Not sure what to do

[manteo99]

Just need some help. My Brother bought 30 chicken from the local feed store this spring, he has has chickens off and on for years but for some reason I started visiting these little guy almost on a daily basic and fell in love with them. I have even gone so far as to talk my husband in to building me super cute but very function coop with a very large outdoor run. I have named all 30 of my brothers chicken and take them any scrapes I have and even gone so far as to feed them my good food, I love that they just go crazy when they see me coming and then follow me every where I go and I have become so attached them. The problem is about 3 weeks ago one of his chicken had something wrong with her wing , my brother thought she had broke it he tried putting panty hose on it but the other chicken some how got it off any way everything was fine till last Monday (my brother is out of town for the next 3 weeks) when I went to feed them she was crouched down and could hardly move so I took her out and put her in a small pen and called my brother who was like well it is just a chicken see what she does which broke my heart because I just knew he could tell me how to make her better. So I tried feeding her and she ate like she was starving but the next day when I went in the pen she was just laying on her side with no control of her body if I hold her up to the food she will eat and drink but If I let her go she just falls to the side ....she has been like this for a week and I don't know what to do my vet does not treat chickens and laughed at me when I asked I have read that it could be Vitamin def or Markel I have given her the infant vitamin polysoval . I know this is no life for her but I CAN NOT KILL her even if it is the right thing to do. I just don't know if this a normal thing for chickens to get sick like this or not but I can't have chickens if this kind of thing is normal ): I just dont know what could have happened to her no one else is sick and no new chickens these guys were bought all at the same time. If anyone one has any advise PLEASE let me know I will try anything .

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi. I waited to see if someone more experienced had ideas. Do the chickens free range where she could have gotten in to something? This may be way off, but since she is still eating, I had a pullet dust bath in a horses barn stall. (coarse wood chips, dirt, wet with urine) She came out cackling, squatting, stumbling then just fell over and refused to move. I thought she was dying. I grabbed her and found urine soaked mud stuck in her down feathers and chips poking her flaming red shin. I blew her off real well with a dog blower and she got better right away. I know it's a long shot but is something really hurting her to move? Sorry I don't have good advice. Hope she's ok.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! Sorry to hear you have a poorly hen From how you have described her it could possibly be a vitamin deficiency or mareks. Have you kept her separate from the others? This would be best for her so she can rest on her own without the hassle of the other ladies. If it is a vitamin deficiency it can take time for them to recover it generally is not a quick fix but over a longer period time. Continue with your vits and feed and water her as regular and as often as you can. Dehydration and malnutrition can be fatal if she is not eating and drinking on her own. Scrambled egg is fantastic for when you have a sick bird, it is full of the building blocks of life. I do know how you feel about not wanting to cull her but if you feel her suffering is so bad would the vet consider euthanising her for you? This may be a better option for you if you can't do it yourself. I really do know how you feel I've agonised over having to cull but when I have know it's in the best interest of the bird to end the suffering, I know I have then done the right thing even though it has broken my heart.

I really do hope with more time and love from you she pulls round. Good luck with her

 

[manteo99]

Thanks so much for the fast reply! Yes they do when I'm at home but I have looked over every inch of her and she has no wounds or bug but she is really thin

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Is she the one that was dust bathing in the horse area? I ask because she was showing symptoms of illness and when you used the blow dryer on her, she was fine. I'm wondering if she is allergic to something she is coming in contact with. I doubt a seriously ill bird would get much better just with the use of a blow dryer.

Is she coming in contact with moldy feed - maybe even moldy horse feed. Any fertilizer or pesticide being used in the area?

 

[Mutt Farm]

Is she the one that was dust bathing in the horse area? I ask because she was showing symptoms of illness and when you used the blow dryer on her, she was fine. I'm wondering if she is allergic to something she is coming in contact with. I doubt a seriously ill bird would get much better just with the use of a blow dryer.

Is she coming in contact with moldy feed - maybe even moldy horse feed. Any fertilizer or pesticide being used in the area?

Oh Hi! It was my pullet that had a violent reaction to dust bath in "dirty wet pee spot shavings" in the horse stall. @manteo99 was the OP with a pullet in big trouble. I think her girl has bigger troubles. I replied to her with my event, as hers seemed sudden onset as well and no experts had replied yet. @Yorkshire coop replied to her with medical advice. I'm so thankful. My pullet, her sudden reaction, I've never seen anything like it! There were 5 birds wallowing in the stall. 4 were fine. She completely flipped out, Raced out squatting and screaming, fell down scratching then laid down on her side and gave up. The other hens were a bit frantic, picking at her. I grabbed her and found all this terrible stuff stuck in her feathers. I have a high powered dog grooming drier. Dad held her while I blew all the nasties out of her feathers. She recovered almost instantly. If you are still reading, I hadn't thought of allergies. She's a White Marans, has always been a bit sensitive and different. From my knowledge of other species, hybrids and critters bred to a certain color or trait seem to loose their hardiness. The other 4 birds that wallowed in the same spot were fine. Thoughts?