My chicken is real sick and I don't know what to do to help her

[firehog]

She was staying away from the other chickens today and would not eat, even corn scratch or breads. Seems to drink a lot of water and has almost pure water diarhea. When I was carrying her back to the coop tonight she seemed to also vomit up water or very thin mucous.

The weather is warm and dry and they were out in their normal fenced area all day, so don't see how she could have got poisoned

 

[Pairie Faring]

Sorry I have no idea but I am sending good chicken vibes your way ...

 

[firehog]

Thanks. Her name is "Lady Gaga", going on 3 years Rhode Island Red. I really would hate to lose her she has feathers on her neck that are wavy and almost looks like a mane of hair.

 

[TeamChaos]

I'm assuming it wasn't hot enough for heat stroke either. Were her feathers ruffled? Was she still active, just away from the others, or was she pretty listless?

 

[firehog]

Feathers were not ruffled and she seemed pretty listless. I think she may have been sick for a few days since she was the first to roost in the coop in the evening. I noticed some posts telling to give electrolytes. Is that something I can get at Wilco, the local farm feed store, or is it a food or liquid product i can buy at the supermarket?

 

[TeamChaos]

You could get it either place- farm supply store will have electrolytes in a foil pouch that you mix with water, some specifically for poultry and others will be generic and at the grocery store it'll be in products like pedialyte and gatorade. Here's a page with a homemade solution (I haven't used it myself) http://jackshenhouse.com/VSChickHealth.htm

 

[BrattishTaz]

Have you felt her crop to see if it is impacted?


BTW- I use Gatoraid instead of electrolyte packs. I give a couple of spoons straight and follow with a mix of Gatoraid and water as needed.

 

[firehog]

What is an impacted crop? And what is the remedy? When I let them out this morning she was quite perky, running out and devouring some chopped lettuce and tortilla chips I had scattered on the ground. She obviously had no food in her system. She has a sharp breastbone so needs to gain some weight. She normally has a healthy appetite and leaps in the air to grab the daily bread treats when I enter their yard . I will fry up some hamburger for her today to see if i can get her up to par.