- Jun 6, 2011
- 38
- 16
- 99
Last week, one of my two-year-old hens (we didn't know which), laid "fairy eggs" three days in a row. A few days later I noticed Comet, (my golden comet), hadn't laid in a few days and was acting weird. She's usually the most friendly of my four hens, but she was just standing in the corner of the yard and didn't come running with the other girls when they saw me. I work full-time, but have been trying to keep my eye on her for the past several days and here is what I have noticed:
Three days ago, I noticed that walks a little funny,sort of penguin-like, so I brought her into the house and let her soak in warm epsom salt water for a while, and I checked her vent for stuck eggs, found nothing. She seemed to feel a little better after the bath, but nothing has really changed since then.
She eats very little, but I did see her grab an earthworm from the ground and eat it this morning. Sunday she ate a little macaroni that I put out there, but other than those two times, I haven't seen her eat anything else. I haven't seen her drink any water in a few days.
I chased her out from her corner this morning while I was attempting to catch her. When she got near my other hens, they pecked at her. They are normally all best of friends and have been raised together.
I did catch her fairly easily because she wasn't moving as fast as she normally does. I've got her in the house in a crate with food and water right now, but she's just standing there, not moving, eating, or drinking. I put some plain yogurt in there too, she's not touching it. Her crop is swollen up like a balloon, soft and squishy. It was not like that three days ago which was the last time I had her in the house for a close inspection. (My chickens have never been handled much, so it's no small feat to catch one and bring it in the house).
Her respirations are not labored and I see no drainage anywhere.
I only saw her poop once in several days, and it was white and watery. This was shortly after the warm bath.
Other than the big crop, I can't see anything else physically wrong with her, other than her comb is now a little droopy. But something is very wrong with her. Now that I have her in the house, what should I do next? TSC is 30 minutes away, and I plan to make a trip there this afternoon. What do I need to buy? Taking her to the vet is not an option...we don't have any farm animal vets around here, and although I care for my girls, I don't plan on spending hundreds of $$ to treat a $3 chicken.
BTW, I got my hens as pullets from a reputable breeder two years ago, and they were all vaccinated. The others are all acting fine.
Three days ago, I noticed that walks a little funny,sort of penguin-like, so I brought her into the house and let her soak in warm epsom salt water for a while, and I checked her vent for stuck eggs, found nothing. She seemed to feel a little better after the bath, but nothing has really changed since then.
She eats very little, but I did see her grab an earthworm from the ground and eat it this morning. Sunday she ate a little macaroni that I put out there, but other than those two times, I haven't seen her eat anything else. I haven't seen her drink any water in a few days.
I chased her out from her corner this morning while I was attempting to catch her. When she got near my other hens, they pecked at her. They are normally all best of friends and have been raised together.
I did catch her fairly easily because she wasn't moving as fast as she normally does. I've got her in the house in a crate with food and water right now, but she's just standing there, not moving, eating, or drinking. I put some plain yogurt in there too, she's not touching it. Her crop is swollen up like a balloon, soft and squishy. It was not like that three days ago which was the last time I had her in the house for a close inspection. (My chickens have never been handled much, so it's no small feat to catch one and bring it in the house).
Her respirations are not labored and I see no drainage anywhere.
I only saw her poop once in several days, and it was white and watery. This was shortly after the warm bath.
Other than the big crop, I can't see anything else physically wrong with her, other than her comb is now a little droopy. But something is very wrong with her. Now that I have her in the house, what should I do next? TSC is 30 minutes away, and I plan to make a trip there this afternoon. What do I need to buy? Taking her to the vet is not an option...we don't have any farm animal vets around here, and although I care for my girls, I don't plan on spending hundreds of $$ to treat a $3 chicken.
BTW, I got my hens as pullets from a reputable breeder two years ago, and they were all vaccinated. The others are all acting fine.
