PLEASE HELP!

[Gleason]

I cant tell you how much I agree with Earlleebird. If you do not know a whole lot about the health of birds the internet like you are doing is a world of knowledge. Like Earlleebird said "first things first - was it vaccinated" That play the very most important role in the birds health. I'm not sure if you know what I'm about to say but I'm going to put it out there in case you don't. A few simple things to know as a grower will help you in a huge way. Since birds get sick just like we do they need constant care from us to help them lead a good life. Vet's are ok but you will put a ton of money in your flock if you go there too much. Keep your water medicated on a regular basis. This will keep the flock healthier. It doesn't cost much and kills all the bad thing in your watering system. Like Earlleebird said, isolate that bird far from the rest of the flock as soon as you see a sign of any sickness at all. Its better to be safe than sorry or you could lose the entire cage or flock. You can go to your local feed and seed and get almost anything you need to keep the birds healthy for less than what you would spend for one trip to the vet. You ALWAYS have to be proactive when it come to your flocks health because they could be very happy and all gone within a few days. Believe me it has happened to me. Also, If you buy a bird from anywhere else don't mix that bird right away in your flock. Keep it separate for a few weeks and keep an eye on it to make sure the one you got it from was just not trying to get rid of it because it was sick. There is so many people out there that do not take care of their animals and go from place to place getting diseases and sickness and then bring it to their flock. Be very careful of that. I'm not sure if you know or not but you can pick up a disease that can transfer to your chickens just by walking across someone's else's yard. To prevent that you can place a shallow pan with treatment in it that will kill anything that you may have picked up from another grower. I have three at my place. It doesn't cost much and I know I'm protecting my little friends. haha

The dropper that someone mentioned is also a great idea. If you little one is sick, just like us it needs liquids very badly. They can dehydrate a lot faster than we can so it is very important to help them when they can't hold their little heads up. Also, this is just a personal opinion but I do my very best not to over medicate them. I have a few friends that might as well be a witch doctor when it come to their flock. I don't really like the way they over medicate and just throw anything in the birds that THEY feel is the way to go because at that point your just making them suffer from taking a shot in the dark.

Well, this was kind of long. I'm sorry for that. I didn't mean to be so long in the message. I hope this helps. Good Luck to you!

 

[blyth-fox]

We have had chickens for years, our first 3 chickens died gradually over the years until this year we had one left (we took in all the unwanted chickens) so now we brought 3 other little chickens for the sage who is about 2, the smallest one has gotten ill. We don't have anything professional, just feed and water and we are not going to change that because it has worked for 9 years. The chickens were from a breeders who had 100s of chickens on site and showed them. We don't have any medicine just a bowl of food and a bowl of water and the garden to entertain them selfs. What I don't understand is why hasn't my other 3 chickens got this!

 

[blyth-fox]

I personally don't believe it poisoning because it is not ill! It's drinking, eating all on its own it does not have control of the feet and wings?

 

[blyth-fox]

Her poos are now solid! Just like normal poos

 

[Suzie]

The answer is that nobody knows why this one chicken is sick....it could be for lots of different reasons, people can only suggest their thoughts and offer help if she shows symptoms which COULD indicate a particular illness.

You sound like one very loving and caring person and your post does not sound as if you do not do your utmost best for them all, you have had chickens for a long time and you know that when one is sick it is difficult to know why.

It may well be that she came to you with health problems, it just happens sometimes...it may be worthwhile speaking with the organisation you purchased her from to ask if they have had illness in their breeding stock. I am so very sorry that you are having this happen, it is very upsetting when we try so hard to find out what the problem is and we are lost with all of the different suggestions that it may be...as she is having problems with her legs....maybe try giving her some marmite if you have some...it is full of vitamin B...

As she has been with the others for a month or so there is no point in separating her from them now as it may cause her stress and if she has anything infectious...they all will have been exposed to it. Some birds suffer more with an infection than others...

Wishing you luck!

 

[Suzie]

Her poos are now solid! Just like normal poos

Great news! So legs and wings now....her poo may have become liquid due to stress...

 

[blyth-fox]

Thank you for the help and the support everyone. I just hate seeing animals sick or ill etc. will try her with marmite I think they will all like that. This chick is the smallest chick out of the 3 she came with. Hopefully she will get better.

 

[Suzie]

Don't try the epsom salts on her if her poo is normal...she will likely poo a lot if you do!

Have you looked very closely at her legs for any sign of bruising? I had one that could not walk and a few days after a huge bruise appeared at the top of its leg...another one I have decided to jump off of a low wall..she forgot to flap her wings and knocked herself senseless when she hit the ground...it can happen that they sometimes are a little clumsy and damage their legs...

Good luck and keep us informed of her progress!

 

[blyth-fox]

No sign of bruising at the moment

 

[Suzie]

There is somebody called chickenzoo who created a wonderful chicken chair..it helps with disabled and leg/foot injured chickens...it may be an idea to contact them through BYC all you would need to do is use the search button at the top of the page...type in chickenzoo and scroll down to "users"..click on this and you can then scroll down to pm and ask her for the diagram...if you have any problems in getting through let me know and I will ask her to get in touch with you directly.