Overheated or something else?

[MyPetNugget]

I went out to the coop today and one of my chickens, Hershey, was just sitting there on the floor. It is VERY hot today and she was panting heavily. When I picked her up she walked one step and then she fell down and rested on her tummy again. I misted her with a hose and put her in a cardboard box inside the house (we have AC), with mealworms, water, and watermelon. She has shavings for bedding and it has been 2 hours since I brought her inside. She seems to have cooled off, and just to make sure I misted her again. When I stood her up though, she just stepped and sat down again. However I noticed that she always fell down when she stepped on her right foot. I checked for bumblefoot and lice and stuff, but I didn't see anything. Does anybody have any advise for this? She is a buckeye and her 1st birthday is in a few weeks. She has been laying eggs and eating. Thanks for any advise!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Hi friend!!

I'm sorry but I'm not sure what's wrong! I hope she gets better though!!

 

[MyPetNugget]

Thank you Mountain Peeps

 

[MyPetNugget]

Anybody?

 

[TwoCrows]

So sorry about your Hersey! It could be just heat exhaustion. So keep her inside until late tonight or tomorrow morning.

In the mean time, feel her foot and up to the hip. Is there any heat in the foot, foot joint, leg or hip area? Compare it to the other foot and leg. Look for swelling too. Check the foot pad to make sure she doesn't have any bumblefoot. She may have hurt herself. Make sure it isn't broken. And you will know if it is as it will be limp.

If she still can't walk on that leg tomorrow and it remains in just one leg, you might put her in a small cage with food and water close so she doesn't have to get up to get it. Leave her in there for a few days to a week, depending on how she improves. If she sprained something, she may need some time to heal.

Keep us posted on any clues as to why she can't stand on this leg.

 

[memphis]

How old is she?

 

[MyPetNugget]

She will be turning 1 in a couple of weeks so she isn't that old.. I checked her leg and the same foot seems to be hurting or something. When I try to stand her up she just curls it and sits down again. Right now she is still inside the house with food and water inches away from her, so if anything I think I need to make her box bigger. We don't have any cages though. Her footpad is perfectly clean and healthy- no signs of bumblefoot. I didn't see her getting hurt I just walked i nthe coop and she was on the floor.

So I guess how she got hurt or anything is a mystery. Could it be that she is just weak from the heat? She is still eating and drinking, and I forgot to add that she was vaccinated for Merreks when she was a chick by the hatchery.

 

[TwoCrows]

I don't think it is the heat at this point, but it sounds like she may have sprained it or something. Things happen in the coop. She could have jumped down wrong off the roost bar and pulled a muscle or tendon. And since you had her vaccinated for Mareks, she is probably not suffering from that.

So you need to keep her in something small and keep the feed and water right in her face. I wouldn't keep her out of the flock too long so that introduction back into the flock goes smoothly. So if you can set her up in the coop tomorrow, that would be best. But you don't want her trying to wander around or try to follow the flock to roost at night. So she needs a fenced off area to keep her contained. Preferably so small she can't move much for a week or so. If she sprained something, it will take a while to heal and you don't want her ripping a tendon or muscle.

Keep us posted!

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh, and if you have any baby asprin, 81 mg....you can break it in half and give half to her tonight. Put half of one in a raisin. Tomorrow morning give her the other half in a raisin. Make sure it is a baby asprin. This will help with pain and any swelling.

 

[MyPetNugget]

Thank you so much for the advise! I would not have known what to do. I don't thin kwe have any baby asprin. I agree she might have sprained something. I will try to stop helping her get on her feet and wait until she does it herself. She is in a box 1 & 1/2 ' by 2 '. The food is right in front of her so she doesn't need to get up to get it. She has fresh water, mealworms, and scratch. i hope she will get better soon. How long does it usially take for them to recover? Thanks so much!