- Nov 12, 2010
- 16
- 1
- 75
Hello,
I have a 2 year old Easter Egger hen who, yesterday am, I discovered lying on her side, (at first glance, it looked the way they do when they are taking a dust bath, but she was lying in the grass, so that was cause for concern). When I got to her, she was just lying there on her side, very weak.
I found no marks on her, such as pecking or injuries, etc. She was just totally out of it. I brought her in and gave her a long cool bath in my sink, and she seemed to revive a little (I might point out here that I am near Tampa, FL, and it is hotter than Hades already - high humidity), so I put her on my back porch with some fresh water that I put ice in and also offered her some chopped cold grapes - she was isolated so nothing could get to her, and she didn't appear to have the energy to try and fly. She seemed to revive a bit, but seemed a little upset at being by herself, so I put another chicken in there with her. The other chicken wanted out, so I let her out and forgot to close the first one off - went back inside and came out about 30 minutes later, and she'd apparently fallen down the porch steps and was lying at the bottom in the heat, panting like she was going to die.
So, back in the house, into the sink and another cool water bath. She sort of vomited up some yellow liquid. After that, I put the towel I'd wrapped her in to dry her, with her, out in a cage on the back porch. She just sat on top of it, not seeming to have the energy to move. A little while later, I went out and offered her a small slice of cantaloupe which was cold and had a lot of moisture in it, and she pecked away at it quite a bit.
I made her a mash out of her food and kept refreshing the waterer - she seemed to be perking up a little bit last night, but I still was worried I'd go out there this am and she'd be gone, but when I got up, she was standing in the cage. She was moving about a little bit, scratching tentatively in the shavings. I brought her some black oil sunflower seeds which all of mine love, and gave her fresh water that I mixed Save-a-chick into for electrolytes, etc., but I can't tell if she's drinking or not. I offered her fresh cold grapes, chopped up small, and she seems to want to eat and reaches for the food, but then draws back - like there is something stuck in her throat or something.
She is still very weak - she can stand, but easily falls over. She is alert though, and alternates between standing, and then sitting, basically in one place. I just have no clue what could be wrong, but I don't want to put her back out with the others at this point.
I would just appreciate any questions, suggestions, etc. She's a sweet little thing, and I would hate for her to die because I just didn't know how to help her.
Thanks,
Kathie
I have a 2 year old Easter Egger hen who, yesterday am, I discovered lying on her side, (at first glance, it looked the way they do when they are taking a dust bath, but she was lying in the grass, so that was cause for concern). When I got to her, she was just lying there on her side, very weak.
I found no marks on her, such as pecking or injuries, etc. She was just totally out of it. I brought her in and gave her a long cool bath in my sink, and she seemed to revive a little (I might point out here that I am near Tampa, FL, and it is hotter than Hades already - high humidity), so I put her on my back porch with some fresh water that I put ice in and also offered her some chopped cold grapes - she was isolated so nothing could get to her, and she didn't appear to have the energy to try and fly. She seemed to revive a bit, but seemed a little upset at being by herself, so I put another chicken in there with her. The other chicken wanted out, so I let her out and forgot to close the first one off - went back inside and came out about 30 minutes later, and she'd apparently fallen down the porch steps and was lying at the bottom in the heat, panting like she was going to die.
So, back in the house, into the sink and another cool water bath. She sort of vomited up some yellow liquid. After that, I put the towel I'd wrapped her in to dry her, with her, out in a cage on the back porch. She just sat on top of it, not seeming to have the energy to move. A little while later, I went out and offered her a small slice of cantaloupe which was cold and had a lot of moisture in it, and she pecked away at it quite a bit.
I made her a mash out of her food and kept refreshing the waterer - she seemed to be perking up a little bit last night, but I still was worried I'd go out there this am and she'd be gone, but when I got up, she was standing in the cage. She was moving about a little bit, scratching tentatively in the shavings. I brought her some black oil sunflower seeds which all of mine love, and gave her fresh water that I mixed Save-a-chick into for electrolytes, etc., but I can't tell if she's drinking or not. I offered her fresh cold grapes, chopped up small, and she seems to want to eat and reaches for the food, but then draws back - like there is something stuck in her throat or something.
She is still very weak - she can stand, but easily falls over. She is alert though, and alternates between standing, and then sitting, basically in one place. I just have no clue what could be wrong, but I don't want to put her back out with the others at this point.
I would just appreciate any questions, suggestions, etc. She's a sweet little thing, and I would hate for her to die because I just didn't know how to help her.
Thanks,
Kathie
