WingsOnTheBus
Chirping
Hello,
Some things I have to clear up:
1. I am only with my chickens for 1/2 the week, and was not been around the one who is now sick a few hours ago (before 6:00).
2. I will be leaving for vacation first thing tomorrow morning (someone will check on them every 2 days) so I need to know everything that I can do to protect her while I'm gone if she makes it through.
3. I am not allowed to bring her inside under any circumstances.
One of my 4 hens, a 1-year-old Rhode Island Red, was hit the hardest by what appears to be heat stress this afternoon (it was then about 93 degrees and humid; now it is about 85 degrees, still humid). When I got home around 4 hours ago, she followed me around like normal, and even took a drink, but now she will not drink, or even eat watermelon, like the others (who are behaving normally) is unresponsive even to vigorous prodding--she stands, but crouches low (in a "bowed" stance) and refuses to move. The others are panting furiously. Her beak is open, but she seems a bit more...resigned.
She was too weak to fly up to her roost tonight. She is resting on the floor of the coop.
I felt her crop and it is much softer than the others'. I tipped her upside down (the fact that she did not object was extremely worrying) and tried to massage it, but nothing came out.
I put an oscillating fan in the coop, and it is running now. She turned toward it, which is encouraging. I also put an ice pack under her.
What could be wrong with her? What are here chances of survival? Most importantly, what can I do to help?
I will let you know if she makes it till the morning.
Some things I have to clear up:
1. I am only with my chickens for 1/2 the week, and was not been around the one who is now sick a few hours ago (before 6:00).
2. I will be leaving for vacation first thing tomorrow morning (someone will check on them every 2 days) so I need to know everything that I can do to protect her while I'm gone if she makes it through.
3. I am not allowed to bring her inside under any circumstances.
One of my 4 hens, a 1-year-old Rhode Island Red, was hit the hardest by what appears to be heat stress this afternoon (it was then about 93 degrees and humid; now it is about 85 degrees, still humid). When I got home around 4 hours ago, she followed me around like normal, and even took a drink, but now she will not drink, or even eat watermelon, like the others (who are behaving normally) is unresponsive even to vigorous prodding--she stands, but crouches low (in a "bowed" stance) and refuses to move. The others are panting furiously. Her beak is open, but she seems a bit more...resigned.
She was too weak to fly up to her roost tonight. She is resting on the floor of the coop.
I felt her crop and it is much softer than the others'. I tipped her upside down (the fact that she did not object was extremely worrying) and tried to massage it, but nothing came out.
I put an oscillating fan in the coop, and it is running now. She turned toward it, which is encouraging. I also put an ice pack under her.
What could be wrong with her? What are here chances of survival? Most importantly, what can I do to help?
I will let you know if she makes it till the morning.
