I also added a bit of vinegar to her water a few times.
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 prefer to treat on my own since it seems to be IMPOSSIBLE to find a vet to treat chickens out here. I tried finding one when I had a chicken that I thought was egg bound, but no one could help me. I eventually talked to a vet long distance, and he was pretty helpful. Problem with that chicken disappeared when she got picked up by a hawk
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I sent my niece out with my iPhone while I was nursing my baby. I'll try to get a better picture tomorrow if need be.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
She usually hangs with the rest of the chickens in the mobile coop. It's a small coop with pine shavings as bedding and a large run enclosed by chicken wire. There are a couple of wooden roosts. I isolated her in a metal dog crate and left the bottom open so she could still graze on grass and bugs. That's all she has right now. I covered the top with the tray from the bottom to give her shade.
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