Last Call for help with Sick Chicken, Home Euthanasia May Be Necessary

[GitaBooks]

On this webpage, http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-heat-stress-dehydration-and.html , an electrolyte solution was recommended. Should I mix some up?

Yes, I found it REALLY helped my weak chicks.

 

[Emma Miriam]

Absolutely. And if you can get to TSC, pick up some Manna Pro Poultry Protector, which comes in a little spray bottle. It'll help with any mites or lice she might have.

Yes, just give her anything she'll eat. Scrambled eggs has the most nutrition, but if she'll eat mealworms or any other chicken treat you might have, give her that. Bread is fine in moderation but doesn't have much nutrition, so try the eggs if you can.

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

Though I lack any salt substitute, I made a mix of the other three ingredients and added it to her water. Hopefully it will help.

Tomorrow I may consider making scrambled eggs and saving some for her.

Also, I believe that somewhere in the barn we may have some powder for getting rid of mites.

So far, putting her in an outdoor pen has done her good.

 

[enola]

Has she been wormed? Or maybe I should ask if you have considered worming her?

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

She hasn't been wormed, and I lack the expertise, resources, and access to a vent to find out. I'm thinking that it could be viral, but I'm not sure. Do worms cause a poor appetite in chickens?

If the bird is indeed suffering from something viral, are there any things I can do to help her recover?

 

[Emma Miriam]

I'm glad you made the electrolyte solution, that should help. And yes, I would HIGHLY recommend the scrambled eggs. Whatever she has will only be aggravated if she's not eating, and it's all too easy for a hen to become severely malnourished.

I'm sorry if you said this and I missed it, but is her poo normal? Sometimes you can see worms in poo...they would look like long white strands, just like a tiny translucent worm. Worms definitely do cause a lack of appetite, but I'm sorry to say I don't know more about treating worms. It would be worth doing some research.

I also don't know much about chicken viruses, but you could definitely google it.

I'm glad being outdoors helps her...that's a good sign. Keep us updated (and again, I'm all for the scrambled eggs...)

 

[enola]

Worms can and will kill chickens.

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

This morning, I did feed her some scrambled egg. Hopefully the chorizo will do no harm, as the scrambled eggs were cooked for a human palate. She seems to have showed some interest in them, but still isn't eating nearly as much as she probably needs. I also handed some of the scrambled egg to a bird I have indoors recovering from an open wound from flystrike, but that bird has showed little interest.

As for her poop, it's really tough to tell because she eats little and is in a grassy pen, but I saw a few splotches that were largely white but had some brown in them.

May I also ask, what is the most effective way to get some healthy weight on her? Or is that the whole reason scrambled eggs has come into play?

 

[enola]

Have you wormed this hen? And what did you use?

 

[YankeeMinstrel]

I haven't wormed the hen. Maybe I can get my mother to take my to the Tractor Supply store, but I'm not sure if I'll have the chance.