Wet, nearly frozen chicken

[emmykay24]

I have free range chickens and one of them was missing tonight. We found it stuck in a drain soaking wet, and the water is near freezing. What should I do to help this poor chicken?

 

[wsufans]

Can you bring her inside... like in a dog crate or enclosure... next to a heater until she dries? or in a garage with a brooder lamp?

 

[elbricker]

I had a similar situation last weekend, I found my Loosie thoroughly soaked, hypothermic, in shock, with a bloodless 1 inch laceration on the back of her neck -- she was unconscious but breathing. I brought her inside to the bathroom & slowly warmed her with the blow dryer on low setting ( no more than 1-2 minutes) and alternately dripped warm water into her beak from the tip of my finger. This process took about 3 hours but she woke up in a kind of stuporous state but able to drink on her own. I spoke with a vet on the phone & he told me to keep her warm & off feed till the next day. I put her in a dog cage in a warm, darkened room with warm water. The next morning, I fed her warm oatmeal then regular feed at noon. She was eating & drinking but definitely disoriented & could only walk backwards. By monday morning, she was able to walk properly & I was able to take her to the vet that evening & get her an antibiotic shot for the dog bite. I'm still keeping her warm in the house & gave her 2 more shots at home. She seems to be mending pretty well but she is mute--I hope she'll get her voice back. Don't know if this is helpful to you, but I hope your chicken makes it. I don't know much about chickens but I have some experience with rewarming humans & the key is to provide fluids as you warm slowly because warming causes blood vessels to dilate intensifying the shock.

 

[ten chicks]

I had a similar situation last weekend, I found my Loosie thoroughly soaked, hypothermic, in shock, with a bloodless 1 inch laceration on the back of her neck -- she was unconscious but breathing. I brought her inside to the bathroom & slowly warmed her with the blow dryer on low setting ( no more than 1-2 minutes) and alternately dripped warm water into her beak from the tip of my finger. This process took about 3 hours but she woke up in a kind of stuporous state but able to drink on her own. I spoke with a vet on the phone & he told me to keep her warm & off feed till the next day. I put her in a dog cage in a warm, darkened room with warm water. The next morning, I fed her warm oatmeal then regular feed at noon. She was eating & drinking but definitely disoriented & could only walk backwards. By monday morning, she was able to walk properly & I was able to take her to the vet that evening & get her an antibiotic shot for the dog bite. I'm still keeping her warm in the house & gave her 2 more shots at home. She seems to be mending pretty well but she is mute--I hope she'll get her voice back. Don't know if this is helpful to you, but I hope your chicken makes it. I don't know much about chickens but I have some experience with rewarming humans & the key is to provide fluids as you warm slowly because warming causes blood vessels to dilate intensifying the shock.

X2

 

[BantamLover21]

I have free range chickens and one of them was missing tonight. We found it stuck in a drain soaking wet, and the water is near freezing. What should I do to help this poor chicken?

Bring her inside and warm her up. You can try blowing her dry/warm with a blow-drier, or simply put her beneath a heat lamp, or next to a fire or oven. Massage her legs and body to help improve circulation, too. If/when she wakes up a bit, offer her some warm oatmeal or moistened chicken feed, and plenty of warm water. Other than that, I don't think there is much else you can do. Good luck!

 

[ten chicks]

If you suspect frostbite,never rub/massage affected limbs as this will only increase further damage to tissue.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Hopefully your chicken will survive with the good advice you have been given.

 

[elbricker]

Update on Loosie: outdoor temps here moderated this weekend & Loosie is back in the chicken barn. Since I am afraid my other chickens will peck her healing wound, I still have her in a large dog cage. She did spend some closely supervised time in the run yesterday--as soon as she heard the rest of her flock she started clucking. She has her voice back!!!

 

[BantamLover21]

Update on Loosie: outdoor temps here moderated this weekend & Loosie is back in the chicken barn. Since I am afraid my other chickens will peck her healing wound, I still have her in a large dog cage. She did spend some closely supervised time in the run yesterday--as soon as she heard the rest of her flock she started clucking. She has her voice back!!!

I'm glad she's doing better.