Thought my hen was dead, but she's barely holding on

[MomentaryBlossom]

This morning when I went to feed my chickens, I found my easter egger on the ground not moving. There was a foul smell, too, so I thought she had suddenly died, but when I went to pick her up she moved her head a bit. I gently removed her from the coop, brought her to a shaded area, and began inspecting her. She was taking gasping breaths every once in a while, but she wouldn't open her eyes at first. I put her beak in water in between gasps, and she drank a little bit on her own.

All of the feathers on her lower back have been pecked out, which must've happened while she was down because she had all of her feathers yesterday. She seems lighter than normal, and very dehydrated. I gave her some electrolytes in a dropper and she drank a little bit of it. I cleaned and disinfected the plucked area, and I've moved her to a new enclosure for monitoring. After the electrolytes, she started opening her eyes and moving her head more when I would pick her up, but she quickly goes back to closing them and laying down again.

There was a bad storm here a few days ago, and the strong winds knocked something into the run and some of the chickens got out, she was one of them. I got them all back in and repaired and fortified the run, but I'm worried she may have gotten sick from the rain or something? She was eating and drinking normally yesterday. I don't see any other injuries aside from the plucked feathers. My hen hasn't started laying yet, so I don't think it's egg related. The only avian vet in my area isn't available for several days, so I'm hoping I can treat her at home. Any advice or experiences about what could've caused this would be helpful.

 

[ZZbean]

Hey, can we get some pictures? How old is she as well, It sounds like the other chickens must've pecked on her a bit after you get her back in the coop.

 

[nuthatched]

Have you found any wounds?

 

[MomentaryBlossom]

Hey, can we get some pictures? How old is she as well, It sounds like the other chickens must've pecked on her a bit after you get her back in the coop.

She's about 5 months old. She's so much lighter than she was just a few days ago, even though I've seen her eating, even yesterday she was eating just fine. I'm not sure she's going to make it but I can't bring myself to cull her if there's even the slightest chance of her making it. None of the others seem to be losing weight or looking sickly.

 

[SkyWolf]

Honestly such a sudden change is a very bad sign. Most of the time chickens don’t go from fine to near death so quickly.

If there is no noticeable wounds or abnormality then I’d just keep doing what you are doing now. Giving her electrolytes, some food if you can, and keep her warm/comfortable.

I hope she makes it <3

 

[ZZbean]

She's about 5 months old. She's so much lighter than she was just a few days ago, even though I've seen her eating, even yesterday she was eating just fine. I'm not sure she's going to make it but I can't bring myself to cull her if there's even the slightest chance of her making it. None of the others seem to be losing weight or looking sickly.

Can you take a damp paper towel and run it over her feathers also? She does look to be covered in dried blood if the paper towel becomes brown it is dried blood. I would do what you are and see how she is in the morning but you are the one able to see how much shes stuggling. Is she still struggling to breathe?

 

[Clucking Caper]

im still new at this game and always learning.... but could the smell be from sour crop?

 

[MomentaryBlossom]

Can you take a damp paper towel and run it over her feathers also? She does look to be covered in dried blood if the paper towel becomes brown it is dried blood. I would do what you are and see how she is in the morning but you are the one able to see how much shes stuggling. Is she still struggling to breathe?

She's breathing alright now, but still every once in a while making a gasping motion with her beak. She's been drooling clear saliva on occasion, too.
I've been cleaning her in between giving her fluids. I don't want to stress her out too much with the cleaning before she can hold herself up a bit better, so I'm trying to take it slow. The black part on her back is mostly scabbing, I believe. I scrubbed it pretty good, got all of the dirt and dried blood off of it, and applied antiseptic to it. She's got some poop/mud in her feathers from collapsing, and I got most of it off but obviously not all of it.

 

[MomentaryBlossom]

im still new at this game and always learning.... but could the smell be from sour crop?

I was wondering that, too. I massaged her crop in case it is sour crop, but I can't be too sure.

 

[Clucking Caper]

I was wondering that, too. I massaged her crop in case it is sour crop, but I can't be too sure.

Symptoms of sour crop can include:

• A squishy, swollen crop.
• Lethargy.
• Lack of appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Sour, disgusting-smelling breath.
• Liquid or gas exiting the beak, particularly if you gently touch the crop.
• White patches in the mouth.