Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

something is wrong with Rhody, my 14 month old rooster. he didn't come off the roost this morning, which is odd. plus he was on the lowest roost, also odd. he was puffed up and hunkered down. it seems his right leg is bothering him, not sure if he got Royce-ified yesterday when they were pestering the Foster hens while they were laying or if he has something else wrong. he's drinking excessively, and will eat only when I hand feed him. I gave him a hard boiled egg today, and put him in the lilac during free range, he hobbled a bit further in and then didn't move. after an hour, I poked myself bad in the eye getting him out, but I got him... and put him by the waterer. he drank and drank and drank... when I picked him up, he regurgitated some water. he's in the kennel in the pen, with food and water, wondering if he has worms... or just an injury and is dehydrated. so bummed. aside from the regurgitation, he has no discharge from anywhere, but I have not seen him poop. I will check in the morning for poop in the kennel. who knows... maybe he'll be back on the roost. my little baby... I took some pics of him, but they're still in the camera, and I don't think they'll reveal anything but a cutey pie lying down...

other than that, I got a new printer so I've been printing pics like crazy! and I got 21 Eggs.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Poor Rhody.

Hope he's going to be all right. How was his crop? Empty? I read somewhere that when a chicken is dehydrated, you need to dole out the water in small doses. A BCYer was describing how some chicks in her brooder accidentally went for the day without water. They drank too much when she replaced the water, and she found most of them dead several hours later. Don't think it would kill Rhody, but that might have something to do with why he was spitting up.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

something is wrong with Rhody, my 14 month old rooster. he didn't come off the roost this morning, which is odd. plus he was on the lowest roost, also odd. he was puffed up and hunkered down. it seems his right leg is bothering him, not sure if he got Royce-ified yesterday when they were pestering the Foster hens while they were laying or if he has something else wrong. he's drinking excessively, and will eat only when I hand feed him. I gave him a hard boiled egg today, and put him in the lilac during free range, he hobbled a bit further in and then didn't move. after an hour, I poked myself bad in the eye getting him out, but I got him... and put him by the waterer. he drank and drank and drank... when I picked him up, he regurgitated some water. he's in the kennel in the pen, with food and water, wondering if he has worms... or just an injury and is dehydrated. so bummed. aside from the regurgitation, he has no discharge from anywhere, but I have not seen him poop. I will check in the morning for poop in the kennel. who knows... maybe he'll be back on the roost. my little baby... I took some pics of him, but they're still in the camera, and I don't think they'll reveal anything but a cutey pie lying down...

other than that, I got a new printer so I've been printing pics like crazy! and I got 21 Eggs.

Good to hear from you as well cheeka. And W4W....and all of the rest. Sounds like a injury to his leg. Probably hurting enough to keep him from walking to the water. That would explain the excessive thirst. Eating and drinking is a good sign. I don't think worms yet especially with the trouble walking. You are doing exactly what I would do. Hopefully tomorrow we can celebrate a big pile of normal looking poop..

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Hello OK!

We heard from Roger, but how's the rest of the gang doing? Everybody doing well? Are you rolling in eggs?

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Poor Rhody.

Hope he's going to be all right. How was his crop? Empty? I read somewhere that when a chicken is dehydrated, you need to dole out the water in small doses. A BCYer was describing how some chicks in her brooder accidentally went for the day without water. They drank too much when she replaced the water, and she found most of them dead several hours later. Don't think it would kill Rhody, but that might have something to do with why he was spitting up.

I would think the dehydration played as big a of a role in those deaths as the excessive water. Probably a little more. Just my opinion. What do you think?

 

[cheeka]

his crop felt good, soft when I got home from work, I don't think he ate or drank all morning and half the afternoon, and it was hot today... it's nice and cool where he was, so I know that helped, but still... it was in the 40's and 50's just days ago... now a leap back up to 80°. I didn't want him to drink himself to overflow either... but he was only taking little sips frequently and I made sure he ate

he did turn in and move toward the back of his kennel for sleeping.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote:
It's probably the same thing that happens with people. Excessive water can throw off your electrolyte balance which can cause problems with your brain. Woman died several years ago during a radio station challenge to see how much water she could drink. Brain damage shut down the rest of her organ systems. Same thing happens when athletes exercise a lot in hot weather and drink a lot of water without balancing their salts. Need those salt pills!

The dehydration certainly doesn't help the little chicks, but rehydrating slowly might have saved them.

 

[cheeka]

yeah, I agree OK, chicks needs are a delicate balance...

 

[Wishing4Wings]

his crop felt good, soft when I got home from work, I don't think he ate or drank all morning and half the afternoon, and it was hot today... it's nice and cool where he was, so I know that helped, but still... it was in the 40's and 50's just days ago... now a leap back up to 80°. I didn't want him to drink himself to overflow either... but he was only taking little sips frequently and I made sure he ate

he did turn in and move toward the back of his kennel for sleeping.

That sounds good then. I agree with OK, that eating and drinking are good signs. Fingers crossed he's better tomorrow.

Maybe just needs a little extra rest for his leg.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Hello OK!

We heard from Roger, but how's the rest of the gang doing? Everybody doing well? Are you rolling in eggs?

All is well here. I think I reported the passing of one of my original birds (Golden Comet) a while back but other than that no problems here. Eggs galore. No broody hens. A RIR rooster who thinks he is "all that". Have not had the opportunity to hatch any of my RIR/Delaware's or BR's to see what kind of sex link birds I might get. No time to take care of them myself so unless I get a broody or somebody else wants to try I will probably wait. The little BO went lame again for a shorter period of time this time but she is back on her feet and getting around well now. Still roosting on the floor and always has since her first episode. Seven of eight original birds (including the hellcat) still spending their time manipulating me and teaching the younger birds about entitlements / AKA ...The PIE For Peace Program. One big happy bunch of knuckleheads we are.