My chicken went lifeless in a few hours, could she have eaten something?

[hlinfl]

Hi everyone,
My Brahma Mama was fine this morning free ranging with my other two hens, and a couple hours later, I see her laying on the ground almost lifeless! When she gets startled, she gets up but is clearly wobbly and disoriented. All I can think is she ate something? She's 4, healthy sized, and had been free ranging in our fenced back yard for the entire four years.

I'm not sure if it's relevant, but a Bantam rooster from next door had been flying over the fence to hang with the girls. All other hens are fine. We've gotten a lot of rain lately, which I question something moldy? I've culled her on my patio.....it's not looking good. any opinions? Trying to take a picture of her, but I can't.

 

[mesafox101]

i would get her a pen and keep a really close eye on her since my friends chicken did that and was dead the next week so i would try giving her a lot of water so maybe that could help

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you mean to say that you culled her? Or did you separate her? I would try to get her drinking some water, and if you can put some electrolytes in it that could help. It's possible the rooster has been keeping her from food and water, or could have possibly brought in some disease. You are wise to keep a close eye on her. Offer some chopped egg, or a little beef liver, and moistened feed is also good. Mold can be deadly if they get a lot of it. Botulism, lead poisoning, and other things may be possible. Can she move all her extremities, and is her neck moving normally? Feel of her crop to check if it is empty, full, or puffy. Has she had any droppings, and what are they like?

 

[hlinfl]

 

[mesafox101]

do you feed fresh fruits if so i would see if she would get excited for a treat

 

[hlinfl]

Did you mean to say that you culled her? Or did you separate her? I would try to get her drinking some water, and if you can put some electrolytes in it that could help. It's possible the rooster has been keeping her from food and water, or could have possibly brought in some disease. You are wise to keep a close eye on her. Offer some chopped egg, or a little beef liver, and moistened feed is also good. Mold can be deadly if they get a lot of it. Botulism, lead poisoning, and other things may be possible. Can she move all her extremities, and is her neck moving normally? Feel of her crop to check if it is empty, full, or puffy. Has she had any droppings, and what are they like?

Did you mean to say that you culled her? Or did you separate her? I would try to get her drinking some water, and if you can put some electrolytes in it that could help. It's possible the rooster has been keeping her from food and water, or could have possibly brought in some disease. You are wise to keep a close eye on her. Offer some chopped egg, or a little beef liver, and moistened feed is also good. Mold can be deadly if they get a lot of it. Botulism, lead poisoning, and other things may be possible. Can she move all her extremities, and is her neck moving normally? Feel of her crop to check if it is empty, full, or puffy. Has she had any droppings, and what are they like?

Maybe culled isn't the right word? I separated her. She's on the patio in a large crate with water. All extremities are working? I mean, she's lifeless but nothing is spasmotic. Defecating liquid.

 

[hlinfl]

Her crop is fine. She's actually the most hardy bird of them all! The Bantam isn't keeping her from food or water, my hens chase him off. The rooster is still a cockerel.

 

[Eggcessive]

There can be poisonous plants around, which might be another possibility for her sudden illness. Has she lost any weight in her breast bone (keel) area when you picked her up? Any swelling in her lower belly? At 4 years they can sometimes have internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis that can make them ill, but that tends to happen more slowly. Has she been laying eggs recently or just completed a molt? If you should lose her, I would try to get a necropsy just to found out the cause. I really hope that she perks up to take some water and food.

 

[hlinfl]

There can be poisonous plants around, which might be another possibility for her sudden illness. Has she lost any weight in her breast bone (keel) area when you picked her up? Any swelling in her lower belly? At 4 years they can sometimes have internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis that can make them ill, but that tends to happen more slowly. Has she been laying eggs recently or just completed a molt? If you should lose her, I would try to get a necropsy just to found out the cause. I really hope that she perks up to take some water and food.

 

[hlinfl]

Well, she's up, but still seems a little 'out of it'. I'll have to monitor her and see how it goes. Very strange but she's looking like she's made a VAST improvement from a couple hours ago.....very quizzical! Thank you everyone, I'll keep you posted