we think our hen is dying

[jjthinkagain]

Dora'smom :

It's easy to recommend a vet visit, but not possible for lots of folks.

That's why I said "if you can." It's not that it's easy to recommend a vet, it's just that sometimes it is necessary if a bird is to be saved. Based upon my read of the OP, I get the sense she very much wants her bird to live and I also get the sense that an expert may be needed here in order for that to happen. I think a vet is her birds best chance and the advice stands. If she can't do it, she can't do it (I've often worked 3 jobs to be able to afford to get beings in my care the help they need - I know about the prices) and we go from there the best we can but that doesn't mean it wasn't the best chance for success. Note that I also asked her to answer the questions in the 'sticky' - once she does we'd know a lot more about how she intends to treat. Until then, I have to assume that professional care may be an option. I also wanted to drive home the point about the likely seriousness of this situation. I don't believe there is a lot of time for trial and error tinkering.

OP, I am at work and hence signed in not under my usual screen name (which doesn't work here for some reason) so I may not be able to check back often until I'm home but I am sending lots of good wishes. Please take action quickly. Posting every possible clue you can think of here on BYC - everything in that Emergencies sticky - and then some - can only help. In the meantime, also make sure your girl is in very comfortable conditions - not too hot - nothing that can add to her stressors.

JJ (aka jjthink most of the time)​

 

[Oven Ready]

It's been my experience that the 'drunk' behaviour, unfocused eyes, flipping over, difficulty standing and repeating the same thing over and over (like preening the breast feathers or attempting to scratch the face with a foot) is a sign of Hypoglycemia (not enough glucose in the blood), in fact it's really a sign of Neuroglycopenia (not enough glucose in the brain) but few people know what that is straight away so saying Hypoglycemia is easier.

That's why I asked if she was eating. Chickens have a super fast metabolism and are much hotter than us, they need loads of food (relative to their size) to keep everything functioning properly.

I'm sure she will be suffering from a specific condition which is causing her not to eat, but not eating is the worst thing they can do for themselves.

If she can eat by herself, give her as much as she can until her crop is full, if she is not eating you will need to force feed her until her crop is full. You can also mix some honey (or plain sugar if you don't have honey) into the mushed egg. This should buy you some time to figure out the problem or decide what to do.

If she is still flipping about, put her in a box and put a small towel over here to stop her moving, you can put a towel under her head and under her tail to prevent her from changing the plane she is sitting at which often seems to set them off on the flipping thing.

I agree that if you can get her to a vet that knows about chickens and you can afford (and want) to do so that would be the best course of action. If that is not available or not required then you should post more info as requested by the forum Sick Chicken Checklist. The more info you can provide the more likely it is that someone will recognise the symptoms and be able to help.

 

[bella1210]

we gave her some pedialite and she seems a little better she is brething better
here are some pics

i really hope she will be ok we are waiting and we will post if she is starting to walk again

i really hope this will help everyone keep your fingers crosed

 

[dntd]

I hope you hen get better.She looks quite sick.

 

[chicmom]

I'm thinking maybe she had a stroke. Sometimes they do recover from this, but you may have to feed her by hand, and also give her water with a dropper......vet's are very expensive and lot's of people can't afford them (including myself). I just do the best I can to make the patient comfortable......I would maybe keep her in a pet carrier or a nice box with bedding, food and water close at hand, so she can rest. Vitamins/electrolites in the drinking water also help alot....

Good luck to you!

 

[bella1210]

right now we have her in a big cage in the garage with water an food. every hour we give her 2-3 syringes of pedilyte she has not pooped sence i put her in the cage about 2-3 hours but just got her drink the pedilyte so once she poopsmaybe that will tell us something.she seems a little more aware sence the pedilyte she props up when you walk out there now were before she would not move unless you touched her.lets hope she pulls through this.i have duramycin-10 but am going to wait a little before giving any meds to see if the peddilyte an rest gets her eating again.

 

[NewToFarming]

It does sound like something to do with the brain, doesn't it? Did she have any kind of injury to her head at all, maybe a fall or something?
I am very sorry she is so sick. She looks so much like my new girl.

 

[jjthinkagain]

Emily, checking back in for a sec.

What is the temperature in your garage?

What has been the temp in her normal environment?

Still don't have any of the basic info about her (Emergency 'sticky' etc.) so we all have very little to go on.
JJ

 

[chkn]

Is the eye just closed or is the eye and/or face swollen?

 

[bella1210]

we have 30 other birds in the coop with her so if it was heat i think there would be more then just one bird with symptoms.she started with her eye closed yesterday around 6pm but she was still walking around fine then around 830pm an the eye was open.then today at 8am when the girls went out to feed them she was laying in the corner with her eye shut an not walking eating or drinking.there in no blood or swelling around the eye or anywhere else you can open the bad eye an it looks fine.it is hot here around 85 90 but the coop is a cinderblock base an stays pretty cool.could it be worms or somthing?i wormed my peacocks but have not wormed my chickens.she does not seem to be in any pain an there is no coughing or sneezing.she is a blue orp about 14 weeks old.