Sick chicken/info on how to transition back to cold weather

[bmetz]

You may want to treat her with antibiotics such as Baytril for her salpingitis which causes the lash egg. Dosage is 0.05ml per pound twice a day. A 5 pound hen would get 0.25 ml of this product twice a day. https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10

Also, since she is having watery droppings, you might want to give her a liile cooked rice with buttermilk or cottage cheese along with her usual feed.

Thank you for the ideas!! Could the antibiotic be put in her water or maybe even on some bread for her to eat? She is not the nicest thing sometimes lol.

 

[bmetz]

Aw thank you. If only love could cure them!!!

Yes I agree with you it looks like lash
Do you still have that piece of lash material? If you do, I would cut it open to confirm lash, although it certainly looks like it anyway. Inside it normally looks kind of fibrous.

To cut her feathers if she is not very compliant.. you can wrap a towel around her and lie her on her side, cover her head lightly with something (this quietens them right down and they stop fighting) then you can concentrate on cutting those feathers.
I normally will hold the chicken kinda like a football under one arm, but with them facing behind me so I can cut the feathers with my other hand, but this chicken in particular is really quiet and just waits for me to finish, she's a darling. The towel works great for others if there is no one to help out.

Some people have said they have cured chickens with salpingitis, but it is imperative to catch the infection early. So I think it would be at least worth giving antibiotics a try. When they pass some lash material they will have a huge sense of relief so she may be a lot better in herself now for a while anyway..

Oh yes, I also get laughed at for tucking them in

I agree. So sad when they are not feeling well!
I looked at it again when I came home from work. It was very hard in the morning and later was softer which makes no sense to me lol. Strange consistency and strong icky odor which makes sense.

Thank you very much for the feather trimming tips! That helps a lot. She tries to bite and peck a lot. I try to tell her I am just trying to help. I don't think she is buying it haha.
I was hoping she would feel better but her "poop" is still pretty much just pee really. It has blood now ever since she passed the lash egg. She acts ok in terms of still eating and drinking. I will have to see if I can feel her crop tomorrow morning also.

Haha. Yes, some people don't get the whole having animals and loving them like crazy lifestyle. I like animals more than most people lol.

Now I am even more worried about the other 9 as we are to have even more severe bitter cold this coming week. Forecast is saying negative temps in double digits next week without wind chill even factored in yet. Not sure what to do to help them stay warm at those temps! Any thoughts? Their coop is definitely enclosed and not drafty. I shut the chicken door when it gets dark and they are on the roost. Open chicken door in morning before work so they can choose in or out. I did put new shavings in their run the other day and left all bunched up so did see them standing in those staying a bit warmer when out of coop tonight before "bed." Ugh, the life of a worrier haha.

 

[Eggcessive]

Baytril tastes bad apparently, so it is best to give it orally twice a day with a small syringe.

 

[bmetz]

Baytril tastes bad apparently, so it is best to give it orally twice a day with a small syringe.

Ok, gotcha! Thank you!