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READ ASAP! Chicken overheated!

lauranickerson

Songster
6 Years
Apr 17, 2013
708
32
111
Kingsley, MI
These chickens were moved to the greenhouse last night for quarantine. I opened it up a little for some ventilation, but while I was at work for only about 5 hours, the openings shut in the wind. I came home to check on them, and without actually going inside, I just opened the doors and walked inside to check BYC again. (Stupid me!)

Well, I was wondering why only 2 of the 5 came out of the greenhouse. Keep in mind, it was only about 73 degrees today, but the greenhouse made you break a sweat by just standing there a couple minutes.

I looked in to see my Australorp hen on her back with her feet up...eyes closed. I thought she was dead, but then I saw her breathing. I quickly and gently scooped her up and ran her to the house and dunked her in a bucket of cool water and let her sit in it for a couple minutes (her skin was uncomfortably hot to touch with my own hand). Her eyes opened up almost immediately, but I had to hold her head up or else she would droop it into the water.

I picked her up and she tried flapping her wings a little bit and looked around like "Where the heck am I going!" I brought her in the garage and continued to pour little amount of water on her hot spots, like under her wings. I noticed her crop area was squishy, but I figured it had something to do with the heat.

She is laying on her side, and will pick her head up for a few seconds and drop it again. She really wants to sleep, so I figured I'd let her. I tried feeding her water with a syringe, but it wasn't really working. She sneezed a few times, so I thought maybe that was a good sign. She also moves her toes a little bit when I play with them. But she was shaking before I dunked her and a little bit in her legs after.

What else can I do?!?!




 
I have a fan, I suppose, but she seems to be regular temperature now, and the wind is blowing on her so I figured that would be okay. It's only about 70 so outside of the greenhouse it isn't too hot for her. She just seems like she's really weak and dehydrated. I got her to drink maybe a couple drops just now, but then she fell back asleep. I put her on the porch and she seemed aware that she was being moved. I tried to get her to stand on her feet, and she did, but leaned forward a lot and flapped her wings.

I'm afraid for brain damage. Her eyes are almost all the way open, but it doesn't seem like there's anyone home, really.

I feel soooo bad. I didn't mean for this to happen. :(
 
Her vent wasn't moving when she breathed when I first found her. It's moving now when she breathes, and she even let out a semi normal poo (but I don't think she knew she did) while laying on her side. There was also some really watery ones. I think that the squishy skin around her crop is just dehydration, but seems like there's fluid in there. It could be water from drinking before she passed out, but I don't know.

She opens her eyes when I talk or touch her.
 
Yup, it is!!! You might find she does have some brain damage though...it will depend on how long she was over heated. Best of luck and best wishes for her too!
Thank you! I'm praying for her!
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