seemingly lethargic chicken

[nrthnnymomma]

New here- bear with me. I have 11 girls who are 11 weeks old. All but one are thriving. 5 weeks ago we moved them outside and everyone was doing very well until 3 days ago. One girl seems to be sick. She is our smallest one. She has been laying down more, and today spent the day in the coop alone. I did not see her eat today or yesterday. Her poop was watery earlier today but seems to have returned to normal. She looks fine as far as feathers and breathing. Any input would help me. These are our first ones and I really want to succeed.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Make sure she eats and drinks. Try a mashed up hard boiled egg, and you can put bits of that in the water. You could add electrolytes or nutri-drench to the water. Separating her would be best. Have they gotten medicated starter or been vaccinated for cocci?

 

[Cochaura]

Has it been really hot there? Sometimes that can cause watery poo and lethargy. One of our hens always struggles more when it is hot and stays inside burrowed into the bedding. I second the recommendation to give electrolytes. We put apple cider vinegar in the water regularly and electrolytes weekly (more often if its hot out). Ours won't eat boiled or scrambled eggs, so we put mealworms in some yogurt or cottage cheese.

 

[nrthnnymomma]

Make sure she eats and drinks. Try a mashed up hard boiled egg, and you can put bits of that in the water. You could add electrolytes or nutri-drench to the water. Separating her would be best. Have they gotten medicated starter or been vaccinated for cocci?

Thanks. I will try the eggs and pick up the nutri-drench tomorrow. They are on Poulin Grain's Chick Starter Crumbles. It has the MOS in it. They recieved merck's vaccines. But not the one you are mentioning. We have had rain storms this week if thats any indication.

 

[nrthnnymomma]

Has it been really hot there? Sometimes that can cause watery poo and lethargy. One of our hens always struggles more when it is hot and stays inside burrowed into the bedding. I second the recommendation to give electrolytes. We put apple cider vinegar in the water regularly and electrolytes weekly (more often if its hot out). Ours won't eat boiled or scrambled eggs, so we put mealworms in some yogurt or cottage cheese.

It was hot last week. I picked up electrolytes and nutri-drench and put it in their water. I also picked up some meal works and will mix with yogurt as soon as I am done here. She seems no more improved today. Here eyes look tired, if you know what I mean. Here's hoping this helps. All your input has been great.

 

[nrthnnymomma]

Gave her yogurt and meal worms and at first she was not interested. I held her and she started to eat when her beak hit the yogurt. Slowly she ate but within a few minutes she was eating away. Water-> less-so but I dipped her beak in and she drank a little. I had put the Nutri-Drench She already seemed to perk up. She started what seemed like grooming herself or itching herself franticly. Not sure. I do put DE in her bedding as well as the others once a week. I hope this was a dehydration issue and we can fix it quickly and easily.

 

[Cochaura]

Glad to hear she perked up a little! Keep us posted!

 

[nrthnnymomma]

Its been a week and she has perked up even more. But she is still hobbling around in the coop. She eats and drinks well. Her poop is normal (according to the poop chart I found posted in a few threads.) Her eyes are normal. And she seems to have gained a little weight back. She grasps fine. I am thinking she simply hurt her leg. Not sure how long I should expect it to take to heal. Everyone else is doing just fine. I guess with even human injuries its just gonna take time?

 

[Cochaura]

That's great she is doing even better now. It's always so worrisome when something isn't right with them and they have no way of telling us!