Claraserena,

Here's one "heads up." Years ago I was trying to doctor a hen and I crated her, with something over top of the crate to keep her in. She nearly died on me because I didn't consider that a chicken needs to raise its head to swallow, and there wasn't room in the crate!

Have you tried giving her some Sulmet (available in the feed store), in case of parasites? It might be a help.

George
Tahlequah, OK

Great point about the crate. I took her out and let her outside--the weather is very mild. She is just standing by some plants, head down, closing her eyes and making a kind of trilling sound. Some of the others of her group are with her. They seem to understand. I will try to get some Sulmet. I'm afraid she is dying.

You've got a sick girl there and you need to act immediately--since chickens are a prey animal, they don't show that they are ill until they are VERY ill. Don't wait to 'see how she does'--be proactive.

I've got a chicken info site here, it may help:

http://home.earthlink.net/~velvetsparrow/VSChickHealth.htm

Keep her warm, quiet and isolated to start. Sulmet is not for parasites such as worms, it is a treatment for Coccidiosis, a condition which may well cause the watery poop you are seeing. It doesn't sound like she is egg bound (see the section on my site regarding egg binding) so I'd stop the olive oil and warm water soaking unless you are POSITIVE that she is egg bound. Good luck with her and feel free to email me if you need to. :)

Velvet ~:>

She is in a tall crate now. I did call a vet yesterday--he gave me something for coccidiosis and an anti-bacterial, two droppers full/day. She has drunk some water and I think eaten a little canned corn. But she is at least lying down--before she looked like she could only stand kind of crouched over. I gave her 1/4 t. olive oil as someone said she might be constipated. I was worried about the egg binding because the other Red Layers her age have been laying laying really big eggs. IÂm more hopeful. Thank you for your concern. My hsuband named her Frostine because last winter he had to rescue her from the side of a snowbank. She's a sweetie.

Good for you for acting quickly. :) Make sure to follow through with the meds, don't stop partway through the treatment. I've seen chickens make amazing recoveries, good luck with Frostine!

Velvet ~:>

It has been a week now and she is still sick. She is not eating and is very thin. I just soaked her again in warm water. I think she has some prolapse. I donÂt feel an egg in there. Her abdomen seems swollen. IÂm still giving her the meds. SheÂs in a pen by herself outside-itÂs quite warm out. Should I try the Sulmet? I have never used it. I can get it at Fleet Farm this morning. How much would I give one chicken, I assume in an eye dropper?

I just called the vet and he said that the meds he had given me for her had a drug like sulmet. He said she probably has an egg inside that has broken and then she has probably has an internal infection and there is nothing I can do for her. I just don't want her to suffer.

I'm sorry she's suffered a relapse. :( What your vet said is correct, if she has laid an egg internally, there isn't much short of surgery that can be done for her, and often even with surgery the damage has been done and they pass on anyway. I'd follow his advice and keep her warm, quiet and comfortable. Sometimes that's the only thing we can do for our animals--give them a safe, loved place to die.

Tough times, sorry you are going through this.

Velvet ~:>

Thank you, Velvet. I can't believe how hard this is. We have lost other chickens but it has been quicker. I'm not going to try any thing else. She's in her little house, outside, so she can hear and see the others. She moved closer to the water so she must be drinking.

I'm sorry about Frostine :-( I'm sure she appreciates that you are doing so much to make her comfortable.

Here's an update on Frostine. A week ago I was sure she was dying. She just sat/stood in her little house and didnÂt eat. It was like a death watch. Then about 5 days ago I saw her out in the grass-pecking at things. I kept pushing treat foods and she would eat at least some. Over the weekend I was out of town and my husband let her out with the others one day and said she was acting quite normal. But he put her back in her separate pen. This morning she was acting despondent and I realized she had been essentially without chicken company for most of 2 weeks. So I let her out. She was definitely not keeping up with the others but she seemed to like being with them. SheÂs still very thin but her abdomen is not swollen. IÂm giving her the meds again. Tonight sheÂs roosting for the first time in two weeks. She still seems frail. Tomorrow I will figure out a way to give her some treat rations when the others are not around. Anyway, sheÂs still with us and I wanted you to know and to thank you for your support.

Glad to hear Frostine is doing better! Keep us posted on her progress.

Mark

Frostine was very weak --could hardly walk--when she came out this morning. I held her and put her in her crate and offered treats but she would not eat. She died this afternoon. Thanks everyone for your kind and good thoughts. She was loved.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know you loved her.

So sorry to hear about Frostine. She was lucky to have spent her life with folks who took good care of her.