I am very new at this and with chickens but I need some help. We have 8 hens, 1 of which is a Rode Island Red. The Red has been our only layer for a while, the others are only a few months old (black and large ladies). Red did lay yesterday. My husband primarily takes care of the ladies and the garden. He came in last night voicing concerns about the Red, saying he thought she is sick. He had dewormed them all and put antibiotic in water today (tetracycline). He told me she seemed lethargic but was eating and drinking last night.
This morning, when he went to check on her, he said she was laying on her side and the other chickens were pulling out her feathers. She was so weak, she wasn't moving. He brought her inside in a cage with fresh straw, food, and water w/ antibiotic in it. She has just sat there, like an owl, all day. I can put my hand in the cage and even pet her some and she barely flinches. We have had to give her water with a tablespoon, putting her beak in it and she barely drinks. She had not touched the food at all. I just, again, tried to give her water. She maybe drank 3/4 tablespoon. I put some food in the tablespoon and held it near her mouth and she did peck at it and even peck at a few pieces that fell to the bottom of the cage (maybe a total of 2-3 tablesoons). I did note a very small amount of loose yellow color stool in the cage just now also. Like I said, we are fairly ignorant about all this. After reading several of the forums here, I see a lot of knowledge and experience and hope someone can help.
As far as food, we feed them a mixture of laying mash crumble, cracked corn, and crushed oyster shell. This food is available at all times, along with fresh water. I also noticed that her comb was bent. Does that mean anything? Hope this doesn't sound too silly:/ and pray one of you can help. Thanks!
Linda
This morning, when he went to check on her, he said she was laying on her side and the other chickens were pulling out her feathers. She was so weak, she wasn't moving. He brought her inside in a cage with fresh straw, food, and water w/ antibiotic in it. She has just sat there, like an owl, all day. I can put my hand in the cage and even pet her some and she barely flinches. We have had to give her water with a tablespoon, putting her beak in it and she barely drinks. She had not touched the food at all. I just, again, tried to give her water. She maybe drank 3/4 tablespoon. I put some food in the tablespoon and held it near her mouth and she did peck at it and even peck at a few pieces that fell to the bottom of the cage (maybe a total of 2-3 tablesoons). I did note a very small amount of loose yellow color stool in the cage just now also. Like I said, we are fairly ignorant about all this. After reading several of the forums here, I see a lot of knowledge and experience and hope someone can help.
As far as food, we feed them a mixture of laying mash crumble, cracked corn, and crushed oyster shell. This food is available at all times, along with fresh water. I also noticed that her comb was bent. Does that mean anything? Hope this doesn't sound too silly:/ and pray one of you can help. Thanks!
Linda
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