Sideways chicken

[brynjim2012]

How are things with the Sideways Chicken?
Have been keeping you lot in my thoughts.

She is going down hill. She keeps thrashing her head around in circles and although she can stand, she looses her balance. She is not able to keep her head steady enough to aim for food and water, so I have started giving her water (w/ probiotics and electrolytes) by dropper. I have also, up until today, been able to feed her soft food from a container and she has been able to aim her beak in that. Today, she has no energy to even do that. I took out a spoon to get it on her beak, and she was not able to do much w/ that. So, I keep giving her vitamins and water and a little food. I am afraid we will have to euthanize her. That will take us down to 6. Sigh!

I am just at a loss. Her crop is good, she was even opening her other eye this morning. Not sure how much she can see. Her breathing sounds clear. There is no discharge from her nostrils, eyes or anywhere else. I HATE THIS! This is not the fun part. I just got back into the swing of things w/ the other chickens after Barbara Bush died. I was starting to enjoy the experience again. Now I am back to nursing a sick chicken. I hate to give up, but it's exhausting. I thought for sure she would be gone this morning. But, no, she was standing and thrashing her head around.

Thank you for your thoughts. It means a lot to me. How are your chicks? Have you let them out again after the werewolf scare?

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

She is going down hill. She keeps thrashing her head around in circles and although she can stand, she looses her balance. She is not able to keep her head steady enough to aim for food and water, so I have started giving her water (w/ probiotics and electrolytes) by dropper. I have also, up until today, been able to feed her soft food from a container and she has been able to aim her beak in that. Today, she has no energy to even do that. I took out a spoon to get it on her beak, and she was not able to do much w/ that. So, I keep giving her vitamins and water and a little food. I am afraid we will have to euthanize her. That will take us down to 6. Sigh!

I am just at a loss. Her crop is good, she was even opening her other eye this morning. Not sure how much she can see. Her breathing sounds clear. There is no discharge from her nostrils, eyes or anywhere else. I HATE THIS! This is not the fun part. I just got back into the swing of things w/ the other chickens after Barbara Bush died. I was starting to enjoy the experience again. Now I am back to nursing a sick chicken. I hate to give up, but it's exhausting. I thought for sure she would be gone this morning. But, no, she was standing and thrashing her head around.

Thank you for your thoughts. It means a lot to me. How are your chicks? Have you let them out again after the werewolf scare?

I am so sorry about this friend not doing well. Please know there is no failure in having to put her down. It may be a blessing for her if she can't eat or stand properly. I wouldn't want to hang out in that state.
It is clearly something wrong with the chooks, either genetic or that they came with from their source, as your care has been exemplary. I hope this doesn't put you off chickens, as they are so rewarding, even when they drive you crazy.
I'll hatch you some Aussies in the spring if you like! (I would seek a new source, if it were me, for future friends. 2/8 is not good)

I have let mine out the past 2 days as the rains have stopped, and they folks up the mountain have been using heavy work equipment. This makes me feel like the werewolf won't be as apt to come bother our chooks.
The babies are getting enormous (they are 7 weeks old!)

Holding your hand with my mind.