CactusAdjacent
In the Brooder
- Jun 3, 2025
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Today I took home a very battered hen from one of my housekeeping clients. Just to preface, they're very good to their animals overall of which there are many, and she slipped under the radar. So I don't know any details except what I've seen since yesterday afternoon. I noticed her limping first, then all the missing and torn feathers, then the crumpled foot. She was not keen to be caught but didn't have a lot of fight or speed left. Her crop is very swollen and she was pooping liquid last I knew, no blood or mucous. I gave her some chick food moistened with ginger, turmeric and chamomile tea and more tea on the side. She really likes both and started grooming some before I had to leave for a while, I got back to find a mass exodus of what appear to be ticks. Luckily she was quarantined in the bathroom so I only had to vacuum in there for three hours
I've got her foot set in a splint and, when I turned her over to get it on, she spewed a bunch of sour smelling water from her crop. Her current designation is Poor Chicken, I'll give her a better one if she starts to recover. As of this morning she was eating and drinking, crop is hot and swollen. I limited the supply so she can't fill herself like a water balloon again, haven't checked the butt situation. I have no idea what else to do for her, any suggestions for the crop and bug issues in particular are much appreciated. The bugs are contained via duck tape around the rim of the tub.
