Wyandotte Hen Suddenly Off-Balance,"Tipsy", Throws Head Back

[K-12 Chickens]

UPDATE

Jenny is still "tipsy" and off balance this morning. She isn't showing much interest in water; maybe I'll have to pique her interest with some apple cider vinegar or squirt some water into her mouth. She will still eat. Her droppings haven't been large and are rather watery, likely because she hasn't been eating as much as normal.

 

[casportpony]

Have you weighed her yet? If she continues to not eat and drink she might die, so you should check out this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

-Kathy

 

[K-12 Chickens]

Have you weighed her yet? If she continues to not eat and drink she might die, so you should check out this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

-Kathy

She's eating, just not as ravenous as she usually is. I will keep monitoring her though and get some water down her.

 

[casportpony]

I'd weigh her daily... doesn't take them long to lose weight and get to the point of no return which is when the lose 1/3 to 1/2 half their weight. To quote my vet "it's not usually disease that kills them, it's dehydration and starvation". To keep a bird properly hydrated it needs ~30ml/kg every 6-8 hours, that 80ml every 6-8 hours for an average size Wyandotte (6 pounds).

-Kathy

 

[K-12 Chickens]

Thank you for the information!

About 40 minutes ago I used a syringe to gently squirt some water (with vitamins added) in her mouth. I also used the vitamin water to make her layer pellets softer and crumblier, which appeals to her more. I gave her some cat food pellets, since she is molting and those appeal to her as well. Her crop was a little smaller than a golf ball when I finished giving her water and food. Her droppings are much less watery now and one in her crate is solid and healthy looking. Jenny is active, walks around and talks, but partly falls to the side occasionally still.

 

[K-12 Chickens]

UPDATE

I let Jenny outside this morning with the hens. Her balance seems to have returned and she isn't falling over so dramatically, if at all (she also has been eating grass). Jenny mostly just has a twitch here and there. I will continue her on vitamins.

 

[casportpony]

UPDATE

I let Jenny outside this morning with the hens. Her balance seems to have returned and she isn't falling over so dramatically, if at all (she also has been eating grass). Jenny mostly just has a twitch here and there. I will continue her on vitamins.

So happy for you!

-Kathy

 

[K-12 Chickens]

So happy for you!

-Kathy

Thanks!

I hope she continues to recover.

 

[One Chick Two]

Wonderful news!

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you for posting such as nice update, and hoping she makes a full recovery.