My family is new to backyard chickens. We have 7, 4 are 14 weeks, 3 are 11 weeks. One of our 14 weeks is a rhode island red, and was running around like normal all day today. I went to put them in their enclosure when we were leaving to go out and I couldn't find her. She was beside the compost, a regular hangout, but she wasn't moving away as a neared like she normally would. She let me touch her and I noticed saliva dripping from her beak. She is crouched low with wings spread out, rapid breathing, and she is alert. She swings her head back quickly to the side every few minutes and was moving about a bit when I put her in the pen. The younger chickens started to crowd or peck her and so we have isolated her, which I know now we should have done immediately. She won't eat or drink. We don't have the money to take her to a vet, so we are trying to do what we can for her. My husband thinks maybe she got stung by a spider or scorpion, but I can't find any tender spots, though she does seem to be holding one wing out further than the other and one earlobe is pinker than the other, but not red. She doesn't like me touching her head, but they never really do. Can anyone help with suggestions of what to do? It is Sunday evening, so calling the feed stores with questions is not an option. HELP!
Heather Taylor
602.524.6793
Replies
Update - Kept her in the cage in the coop last night. This morning I let the rest of them out and she followed right behind, basically like nothing ever happened, except maybe walking a little slower. Flapping her wings and running by the end of the day. But since I was gone all day, I did cage her for fear she would run out of energy in the heat and be vunerable to the pecking by the other bird. As soon as I took her out later today, she ran right over to the area where I first found her drooling and starting taking a big dust bath and pecking the ground like crazy. Tonight she was the first one on the roost, like she wanted to make sure she had a space so she wouldn't be caged again. By this evening, you never would have been able to tell she had any life-threatening problem only 3 days ago. But I won't let my guard down and keep a good eye on her the next few days.
My son is so happy, and what a story he has to tell!
Thanks again everyone for all the input and advice.
btw, the bird that was standing on her and pecking her (Blanca) 2 days ago tried to get on the roost tonight, and Qwinchy let her know she was back! Blanca backed right off and went to the other coop.
This behavior is probably not so much re-integration issues, more of trying to eliminate a weak bird from the flock, as was already alluded to. Could also be that the aggressor just sees an opportunity to move up the pecking order. I would try and keep them together as much as possible to avoid having to reintegrate them, but you obviously don't want your hurt chicken to get more hurt from the other birds. If possible, put her in a little cage/crate inside the coop, at least at night, that way the other birds can still see her and recognize her as a flock mate.
I have seen birds with scorpion stings recover in about 5-7 days. Of course it depends on many factors, but that may serve as a little bit of a baseline for you.
Cool. I just put her in a wire cage outside in the shade, as she was not happy to stay in a small cardboard box in the house anymore, and I have to go out. She seems fine with it, out in the air. I think that is a great idea, so she can still be with them at night, and I want to get the others familiar with the cage...it is the one I am using to transport them to school Friday for a chicken class.
We are so glad she is doing better, what a relief! It has been really great to get all this experienced advice from you all!
Another update:
Last eve, I put her in the grass with her mates while I was watering outside. She hobbled around a bit. About a half an hour later, one of the younger chickens (they run in a different group, as they are 3 weeks younger and have always stuck together) was standing on top of her and pecking her. So I chased her away and put all the chickens in the coop except the hurt one - her name is Qwinchy (don't ask, I don't know why - my son named her). After some fresh air, water and some grass pecking I put her back in a box in the house and she slept very soundly last night. This morning I put her in the grass again and she stood up on her own for about a minute and took some tentative steps. Much more control and sucess with walking than yesterday. She can take several steps and move about 4-5 feet before resting. Right now she is eating and drinking like crazy. I have to go out today so back into the box she will go to rest this afternoon. I am not going to let her out of my sight with the other birds until she can run and defend herself. So interesting that her age-mates hang out with her and seem to take care of her, while the younger and smaller ones will attack if given the chance. I am also not going to coop her until she is 100% again for the same reason. I am too afraid she will be attacked. My kids hate the bird leading the attack, and want to get rid of her. I am thinking this is probably pretty typical chicken behavior, to want to cull the weak. Any comments?
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next