Ruby is unwell :(

[casportpony]

There is a method to my madness, lol. If she has lost 5-10% of her body weight she should be tube fed. Since she is sick she is probably a little dehydrated.

 

[azygous]

On your mention of being open to teaching your flock to come in from free ranging without a treat, when you're at Petsmart, buy a $1 clicker. Each time you offer a treat click the clicker. Chickens will quickly associate the sound with treats.

To demonstrate how useful it is to have a flock clicker trained, here's an amusing story. I had just finished planting my lettuce in a raised bed inside my garden enclosure. The wind blew the gate open a few minutes later, and I looked over in horror to see the entire flock of twenty-one digging up my freshly planted lettuce bed. Instead of frantically running around trying to catch or chase chickens, I stood inside the run and clicked the clicker. Every single chicken came tearing out of the garden enclosure and into the run.

Seems this happens every year for some reason. My lettuce never grows in neat rows.

 

[micstrachan]

Doing? I haven't actually done anything except keep her inside for two nights and provide a calcium supplement and nutridrench. Everything I have read says the first step to caring for a sick chicken is to keep her warm. She can't get up to the roost to snuggle with her flock mates, so she has been inside at night to sleep. She has been outside with the flock the rest of the time (though she does tend to keep to herself... everyone else is running around and she's inside the run. At least she is drinking.) Assuming she is still too weak or sore or whatever to get up to the roost again tonight, is it best to let her sleep alone on the floor instead of bringing her inside? The weather just took a turn to the better, and it's actually quite warm now (30 degree upswing expected by the end of today relative to a few days ago).

Haha! I am scared to death of the idea of tube feeding and have no intentions of doing so right now. I just want to be prepared in case she stops eating and drinking and starts dropping weight.

Ruby weighs 6.0 pounds. Seems like she has not lost any weight the past three weeks (she was weighed on 5/8/18 at the exact same weight).

Thanks for the help. I do tend to get a little paranoid after losing my first sick chicken to EYP. Right now Ruby is plucking tender greens alongside Buttercup.

 

[Kiki]

Chickens eat less in the heat.
They also pant to help stay cool.

 

[micstrachan]

On your mention of being open to teaching your flock to come in from free ranging without a treat, when you're at Petsmart, buy a $1 clicker. Each time you offer a treat click the clicker. Chickens will quickly associate the sound with treats.

To demonstrate how useful it is to have a flock clicker trained, here's an amusing story. I had just finished planting my lettuce in a raised bed inside my garden enclosure. The wind blew the gate open a few minutes later, and I looked over in horror to see the entire flock of twenty-one digging up my freshly planted lettuce bed. Instead of frantically running around trying to catch or chase chickens, I stood inside the run and clicked the clicker. Every single chicken came tearing out of the garden enclosure and into the run.

Seems this happens every year for some reason. My lettuce never grows in neat rows.

That is a great story! I will get a clicker. They don't get desensitized to it when there is no treat? Right now I yell in a high pitched voice, "Girls! Treats!" and they come running. They don't go INTO the pen, however, until seeing the treat. I guess I could go into the pen myself and see what happens.

So Ruby just put herself in a nesting box. At least she was able to get up there! It will be interesting to see if she produces anything.

 

[micstrachan]

By 30-degree upswing, I mean from the mid 50's to hoping to hit mid 80's today. Still not all that hot. Ruby is one of the leaner chickens and was the only one panting... seemed to be more from pain to me.

Ruby sat by herself with her tail tucked most of the weekend, but seems a little perkier today. She is still walking gingerly like she is sore. Perhaps she sustained a small injury and is on the mend. We'll see.

I do not plan to administer antibiotics if she improves on her own.

Thanks again for everyone's help, and I'm hoping for the best.

 

[casportpony]

Another thought... If you want to take her to a vet, but don't like how much Adobe charges, try Monterey Avian and Exotics in Monterey. Last time I went there it was $45 for 1-2 birds, $68 for 3-4. I have used Adobe for cats and dogs and was always very happy with their services, but they aren't cheap. Have also used the For the Birds place in Cupertino, but thought they were expensive too. Won't ever use them again, but that's a story for another thread.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks, Kathy. I have one experience with For the Birds, and it was good. They drained Rusty and prescribed antibiotics. They also gave her subcutaneous fluids to replenish what they drained. I'd like to hear why you won't go back, but we could do that off line. I don't like Adobe's prices, but that is a good point about the 24-hour one in Los Altos. I called there in the past (actually on a holiday weekend, I think) and if I recall correctly, there isn't always an avian vet available.

Thanks for the Monterey contact. That would be about an hour plus from here, so I won't stress a hen with that ride unless I feel it is really needed. I think there may be an avian vet in Scotts Valley, as I see a bird on the vet sign when I drive by.

Ruby seems perkier today, so I am hopeful.

Edited to clarify the prices I was referring to.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Thanks experts for all of your time weighing in...you guys are awesome!
Can/should micstrachan give henny hen anything for pain or inflammation?
Crossing fingers that Adventure Girl just got in a small mishap at the neighbors. Good job with the supportive care micstrachan...
It’s ok for her to be with the flock with a hurt leg as long as they aren’t chasing her around?

 

[azygous]

Of course we keep a close eye on any sick or injured chicken to be sure they aren't being bullied. As sick as my EE Lucy is, if one of her enemies slips into her enclosure, it's the hen that has invaded Lucy's space that gets thrashed by Lucy.