One Chicken died and I think another might be sick! Help!

[Rigbutt419]

Recently Inherited some chickens and I dont know very much about them.

I went out to check on them and fill water/ food etc, and I found one dead in the coop. Didnt notice anything abnormal about her the day before.

Now I have a chicken that has pretty much been sitting in the same place for 3 days starting the day the other one died. I thought maybe she was trying to hatch eggs but in instructions the previous owner had left for me they said another was specifically the cluck, she is awake and responds when you touch her she moves a little, and she looks around when she hears noises but she doesnt have the protective behavior i have read about. I am worried that she is sick and possibly not eating.

Anyone ever encounter anything like this? Should I be worried about the hen? Any insight would be greatly appreciated, I pretty much only know how to feed them.

 

[leadwolf1]

Do you have other chickens? Is she now alone?

 

[Rigbutt419]

No she is not alone I have 3 other hens and a rooster with her and then one hen by herself.

 

[leadwolf1]

First, pick her up and check for parasites and anything else that might be wrong. Check her breast bone to see if she is losing weight, it should be fleshy. One way to see if she is broody...pick her up and sit her somewhere else. If she stays all poofed up, wings out and looks like a feathered hovercraft, she is broody. Not all broody chickens put up a fuss.

Any sneezing, discharge, bubbly eyes, runny eyes?

Diarrhea, strange colored droppings?

I think I am out of questions...

 

[Blue Moon]

If you have other chickens besides that one then you need to keep her in an isolated cage so that if it is a disease the others won't get it. Also i recomend keeping her in the garage or close to the house so that you can check on her frequently. And keep a little food and water bowl next to her to keep her eating.

-Altair

 

[Rigbutt419]

I have not seen any strange droppings around the coop and she doesnt have any sneezing or runny nose ect.

I will go check her first thing for the Parsites ect and move her. I think I may just call the vet the previous owners recommended.

 

[leadwolf1]

At this point, a call to the vet is probably a good idea. So is the advise from Altair. If she isn't broody, I would bring her in where it is warm and you can keep a close eye on her and keep food and water close by so that she can eat/drink as she wishes. I would also try to get some vitamins/electrolytes into her.

 

[Rigbutt419]

Okay That is what i will do then, Thanks so much guys i really appreciate it