Lethargic and arched- SO HOT

[mackielane]

Our one girl has been arched like this, this is day 2.

Temps have been in the 90’s and up. Could this be heat stress? I barely touch her and she falls over. She is old enough to lay, all the chicks we got with her are laying, but she isn’t yet. Please help

 

[dawg53]

She might be eggbound. Soak her in a container of warm water up to her sides. Then slide your hand under her while she is soaking and gently massage her underside front to rear for about 20 minutes.
The warm water will relax and expand her innards, massaging will encourage her to move the egg along. Sometimes they will lay an egg in the water.
Otherwise after 20 minutes of massaging, wear a disposable glove and place a small amount of olive oil or vegetable oil just inside her vent. The oil will make it easier for her to lay the stuck egg, if that's the case.
Repeat the soaking and massaging a few more times as needed and hopefully she'll lay an egg.

 

[FrizzledWyandotte7]

She might have a disease that causes muscular paralysis-the falling over is an issue. Is she eating and drinking? What do her droppings look like? Basic stuff I would remove her from the coop and give her electrolytes in her water and put her in a shady spot. Doesn’t really look heat exhausted-that is when they beak breathe and hold their wings out. I would suspect something else. Electrolytes can help. Feel her crop-sometimes stuff like impacted crop and sour crop can also do this.

 

[mackielane]

She might have a disease that causes muscular paralysis-the falling over is an issue. Is she eating and drinking? What do her droppings look like? Basic stuff I would remove her from the coop and give her electrolytes in her water and put her in a shady spot. Doesn’t really look heat exhausted-that is when they beak breathe and hold their wings out. I would suspect something else. Electrolytes can help. Feel her crop-sometimes stuff like impacted crop and sour crop can also do this.

She has been chugging water, but won’t eat anything. Droppings are varying in color green/yellow but mostly very loose. We’ve dealt with impacted crop before but she’s just full of water. She has been panting, not holding wings out.

 

[mackielane]

She might be eggbound. Soak her in a container of warm water up to her sides. Then slide your hand under her while she is soaking and gently massage her underside front to rear for about 20 minutes.
The warm water will relax and expand her innards, massaging will encourage her to move the egg along. Sometimes they will lay an egg in the water.
Otherwise after 20 minutes of massaging, wear a disposable glove and place a small amount of olive oil or vegetable oil just inside her vent. The oil will make it easier for her to lay the stuck egg, if that's the case.
Repeat the soaking and massaging a few more times as needed and hopefully she'll lay an egg.

Can being egg bound happen before ever laying their first egg? Sorry. First time chicken owner.

 

[FrizzledWyandotte7]

She has been chugging water, but won’t eat anything. Droppings are varying in color green/yellow but mostly very loose. We’ve dealt with impacted crop before but she’s just full of water. She has been panting, not holding wings out.

Droppings can change that color from lack of eating. I would remove her from the flock annd provide a cooler atea and see what she does then. The dropping color happens when they stop eating. Try to separate her and offer her different types of food in a safe place. I’ve had a chicken that has stoppped eating and started eating as soon as she had access to a different type of feeder. Electolytes is a big one for me. Helps with a ton. I use save-a-chick stuff but you can also find homade recipes online. It migbt also be a part reaction to molting, if she is doing that.

 

[dawg53]

Can being egg bound happen before ever laying their first egg? Sorry. First time chicken owner.

Absolutely.

 

[mackielane]

Absolutely.

Went out this morning and 3 more are acting like this. One laid a soft shelled egg last night after laying a normal one yesterday. Combs have no color.

 

[Ajp23]

What is your flock eating? Do they have oyster shell available? Are they all new layers?

 

[mackielane]

What is your flock eating? Do they have oyster shell available? Are they all new layers?

Layer feed from a local co-op. Oyster shells are available on the side. Yes all new layers