My rooster and one Buff Orp hen died in my arms

[chickengrandma]

You did NOT drown your birds! Absolutely did not. I have give several of my sick birds drinks and medication via an eye dropper. Even my 10 year old daughter has done the administration - and it wasn't the "smoothest" technique. I also had to help one of my girls empty her sour crop by tipping her upside down and making her throw up. And she did not drowned from all of that yucky activity.

Do NOT, do NOT, do NOT blame yourself. Chickens are really, really, really strong and do NOT show their sickness until it is nearly too late or it is too late. It is always a miracle when one of us chicken owners can turn a sick chicken around and get them back to being healthy.

I've lost two of my girls. I sometimes blame myself for both of them...but try not to.

And I was recently able to save one of my sick girls (see sour crop above). And getting her back to health was a very long haul of 5 days of "guessing" and questioning everything I was doing. It was very stressful.

You did not drown them. You especially did not drown two of them.

You did the best you could and that you knew how. You gave them love and you were with them when they passed.

The next sick chicky you will notice earlier (by gut and through a "little voice in your head and you will save it.

I'm so, so, so very sorry for your loss.

 

[Chicken_Pauper]

I am very sorry for your losses. So sad.

I did not read all the posts, sorry... so, I assume that someone mentioned that the windpipe is right behind the tongue, and that you have to be careful when giving oral meds or water or anything to put it to the back & to the side, not to get it in the windpipe, it can kill them, quickly. You can see it when you open their beak and look. Your chickens were weak and sick and probably dying... based on the info you gave. Don't blame yourself. I am sorry.

Also, at 1 1/2 years old.. chickens get/have worms, whether you can see evidence of them or not, especially free range chickens that eat bugs and worms. So, search here on BYC for "worming with Valbazen"... it is the only wormer that kills all types of worms. And, it is safe to give first time, you don't need to give something else first -- Valbazen works slowly and is safe for first time worming. You will find info on how much to give (yes, orally to each chicken)... 1/2 cc/ml per standard chicken and 1/4 cc/ml per bantam chicken.. repeat in 10 days, and withhold eggs for a total of 24 days.. safe to eat on the 25th day (15th day after second dose). If you search here, you will find info on all the how to... (you can trust info from dawg53 regarding treating for worms...)
Also -- have you checked for mites and/or lice around the vents, under the wings, etc.?
And, with any results note the year of the post, since we all learn as we go along, more recent info is probably better than years old info, depending on who posted it.

(My feed store sells Valbazen from an open bottle.. saves me some money, it is a bit expensive and would "expire" before I could use it up.)

Good luck, sorry for your losses.

 

[Chicken_Pauper]

I am very sorry for your losses. So sad.

I did not read all the posts, sorry... so, I assume that someone mentioned that the windpipe is right behind the tongue, and that you have to be careful when giving oral meds or water or anything to put it to the back & to the side, not to get it in the windpipe, it can kill them, quickly. You can see it when you open their beak and look. Your chickens were weak and sick and probably dying... based on the info you gave. Don't blame yourself. I am sorry.

Also, at 1 1/2 years old.. chickens get/have worms, whether you can see evidence of them or not, especially free range chickens that eat bugs and worms. So, search here on BYC for "worming with Valbazen"... it is the only wormer that kills all types of worms. And, it is safe to give first time, you don't need to give something else first -- Valbazen works slowly and is safe for first time worming. You will find info on how much to give (yes, orally to each chicken)... 1/2 cc/ml per standard chicken and 1/4 cc/ml per bantam chicken.. repeat in 10 days, and withhold eggs for a total of 24 days.. safe to eat on the 25th day (15th day after second dose). If you search here, you will find info on all the how to... (you can trust info from dawg53 regarding treating for worms...)
Also -- have you checked for mites and/or lice around the vents, under the wings, etc.?
And, with any results note the year of the post, since we all learn as we go along, more recent info is probably better than years old info, depending on who posted it.

(My feed store sells Valbazen from an open bottle.. saves me some money, it is a bit expensive and would "expire" before I could use it up.)

Good luck, sorry for your losses.

 

[Chicken_Pauper]

I am very sorry for your losses. So sad.

I did not read all the posts, sorry... so, I assume that someone mentioned that the windpipe is right behind the tongue, and that you have to be careful when giving oral meds or water or anything to put it to the back & to the side, not to get it in the windpipe, it can kill them, quickly. You can see it when you open their beak and look. Your chickens were weak and sick and probably dying... based on the info you gave. Don't blame yourself. I am sorry.

Also, at 1 1/2 years old.. chickens get/have worms, whether you can see evidence of them or not, especially free range chickens that eat bugs and worms. So, search here on BYC for "worming with Valbazen"... it is the only wormer that kills all types of worms. And, it is safe to give first time, you don't need to give something else first -- Valbazen works slowly and is safe for first time worming. You will find info on how much to give (yes, orally to each chicken)... 1/2 cc/ml per standard chicken and 1/4 cc/ml per bantam chicken.. repeat in 10 days, and withhold eggs for a total of 24 days.. safe to eat on the 25th day (15th day after second dose). If you search here, you will find info on all the how to... (you can trust info from dawg53 regarding treating for worms...)
Also -- have you checked for mites and/or lice around the vents, under the wings, etc.?
And, with any results note the year of the post, since we all learn as we go along, more recent info is probably better than years old info, depending on who posted it.

(My feed store sells Valbazen from an open bottle.. saves me some money, it is a bit expensive and would "expire" before I could use it up.)

Good luck, sorry for your losses.

 

[Chicken_Pauper]

I am very sorry for your losses. So sad.

I did not read all the posts, sorry... so, I assume that someone mentioned that the windpipe is right behind the tongue, and that you have to be careful when giving oral meds or water or anything to put it to the back & to the side, not to get it in the windpipe, it can kill them, quickly. You can see it when you open their beak and look. Your chickens were weak and sick and probably dying... based on the info you gave. Don't blame yourself. I am sorry.

Also, at 1 1/2 years old.. chickens get/have worms, whether you can see evidence of them or not, especially free range chickens that eat bugs and worms. So, search here on BYC for "worming with Valbazen"... it is the only wormer that kills all types of worms. And, it is safe to give first time, you don't need to give something else first -- Valbazen works slowly and is safe for first time worming. You will find info on how much to give (yes, orally to each chicken)... 1/2 cc/ml per standard chicken and 1/4 cc/ml per bantam chicken.. repeat in 10 days, and withhold eggs for a total of 24 days.. safe to eat on the 25th day (15th day after second dose). If you search here, you will find info on all the how to... (you can trust info from dawg53 regarding treating for worms...)
Also -- have you checked for mites and/or lice around the vents, under the wings, etc.?
And, with any results note the year of the post, since we all learn as we go along, more recent info is probably better than years old info, depending on who posted it.

(My feed store sells Valbazen from an open bottle.. saves me some money, it is a bit expensive and would "expire" before I could use it up.)

Good luck, sorry for your losses.

 

[Denisemomof4]

I do believe the liquid got into their lungs. Please don't beat yourself up, you were only trying to help them.

I only add liquid a couple of drops at a time. It's a pain, but I've heard some liquid go down where it should have and it caused some wheezing. The bird recovered, but now I only give drops a couple at a time.