Obama isnt very bright! May need advice.

[Briggadane]

I've started a new flock. I was able to get a few started fancies, from which came Obama and Biden. Both are Polish pullets, about 12 weeks old now. About 20 minutes ago I found Obama standing in the duck(Aflak)'s baby pool. Maybe 3" deep. She was wet, weak, twitching and opening and closing her mouth with no sound. Her crop is totally empty. I towel dried her, and rubbed her to get circulation started-she was cool to the touch. I put her in a brooder with ten 5 day old chicks, but they all just ran over her. She couldnt even sit. So now I'm dealing with a hypothermic, shocked and sickly in general, bird. After rubbing her, I blow dried her on low setting. Then wrapped her in a clean hand towel. She is now residing, in the towel, inside my shirt collar, on my chest. She is currently starting to make faint "nasal" type sounds. She is not trying to move at all.

HAs any experienced anything similiar? What did you do?

I'm not sure when to give her food, or push electrolites into her. im thinking if she starts trying to move and gets over the shock, it might be time to offer food/water? Oh! she is trying to chirp now!

 

[lazy gardener]

I wouldn't worry about food until tomorrow morning. Just keep her warm.

 

[eviemethugh]

It is very hard on chickens to not eat for more than 6 hours when they aren't sleeping. You can start with foods like mashed hard boiled egg, jarred baby food like chicken and peas (meat!), yogurt, basically soft protein rich foods.
I think you are doing great for body heat. A chickens normal body heat is just over 100 (like 103) so you do want to bring her back up slowly, but your own body heat may not be enough. If she starts to eat a little maybe she could be sectioned off in the brooder with acces to the heat lamp and also access to get away from the heat lamp if it's big enough?
Chirping is good! I think you can do food and electrolytes as much as she will happily accept. You can warm the water to help her not cool back down too. Just like a new chick....
I hope poor Obama makes a full recovery!

 

[donrae]

I wouldn't push food or fluids. Her problem was being cold, not malnourished or dehydrated. Once she warms up, she'll start eating and drinking again on her own.

I've not had this exact situation, but I've found partially hatched chicks abandoned by momma that were stone cold to the touch and looked pretty dead. Warm them up and in a few hours you've got an active, chirping chick looking for momma.

 

[chixgodiva]

I'm no chicken expert, but I know that with humans and other mammals, they use warm IV fluids to raise the core temp. Maybe warm weak electrolyte fluids. Hoping Obama makes a full recovery.

 

[growsaposy]

My very best thoughts and wishes to you. I would love to donate but am not eligible, sorry. Many of the implants are quite successful. We have a relative in Colorado who is doing well with hers. Take good care of You!
Barb

 

[Briggadane]

She is back to her normal self. It worked. I put her in the brooder with the chicks. There were only 10 with her and the area was big enough for her to get away from them. I put her in after she was strong enough to move on her own and dry. She has always seemed a bit weak to me, so I was rather surprised she made it.

Thanks for the help and well wishes.

 

[eviemethugh]

Good to hear!

 

[Briggadane]

She passed away this afternoon. Poor Obama. We had a funeral and burried her. My girls were sad.