My chicken hasn’t been feeling well...

[the.whole.crew]

About a week ago I posted about my chicken not feeling well she’s still not okay. My father and I have been spending time with her cleaning off her butt and making sure she eats and drinks. We’ve given her nutridrench, electrolytes, vitamin B and dewormer. She’s standing more than she has been, but she’s still staying in one spot, letting us handle her (she normally despises being touched). I’m with her right now, and I was wondering how to get her to eat and drink without wrestling it into her, since she’s still got enough spunk to fight it. I can tell she’s lost weight just from handling her. Any advice?

 

[dunnmom]

I'm sorry to hear she's been unwell for so long. I didn't see your other post, could you maybe insert a link to it, so we can see what symptoms she's been having? Wait, maybe I can find it.

 

[the.whole.crew]

I'm sorry to hear she's been unwell for so long. I didn't see your other post, could you maybe insert a link to it, so we can see what symptoms she's been having?

I don’t know how to do that? But I could tell you right now that’s she’s been laying down or standing just in one place, she’s noticeably lost weight, I’m pretty sure she’s not eating or drinking aside from when we make her. She’s letting us touch her and sitting on our laps when she normally runs away when you just try to pet her, never mind pick her up. When we’re home and let them freerange (we did earlier this week) she’ll go out and forage but mostly stay in one spot. She seems weak and tired. I don’t think it’s anything contagious since she’s been sick for so long and the others are showing no signs. I know it’s nothing physical just from handling her so much with no objections. I’ll answer any other questions about behavior if you just ask, but I think that covers most of it. I just got her to eat a few grapes and take a few drops of water. The grapes are a good sign since they’re her favorite and she doesn’t feel awful enough to deny them. I think they might also help hydrating her since they’re so watery (I guess- I might just be being hopeful).

 

[dunnmom]

Ah! Found it. I have questions. Is her poop normal? Laying eggs? What's the matter with her rear that you need to clean it? Have you checked her for mites and lice?

 

[dunnmom]

Is she losing any feathers? What are the daytime temps like where you are? And have you tried giving her any probiotics?

 

[dunnmom]

I know that's a ton of questions, but her symptoms seem pretty general.

 

[dunnmom]

Also, has she ever been broody before?

 

[the.whole.crew]

Ah! Found it. I have questions. Is her poop normal? Laying eggs? What's the matter with her rear that you need to clean it? Have you checked her for mites and lice?

Her poop is kinda liquidy and she’s not standing up straight enough to poop without it getting all over her butt feathers. I don’t see any mites or lice. She hasn’t laid an egg in about two years. Long story short, something got into the coop and killed most of the chickens. She was one of three survivors and hasn’t been the same since. She doesn’t lay eggs and hates being touched. But besides that, she acts like a normal chicken most of the time.

 

[the.whole.crew]

I know that's a ton of questions, but her symptoms seem pretty general.

Never been broody. She’s a black Minorca (just in case you were wondering?)

 

[the.whole.crew]

Is she losing any feathers? What are the daytime temps like where you are? And have you tried giving her any probiotics?

We’ve given her this and vitamin B and dewormer. If you have any other suggestions I’m open. The nutridrench is coming today so we’ll start that tomorrow.