sick hen

WstTxLady · #1 03/13/12, 09:59 PM

came home today to see one of my speckled sussex hens acting sick. almost like she is dizzy ( head falling back then she rights it), low body weight also but mostly alert. keeps closing her eyes, had a little bit of a cough.

im cleaning the coop tomorrow to make sure something didnt get her sick & wont get the others. she is only about a year old now.

i have her in the isolation crate, gave penicillin injection, have doctored water & had her swallow a charcoal tab, had food handy.

what might be it?

WstTxLady · #2 03/19/12, 11:40 AM

She still isnt better, no worse but not better. Still is weak, hardly drinking or eating unless I post some food down her (mixed medicine water w/ her lay crumble to make mash). Its storming here today so tomorrow I will get her some raw liver.

She still acts dizzy, barely walks, using her winds for balance even though she still hardly has any, wont open her eyes, bobs her head.

Im at a loss to what it might be. I thought she ate something bad so I gave her charcoal tabs but that didnt change anything. She has water with medicine & electrolytes in it.

What might it be?? Unless she was accidentally stepped on by the donkey or calves but they pay no mind to the chickens.

WstTxLady · #3 03/22/12, 10:12 PM

Unfortunately she passed overnight last night. No matter how much medicine I gave her (what was correct for her) and no matter how much food I poked down her, she just didn't make it.

She was the one that went missing & when I found her, she was sitting one 13 eggs. Only one was viable BUT successfully hatched and is still thriving.

BUT......now I have another missing...also a Speckled Sussex that I think is hiding & setting but never know.

jennigrey · #4 03/23/12, 12:37 AM

Sorry about your hen. It sounds like it may very well have been some type of spinal injury or blow to the head.

Vickie44 · #5 03/23/12, 02:46 PM

I am sorry. Did you find the other one ?

VA Susan · #6 03/23/12, 06:23 PM

Poor thing! Sorry for your loss, West Texas Lady. It sounds like you did all you could.

WstTxLady · #7 03/25/12, 10:07 PM

Vickie44 I have yet to find the missing one. That leaves me 2, I started with 4.

jennigrey, i noticed that her eyes were cloudy so it might have been an injury. dont really know.

i did what i could and went on. it happens. i have the isolation crate cleaned & ready to add food and water when the next one needs it lol