SICK 7 month Orpington-HELP!!!!!

[JKCASWELL]

This morning when I went out to feed the chickens, my favorite little Orp hen, fell over and just layed there. I picked her up and she slowly walked over to the food and very slowly started eating. She feels very thin, fluffed up feathers everywhere, and very wobbly. Her eyes are clear and bright though, and when I took her to the water, she readily drank. When I got home this evening, she was sleeping in the old dog house, on the other side of the run from the coop. As soon as she saw me, she did come out to me and waited for me to pick her up. I set up a big kennel with deep shavings and a heat lamp on one end, she seemed very happy sitting under the heat lamp, and then got up and ate and drank water good. Her feathers were not nearly as fluffed as this morning...and it is not cold here.....high 40's.

Is there anything else I could be doing for her? I will be crushed if I lose her

 

[Overeasyplz]

maybe she got dehydrated somehow? Is she being bullied away from the food? Have they ever been wormed? if she looks to be improving that's great!

 

[JKCASWELL]

She is the smallest of the flock, but she is the only one who never gets bullied away. There are several different feed/water stations. She is the only one who is like this, the rest are very fat and happy! I never have wormed them...honestly never knew I should!!!! With my macaws, when they seem dehydrated, they get a mix of Gatorade and water....wonder if this would help her? She has pooped a couple of times in the cage, and while the color is normal....it does seem to be a bit on the dry side

 

[LynneP]

The Gatorade (very weak) will help with dehydration but I'm wondering if you should take some of her droppings to a vet for a flotation to check for cocci...

Chickens are as complicated as us when it comes to illness, and I can hear in your voice how much you want her to get better.

 

[JKCASWELL]

Come Monday, she will be off to the vet!!!! Today she is doing much better, and has a very healthy appetite. She is still a bit fluffed and not walking really great, but I did notice that she keeps holding her left foot up to her belly when she is standing. I palpated it, as she is swollen now about ankle area. Nothing feels broken but she does react to me pressing on the area, bending the joint she doesn't care. Her poop today is very normal, and she doesn't feel so thin....she has been eating like crazy though, since she doesn't have to travel very far....so I am highly suspicious, she has hurt that leg, and wasn't going to the food and water...basically the poor girl has been starving herself!!!! She is improving as time goes on at least

 

[LynneP]

Glad you have a vet- it's now sounding like a mild trauma, and if you want the inflammation down you can offer her a low-dose aspirin (81mg) crushed in 1 qt of water as her drinking water. Do you have a dog cage or similar 'hospital cage'? You are so lucky to have a vet who will see chickens. If there is anything going on like cocci, you'll know and can treat the flock. Buff Orps are such sweet birds, I hope all is well with her. Sometimes a young bird experiencing pain for the first time can become quite frightened.

 

[JKCASWELL]

Well, this morning I was greeted with a wonderful sight! One ticked off little Orp, who was pacing her cage demanding to be returned to her flock! Her leg is not swollen anymore, and when I let her out, she ran to the others and paced the fenceline to get back in! The other day, I just knew I was going to lose her! I feel so horrible for not noticing her leg sooner, nor her change in attitude. With Thanksgiving, it was a quick run out there, make a head count, feed/water.....and then off and running! My lack of observation almost killed her!!!! She obviously hadn't eaten in a couple of days, to be so skinny!!!! I have her out with the other chickens for now, and will bring her back in the kennel for a couple more nights, until I know she is well enough to take care of herself and roost easily.