Special needs chicken

[Ashllen]

Chicken are smart, they know who's injured or acting off.

Yeah, for the most part they leave her be, surprisingly, I was expecting more bullying from everyone. But so far besides the food stealing (which I think adding another feeder will hopefully fix) I haven't noticed anything. I feel like my Brahma got bullied more for having fluffy feet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Somehow I missed your videos yesterday.
She seems to move around and within the flock o.k. to me. I'd still try the vitamins.

 

[Ashllen]

Somehow I missed your videos yesterday.
She seems to move around and within the flock o.k. to me. I'd still try the vitamins.

Yeah I haven't noticed too much bullying, so I'm hoping to have her back with the flock once the medicine has run it's course.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yeah I haven't noticed too much bullying, so I'm hoping to have her back with the flock once the medicine has run it's course.

When was she injured?

 

[Ashllen]

December 10th. Give or take a day, I noticed the dropped perch before I realized she was hurt. Should have known something was up when I didn't have to chase her off the coop roof. Sadly, it took 2 days to even find a doctor that would see her in my area. And then I had to wait nearly a month for an appointment (they suggested to wait, instead of urgent care since she was still eating).

 

[Wyorp Rock]

December 10th. Give or take a day, I noticed the dropped perch before I realized she was hurt. Should have known something was up when I didn't have to chase her off the coop roof. Sadly, it took 2 days to even find a doctor that would see her in my area. And then I had to wait nearly a month for an appointment (they suggested to wait, instead of urgent care since she was still eating).

Oh, I see.
Hopefully, given some time she will make a full recovery.
I think she's moving about pretty well under the circumstances.

 

[Ashllen]

I don't have a picture on hand and it's dark right now, but I should be able to get a pic of her tomorrow. I also just got a pet scale in the mail today so I'll have an update on her weight as well.

She started at 49.28 oz. On the 5th and today she is 51.5 oz. The goal is atleast 72 oz. I gave her a water bath last night so this is her cleaned up for the most part.

 

[Ashllen]

The water bath was pretty harrowing. I'm glad I only had the water up to an 1 1/2 inches.... I almost forgot she twists her head completely upside down when she is upset now.... she would have drowned her self if I wasn't holding her up at all times.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't see anything wrong with her skin.

I would stop the baths.
Weight loss doesn't happen overnight, so weight gain will be gradual as well. I'd focus on her eating her normal feed, if she's eating that well, then she'll get to where she needs to be.

Sometimes it's hard to go by weight to know the condition of a bird. You don't want fat and overweight hens. Fat on hens usually deposits around the organs (heart/liver) and in the abdomen. Fat can lead to fatty liver disease, fat in the abdomen can make it harder for hens to lay eggs and they can be more prone to prolapse.

You want to feel her keel bone. Here's a score chart.

http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/chicken-body-condition-score-chart

 

[Ashllen]

a few new updates. I have found she eats with less trouble with an elevated food source, gonna need to invest inione of those raised food and water dish for easier meal time. But I have a new thing to figure out... when she sleeps she now flips her head completely upside down. Which isn't a problem in my shower stall, but I hope to return her to her flock one day. I have a bed figured out (storage bin, balance still to messed up to roost, and I think she needs to rest her head on something) but I need a bedding that isn't straw or wood chips. Something easy to clean but she would still sleep on, any suggestions?