sick chicken penguin walk

[tumiaredFlock]

I have a red American chicken she has already laid eggs since last year. I am new to this raising chickens and need help. I noticed her a couple days ago she was taking her time coming down in the mornings and when she did , she would walk like a penguin! I looked into it and from what people mentioned the symptoms it resembled my chicken. I don't have the expenses for a vet and I have been doing everything from, warm baths,apple cider in her drink and massaging her tummy. I'm afraid she's near death and I really grew attached to her for me to put her down!! I will get her some yogurt if it helps. Oh and just last night she pooped a little with such some kinda yellowish watery substance.. Any suggestions??

 

[jjthink]

Please see my response to your other note (below link). This girl is in very grave danger, especially now that I see this post indicating this has been going on for a couple of days. You can't wait any longer to do what it takes to help her. She is suffering and will die without successful help, if indeed she is eggbound, and it sounds like she is.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/863490/sick-chicken-egg-bound-infection#post_13032394

 

[ten chicks]

I have a red American chicken she has already laid eggs since last year. I am new to this raising chickens and need help. I noticed her a couple days ago she was taking her time coming down in the mornings and when she did , she would walk like a penguin! I looked into it and from what people mentioned the symptoms it resembled my chicken. I don't have the expenses for a vet and I have been doing everything from, warm baths,apple cider in her drink and massaging her tummy.

I'm afraid she's near death and I really grew attached to her for me to put her down!! I will get her some yogurt if it helps. Oh and just last night she pooped a little with such some kinda yellowish watery substance.. Any suggestions??

Check her being egg bound. To check for egg binding do a cloacal exam,,put on gloves w lubricant insert finger into vent,see if you can feel an egg or broken egg. If you feel an egg,give her a tums or calcium tablet(break into pces and give orally)this usually helps pass egg,often within an hour. Keep her warm/quiet/calm and in a dark location.

If you find a broken egg,gently remove shell pieces,be careful you do not want to cut her internally. Flush out vent internally with a diluted vinegar/water solution,this helps flush out egg contents and with bacteria,although with this an infection often results.

All of this being said,look up information for peritonitis as she could be suffering from this. Is her abdomen bloated/enlarged,is she constantly doing the "penguin"stance,this also happens with peritonitis as the contents in abdomen are putting pressure on organs and cause breathing difficulties. The outcome with peritonitis is not usually very good.

For future reference,never leave a hen that you suspect is egg bound,always do a cloacal exam as egg binding kills often within 48 hours.

 

[jjthink]

ten chicks is correct. URGENT. Do the TUMS NOW. Don't go shopping for yogurt!

post #4 of 5
3 minutes ago

• jjthink
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• Location: New Jersey
• Joined: 1/2007
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Her heart is going to fail without imminent medical attention. Breathing heavy is your indication. Call feed stores if you don't know where 4-H folks are. Tell them it's an emergency. Maybe someone will help you get quick vet attention (inexpensively). This has been going on FAR TOO LONG. I lost a beautiful, sweet life-loving 2 years young hen to a heart attack from being eggbound less than 1 day.,.really just a half of a day. JJ

Spending your time shopping for yogurt right now is a fool's errand. This is an EMERGENCY.

• tumiaredFlock
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• Joined: 3/2014
• Posts: 3
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JJ .. Thanks for replying. I am not sure how old she is, but this is not her first year laying! I been watching her carefully and keeping her warm. I live in California (central Cali) and right now she is still sleeping but I can see she is breathing hard. Unfortunately none of my neighbors that I know are chicken lovers. They would probably tell me to put her in the Pot! I'm heading out to buy her some yogurt so she can eat something. I gave her some warm water with a little bit of apple cider.

 

[tumiaredFlock]

I have the tums. Little pieces you say? I'm not leaving her.

 

[jjthink]

Crush the TUMS with a little bit of water, enough to make it a nice slurry that you can get down her throat very carefully with an eyedropper, watery enough that it won;t get caught in her throat but not so watery that you have a tremendous amount that you have to get her to swallow. A little at a time so she doesn't choke. HURRY.

 

[jjthink]

What is her diet?
Do you have other hens?
Are any her best buddy?
Have long have you had the sick hen?

 

[jjthink]

How is she? (I have to go out for some hours now so wanted to write before leaving - she is in my thoughts...)

 

[tumiaredFlock]

Thank you for your concern she is doing fine she is walking and enjoying the sun. Her tail is up and she does seem to walk like a penguin a little (not standing straight)! I found a little black spot on her feet. Not on the bottom but n front

 

[jjthink]

Thank you for the update. She may have multiple issues going on.

1. When is the last time she laid an egg?
2. What is her diet?
3. Does she have plenty of very fresh water available at all times?
4. What are your temperatures there - pretty nice right now, I gather?
5. Do you have other hens?
6. Are any her best buddy?
7. Have long have you had the sick hen?