DiveyChickens
In the Brooder
- Apr 29, 2020
- 14
- 36
- 36
As a disclaimer to any dumb statements/questions I may pose, I'll say: We are brand new to keeping chickens. Everything we know has been learned online and/or from a few friends we know who "grew up" with chickens. So, we started with a small flock of only 3 birds. Today marks one full week that they have been with us. We have gotten two eggs from them so far, and they've been a lot of fun. One of the two who laid an egg has spent the last 4 days very lethargic. We noticed her drooling a few days ago, and after some research, added apple cider vinegar to the water. While the drooling stopped, she seems to be eating very little, and has only stepped out of the coop a couple of times, where she promptly fell asleep, and then went back into the shelter. A couple of days ago, we had her outside, cuddled her a bit, and then let her try to graze. She pooped something that actually looked like an egg yolk, mixed with green leaves... Like egg-drop soup. This morning, she was drooling again. She's by far the most trusting and loving one of the group. I cleaned out and disinfected the coop yesterday, and dusted them all for mites. NOw, I'm just not sure what the best course of action is... Below are the questions asked in the "read-first" post for this forum. Hopefully we can get her feeling better fast!!
1) What type of bird, age, and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a Golden Comet, about 18 weeks. I'd say around 3lbs.
2) What is the behavior, exactly?
See above
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
4-5 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
One of the other birds (who also laid an eg... same age/kind/size) was also lethargic after laying, but she was out and about collecting worms this morning.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones, or other sign of trauma.
No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Possibly the stress of moving recently, new coop, new surroundings... etc.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Don't see her eat much (if anything). She seems to be drinking water fine.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Noticed a couple of poops that look like egg yolk, other than that... fairly normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Apple Cider Vinegar in water, Cleaned, dusted birds for mites, Oregano, and other herbs around the coop and in the feed.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird until you can get to a vet?
We'd prefer to DIY her treatment for both financial and situational reasons, but we're willing to seek out a vet if needed.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Just clear drool on a sleeping chicken. That's the only visible sign.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
New coop built with old barn wood. It was fairly dusty wood from an old horse barn that I did my best to clean. Tractor Supply suggested cedar chips for bedding, so that's the "litter" we've used. I've since seen that a lot of people suggest not using that. The coop is cozy. Cool and ventilated in the shelter, and plenty of access to sunshine in the run.
1) What type of bird, age, and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a Golden Comet, about 18 weeks. I'd say around 3lbs.
2) What is the behavior, exactly?
See above
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
4-5 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
One of the other birds (who also laid an eg... same age/kind/size) was also lethargic after laying, but she was out and about collecting worms this morning.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones, or other sign of trauma.
No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Possibly the stress of moving recently, new coop, new surroundings... etc.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Don't see her eat much (if anything). She seems to be drinking water fine.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Noticed a couple of poops that look like egg yolk, other than that... fairly normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Apple Cider Vinegar in water, Cleaned, dusted birds for mites, Oregano, and other herbs around the coop and in the feed.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird until you can get to a vet?
We'd prefer to DIY her treatment for both financial and situational reasons, but we're willing to seek out a vet if needed.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Just clear drool on a sleeping chicken. That's the only visible sign.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
New coop built with old barn wood. It was fairly dusty wood from an old horse barn that I did my best to clean. Tractor Supply suggested cedar chips for bedding, so that's the "litter" we've used. I've since seen that a lot of people suggest not using that. The coop is cozy. Cool and ventilated in the shelter, and plenty of access to sunshine in the run.
