vometing pullet, please help she is fading

embrown

In the Brooder
10 Years
Apr 18, 2009
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0
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I posted a few hours ago and had no replies, here is what is new, you can read the whole thing under the title of something like: droopy 18 week pullet, it was posted at about 3:08 this afternoon.

I decided that she definitely feels like she has a fever but I searched and searched and can not find what the normal temp is supposed to be or how to take a chicken's temp. So, she has not given any pooh in like 7 hours so I have just done the molassis and water drops in her beak. While doing that I did feel her crop start to fill, it has been empty. When messaging it I can feel what is most likely grit in there and liquid from what I am feeding. She then spit up foaming yuck with no food but like the furry fluff/fur like stuff in it, I had seen a similar thing earlier with grass mixed in, but not since this morning. I feel I have to get fluids in her and try to flush out the problem. What do I do. She is only had a few bites of water and mash and yogurt, she has her eyes closed, neck is droopy, she is not really willing to walk but can, can stand, but mostly is in a perched possition. she is 18 weeks and has not laid yet, I do not feel any lumps, nothing around the vent. She is mostly still and quiet with an occasional squeek like squawk. Please, please help, I am so sad and worried. I am going to try the salts and water flush in a few minutes and see if I can get something to move through her system. What can I do. I am one upset chicky momma. This is one of my favorite birds of the 6 I have.
Beth



Beth
 
Without something obvious to go on its rather hard to make guesses that won't do more harm. Giving her electorlytes won't hurt, add some sugar. If you have unflavored cherry or strawberry flavored Kool Aid that will encourage her to drink more.

The lack of droppings is not good. It sounds as though systems may be shutting down. Even if she is not eating or crop bound she should be expelling urine.

You can also dissolve a 325mg aspirin in a gallon of water to knock back the temp. Its possible its bacterial but more damage could be done using the wrong one.

If it was you that posted there is mowed grass put in their pen, stop doing that. It can lead to impacted crops because they gorge on the big pieces and it gets all wadded up in their crop and they can't process it. I don't think she's impacted though.

Keep us posted.
 
it was not me about the cut grass, I would not use that for bedding due to the binding up, mold prospect, and the odor of cut grass laying around.

How do I know if there is a fever that would require aspirin, she feels warm but chickens are warmer than a cat or dog what is the best way to take a temp? What would be shutting down her systems? What might restart this, I would think hydration is important, but how much and what. DH just brought home some electralites and I have got about 15 CC of molasis water in her in the past hour, she is weak.

Any ideas would be great.

Beth
 
Perhaps your intuition about trying the flush is a good one. I don't think fever is her biggest problem right now. It sounds like you have a good chance of losing her, sorry to say.

I have heard of giving a baby aspirin to an adult chicken, only.
 
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Quote:
You sense it, you feel it. If she felt normal in temp to you then you would not have noticed it. I've been through a bird with a fever, I've treated it with aspirin and lowered the temp. Its pretty obvious when it happens, just like you feel how much warmer she is than you think she should be. Trust yourself on this, you're probably right.
 
I hope not, saying lots of prayers this is the pre-schooler's chicken and my second favorite in close running for the first favorite. She is wonderful. I just go some of the epsom Salts and water flush in her, she took two bites of yogurt, and next I will do the electralites. She is ever so slightly more perky in that she will lift her head more even if she does not open her eyes. She is worrying us. The crop seemed to drain with no vomet after the last dose of liquids, but still no pooh or pee as much as I can tell, she is in a pet carrier but the water got spilled by kids, so I am not sure if any urine was given. I have changed the papertowel in the cage so I can note elimination. Is it possible that the area of her crop is very warm, maybe indocating infection there, there is no smell. But, it seems like this is the hottest part of the bird, but it is also the most thickly feathered.
 
The bottom of her feet will feel extremely hot if she has a fever. Depending on where the information comes from, their "normal" temperature should be between 103°F and 107°F.

The temperature is carefully taken via vent.

You said you haven't seen any droppings. Have you inspected the vent area to see if she has any dropping blocking her vent area?

To give aspirin, it is best to know her weight.

Just as a suggestion - when you start a problem thread, keep adding to it as a reply, instead of starting a new thread. It is easy to help someone if you don't have to look around for posts.
 
Well, I never thought I would be happy to get a monsterous pile of warm runny chicken pooh in my lap, but I was pretty happy as she finally pooped. It was quite an amount, stinky, runny green pooh with a bit of top foamy whitish. I think this is a good sign. What next, I offered more yogurt she did not want it. Electralites going in next in a few minutes, wondering how to mix, it is a powder and only gives instructions for huge quantities. Trying to do the math. I have cool-aid to add so it is atractive. I am thinking no food, is that the right approach or may that make her weaker? How many flush cycles of epsom salts, molassis and water, yogurt, electralites, how much, how often, how long, what might be signs of improvement. I am looking on line to find more, I am not coming up with much. Keep the ideas coming, please. Try to help me save this sweet gal.

Beth

Beth
 

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