PLEASE HELP MY CHICKEN! She is panting

[Hen Pen Jem]

P.S.

You mentioned the hen's crop is swollen and soft. This is not normal. Just feed the bread ball to see how she does. Keep checking her crop every 2 hours or so, to see if it is emptying. Tiny moist meals for now, till you are sure her crop is functioning. Smell her mouth. Let us know what it smells like.

 

[Niwatori hen]

Yes, good video on feeding bread balls. I don't usually follow with water after giving bread balls, because they are already moistened. But, sometimes I do give grape slivers.

Giving the water is worrisome for you, because you did it wrong the first time. However, if you are sure the hen is drinking on her own, let her do that. But, if not there are a couple things you can do.

- She can get some hydration/water from feeding juicy fruit like diced/minced watermelon, or grapes.

- I also make a fruit gel for chickens that are having trouble swallowing from illness. A thickener is used so that it is easier and safer for the chicken to swallow on its own. Thickened fluids are used for patients of strokes, or aspiration.

Fruit Gel
Juicy fruit, about 1/4 cup
2 ounces water
2-3 tsp. Instant thickener, Clear Gel (Modified corn starch, no cooking required, thickens instantly,)

Puree the fruit and water in a blender. Then mix in the thickener. It should have a consistency of jam or jelly.

My chickens will usually lick the gel off a spoon. But, if your hen won't do even that, feed the fruit gel to the chicken with an oral syringe. Place on front of mouth so chicken can swallow on its own, like the video shows.

- But eventually, she'll need plain water. You can hold a tiny cup of water up to the front of her beak, tip it slightly to see if she'll sip some with her tongue. If she rejects or ignores this you'll have to do the syringe tip on the video.

At some point you'll have to learn this procedure. I know it's very scary. But, if the hen doesn't eat or drink on her own, she will become weak and surely die.

Here are some diagrams and a photo to help you understand the anatomy and process.

Do you see the airway? Never get fluid in there, or the chicken aspirates, as yours did.
View attachment 2583388
Here is a photo. See where the oral syringe is placed. Sometimes you need a helper to hold the chicken, as they do not like this and will jerk or move.
View attachment 2583386
In case you decide to force feed your hen, here is more information.

This diagram shows how to crop feed. A liquid meal replacement is used. I have never needed to feed directly into the crop with a liquid meal replacement. I make my own meal replacement from the layer feed. Meal replacement should be like a pancake batter consistency. I place the feeding syringe tip at the middle of the tongue. Then I push out a tiny dollop onto the tongue. The chicken swallows on its own. You have to use a feeding syringe made specifically for feeding or you can make one at home. See the next photo.
View attachment 2583387
Feeding syringes:
At the top is a 10 ml feeding syringe for birds. The lower one is a child's medicine oral syringe, purchase at any drug store. A two inch piece of aquarium tubing is used in both syringes. The tip that goes into the mouth is softened by burning it slightly with a flame, or buffing with an emery board. Fasten it securely by twisting onto tip.
View attachment 2583406

Of course many of these chicken emergency procedures do depend on the keepers confidence and willingness to take the chance. There is always a risk that a sick chicken will die from something we do. But, if they are very sick, not eating, not drinking, they will die for sure. If they have diarrhea, they will quickly dehydrate and die. It's really hard when you are not experienced. We have all been there.

Take time to think. Treat the symptoms, set up a regimen for feeding and administering medicines and supplements. Keep the sick chicken warm. Use a heat lamp if possible. Temperature should be at least 75 (23.9 C)degrees, 80 (26.7 C) for respiratory illness.

I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless

Thank you so so much again! I made four bread balls (see the picture) two with herbs and the other two with full-strength electrolyte solution. I wrapped her with a towel and followed the video, but it was super difficult to open her mouth because she rejected a lot and moved a lot, not like the chicken in the video. I managed to give her the herb balls but after that she closed her eyes and got so tired and stressed so I stopped. Maigo is a very strong minded girl do I have to listen what she says too. I really really want to help her but it's very difficult to decide where is the boarder line. I'm going to give her the antibiotic later and see how she is then will think what is the best for her, not best for us.

Thanks again for your time to write me and super good info. It helped me a lot and I really appreciate it. Mange tak! ('many thanks' in Danish) from Maigo too

 

[Niwatori hen]

P.S.

You mentioned the hen's crop is swollen and soft. This is not normal. Just feed the bread ball to see how she does. Keep checking her crop every 2 hours or so, to see if it is emptying. Tiny moist meals for now, till you are sure her crop is functioning. Smell her mouth. Let us know what it smells like.

Sure, I'll do it and let you know.

 

[Niwatori hen]

Wow that’s a lot of good info. Hope this works for them. It is very, very helpful to have someone help hold her, especially if your tube feeding. Getting the tube down was the hardest part for me when tube feeding my sick chicken yesterday, (I have to do this again today) it was my first time tube feeding, I was super nervous, but it was easier than I though. Anyway, good luck!

Good luck to you too!

 

[Niwatori hen]

P.S.

You mentioned the hen's crop is swollen and soft. This is not normal. Just feed the bread ball to see how she does. Keep checking her crop every 2 hours or so, to see if it is emptying. Tiny moist meals for now, till you are sure her crop is functioning. Smell her mouth. Let us know what it smells like.

Hi again, I've just checked Maigo's crop and it's smaller than right after I gave her the bread balls. It was golf ball size before and now is smaller. I don't smell any sour smell from her mouth so I think her crop is emptying. She just sat down and put her head on her shoulder and resting. I don't know if it's a good sign or not. She still doesn't have appetite and drinking less water than yesterday. She's eaten a bit of watermelon. I don't know if I should do force feeding and water her. I'll see how it goes and if there is a chance then will do that.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Yes, good news about the crop! Keep monitoring her crop to see if it empties after eating her bits of food. She isn't feeling good, so she needs the rest. You will know what to do and when. Trust your judgement and do your best. You are not a vet, but she is lucky to have you helping her.

These are the questions that worry keepers. To force feed, or not? I would first try to entice the chicken to eat. Serve up something tasty and moist. Don't over do it, serve small amounts at a time, in a little dish, like a cat dish. Serve about 3 different things for the chicken to eat. You have to keep putting the food in front of her.

The bread ball has a bit of nutrition and calories, and if she is eating watermelon that is good. Let her rest for now. I like to offer cooked mini-meals. Balanced meals of Carbohydrates: cooked grains (Brown rice, barley, oat groats, etc.), cooked pasta, cooked potato grated, minced or mashed, cooked corn minced, fresh vegetables: diced up small (greens, cucumber, tomato, etc.), Cooked vegetables diced small or mashed, Fruit: juicy fresh fruit diced small, applesauce, Soft easy to digest Protein: cooked egg or tofu, baby food beef.

Cooked foods are easily digested for the sick chicken, and dicing or mincing the foods allows the sick chicken to eat smaller portions. Sometimes, keepers give large pieces of food, but the chicken knows it can only swallow tiny amounts at a time. So even though it may be hungry, it will not pick up large pieces of food. Plus, larger pieces of food require a lot of effort to break apart.

You can also prepare a mushy meal to see if she will eat that. Some chickens will eat chicken mash with some warm water. They will even get excited if you dribble a little water onto the mash.

Feel your hen's keel bone (the bone on the chest). If it feels like a blade, she is losing muscle, and is probably losing weight. If you can't tell whether she hast lost weight, it's good to weigh the chicken. And check the average standard weight for her breed.

If she refuses all efforts to get her to eat on her own, you may have to force feed her with an oral syringe. You can purchase baby bird formula at a pet store, and feed her with that. It's formulated to be used with an oral syringe. And is basically pulverized grains, protein, and some seed, vitamins and minerals, and probiotics.

I hope this information has been helpful.

God Bless

 

[Niwatori hen]

Yes, good news about the crop! Keep monitoring her crop to see if it empties after eating her bits of food. She isn't feeling good, so she needs the rest. You will know what to do and when. Trust your judgement and do your best. You are not a vet, but she is lucky to have you helping her.

These are the questions that worry keepers. To force feed, or not? I would first try to entice the chicken to eat. Serve up something tasty and moist. Don't over do it, serve small amounts at a time, in a little dish, like a cat dish. Serve about 3 different things for the chicken to eat. You have to keep putting the food in front of her.

The bread ball has a bit of nutrition and calories, and if she is eating watermelon that is good. Let her rest for now. I like to offer cooked mini-meals. Balanced meals of Carbohydrates: cooked grains (Brown rice, barley, oat groats, etc.), cooked pasta, cooked potato grated, minced or mashed, cooked corn minced, fresh vegetables: diced up small (greens, cucumber, tomato, etc.), Cooked vegetables diced small or mashed, Fruit: juicy fresh fruit diced small, applesauce, Soft easy to digest Protein: cooked egg or tofu, baby food beef.

Cooked foods are easily digested for the sick chicken, and dicing or mincing the foods allows the sick chicken to eat smaller portions. Sometimes, keepers give large pieces of food, but the chicken knows it can only swallow tiny amounts at a time. So even though it may be hungry, it will not pick up large pieces of food. Plus, larger pieces of food require a lot of effort to break apart.
View attachment 2583757
You can also prepare a mushy meal to see if she will eat that. Some chickens will eat chicken mash with some warm water. They will even get excited if you dribble a little water onto the mash.

Feel your hen's keel bone (the bone on the chest). If it feels like a blade, she is losing muscle, and is probably losing weight. If you can't tell whether she hast lost weight, it's good to weigh the chicken. And check the average standard weight for her breed.

If she refuses all efforts to get her to eat on her own, you may have to force feed her with an oral syringe. You can purchase baby bird formula at a pet store, and feed her with that. It's formulated to be used with an oral syringe. And is basically pulverized grains, protein, and some seed, vitamins and minerals, and probiotics.

I hope this information has been helpful.

God Bless

I just gave her antibiotics and tried to give a bread ball with milk thistle but she extremely refused it so I stopped. I went to neighbour's house to get an egg and made her scrambled egg and boiled some pasta and chopped up into small pieces to see if she is interested. She tried to peck the pasta but didn't eat it. Now she is laying down.
I could feel her chest bone clearly and I'm quite sure that she has lot wight. We'll see tomorrow and if she is still the same, I might have to go to town to get baby bird formula.

I'll keep updated

 

[Cecisflock]

I just gave her antibiotics and tried to give a bread ball with milk thistle but she extremely refused it so I stopped. I went to neighbour's house to get an egg and made her scrambled egg and boiled some pasta and chopped up into small pieces to see if she is interested. She tried to peck the pasta but didn't eat it. Now she is laying down.
I could feel her chest bone clearly and I'm quite sure that she has lot wight. We'll see tomorrow and if she is still the same, I might have to go to town to get baby bird formula.

I'll keep updated

good luck darling!

 

[William Mellor15]

Maybe this can help.....

 

[Niwatori hen]

good luck darling!

Thank you for for your message She is slightly better now!