one sick pet chicken, eye(s) closed. almost seems dizzy

[katharine]

Hi, I have two pet chickens. Yesterday afternoon one was hiding under a bush. She was still and had tail down, sometimes sat sometimes laid down. She always had eyes shut. She did go into her coop last night on her own and came out this morning. She is under the bush again. I put her on my lap and she gobbled down some grapes and cooked broccoli from my hand. I also managed to have her drink a bit of water. Then she ate some sunflower seeds from my hand.

She doesn't seem to want to eat from the ground. At one point it actually looked like she was dizzy. She keeps her right eye mostly shut (it looks like her inner eyelid) she opens the left more. Her poo is lumpy with whitish yellow mucusy wet part.

Any thoughts?

 

[StephieSky]

I have two pet chickens too! Farmers just roll their eyes when I tell them all about my adorable chickens lol

Anytime a chicken is staying away from the others is a good time give her some vitamins and electrolytes, probiotics and figure out what’s wrong. It’s best to assume it’s contagious and prevent the spread. She may have internal or external parasites, she may have an imbalance in her digestive system that is causing the unusual poop.

You might try 1 tbsp of raw apple cider vinegar in each cup of her water for a few days as well as adding some boiled egg to her diet. This can help balance digestion and give her a ready protein. She doesn’t feel well, probably isn’t eating and drinking enough and the vitamins and electrolytes may help her feel better and restore some energy and general well being.The probiotics will also help with good digestion by restoring a good balance of good digestive bacteria.

By the time a chicken is acting sick she has probably been going down hill in health for some time.They do their best to hide weakness as long as possible to prevent attracting predators and negative attention from the rest of the flock.Your other chicken probably let her know to stay away, not liking her sick behavior. It is a threat to the the other chickens safety (attracting predators) and health. My Gracie was a bit of a pill towards her best friend Liza when Liza needed her the most. Its just chickens being chickens.

If the above doesn’t help her improve in the first day or so, she will probably need medication. Getting her poop tested at the vet would be good. She may need deworming as well as being treated for external parasites, if you find any signs.

In her weak condition, be cautions with chemical treatments as they may be too strong and cause her to get worse. Mine went into a tailspin but has since been on an upswing that has me certain she'll pull through