15 replies to this topic

[Hamster~paws]

So I went out to see my chickens who love in the garden this morning and I have two left they are both around 5 years of age and it’s a cold winter which means I’m obviously worried about there welfare already and one of my chickens Annie was sat on the floor not making any attempt to get up. Now I went closer to her and tried to see if she would move and normally if you approach her she will run away but she shuffled herself along the ground tried moving her feet but completely gave up. She did this a few times and it has made me worry about her. Her comb and wattle are a purple ish red and she doesn’t look very healthy but in her eyes she looks alert and normal. If anyone can help then I would really appreciate it, taking her to the vets isn’t really an option as the closest one which will treat chickens is about 2 hours away and I’m not sure what is wrong.

Please help!

[Lillias]

Without knowing anything in particular about chicken care, I'd suggest getting her warmed up and hydrated.

[Hamster~paws]

Without knowing anything in particular about chicken care, I'd suggest getting her warmed up and hydrated.

Yeah thanks I have made sure that she had water close to her and she seemed a bit interested in it and I just went out now and she has moved spots and is standing up but looks fluffed up and unhappy but at least she said moving. I reckon that she may just be on her way as she is really old for a chicken and it’s a bad winter but I’m making sure that they have lots to keep them warm and I really want them to make it to summer. I won’t give up on her at least! Thanks for the advise by the way and I really appreciate that you are trying despite not being a chicken expert or anything!

[Hamsterix]

Do you see any blood? One memory I have of my chickens is when I went out to feed them and I saw one of my chickens almost dead. Her comb was pecked a lot by the other chickens, which caused a lot of blood. I quickly ran inside to get a box and put her in it. Then put her inside and kept her there for a week or so. She healed a lot, but we put her outside and she eventually died of the cold.

 

(pictures would help a lot )

Edited by Hamsterix, 29 December 2018 - 12:35 AM.

[Hamster~paws]

Do you see any blood? One memory I have of my chickens is when I went out to feed them and I saw one of my chickens almost dead. Her comb was pecked a lot by the other chickens, which caused a lot of blood. I quickly ran inside to get a box and put her in it. Then put her inside and kept her there for a week or so. She healed a lot, but we put her outside and she eventually died of the cold.

(pictures would help a lot )

Well she is currently in her coop for the night and I have shut her inside as it’s dark and cold so I can’t really get any photos now but I will try tomorrow morning. There’s no blood but I know that when chickens see blood they peck at it and the rest of the flock will too a few of my past chickens had injury that others pecked at but they survived that so it was okay in the end. But no there’s no blood and she just seems poorly. We have ordered some worming treatment as it may be that and they need doing every now and again anyway. Itt’s only her and one other chicken so I don’t want to separate as they don’t last long alone because of them being flock animals so I don’t want to do something which would stress them both out. I went out lots today and cleaned their coop so if anything was bad in there it’s out and filled it with clean warm nesting stuff, I also made her some porridge with water which is one of the bets things to keep them warm and she ate it so I’m not too worried. Also she was standing up later in the day although she seemed quite wobbly and unstable and sat down and rested quite a bit in between moving. This all just seems to be so unexplained and sudden and I’m worried especially with her age being a factor of her ability to get well easily.

Edited by Hamster~paws, 29 December 2018 - 02:38 AM.

[nebit]

Why not bring them both in, or put a heat lamp on them?

[Lillias]

I'm glad she's doing a bit better and eating her porridge.

[Hamster~paws]

Why not bring them both in, or put a heat lamp on them?

It’s kind of hard for us to bring them in as we have cats and having the space for two would also be a challenge and we dont want them to have not enough space so not quite sure but I went to them this morning and she seems a bit happier and is coming in and out and walking about a bit more too.

[Hamster~paws]

I'm glad she's doing a bit better and eating her porridge.

Thanks

[nebit]

It’s kind of hard for us to bring them in as we have cats and having the space for two would also be a challenge and we dont want them to have not enough space so not quite sure but I went to them this morning and she seems a bit happier and is coming in and out and walking about a bit more too.

If she can't handle the cold do to age or illness, she needs to come in or be warmed. A large dog crate in a sealed room would help protect them from the cats. Lack of space is much less of a worry than freezing to death.

[Hamster~paws]

If she can't handle the cold do to age or illness, she needs to come in or be warmed. A large dog crate in a sealed room would help protect them from the cats. Lack of space is much less of a worry than freezing to death.

Yeah I have been talking to my mum about it as she won’t be best pleased if I come in with the chickens and she doesn’t want me to but we are added some more warm spaces outside and put lots os warm bedding and some shredded paper and fleece in boxes which are all covered with tarpaulins (the ones with fleece one side and waterproof the other) and so there are loads of different warm places now. I have also made them some porridge to keep them warm and my mum is sure we have a solar powered heat lamp we can put out for them too. So yeah, we also have this old rabbit hutch thing and have a couple of cat boxes out to provide loads of different shelter places and we shut them in the coop overnight to keep it warmer when the temperature drops. As my mum said no to letting them in I don’t know how much more I can do for them, if you have any suggestions though then I would appreciate them

[Hamster~paws]

Without knowing anything in particular about chicken care, I'd suggest getting her warmed up and hydrated.

  

Do you see any blood? One memory I have of my chickens is when I went out to feed them and I saw one of my chickens almost dead. Her comb was pecked a lot by the other chickens, which caused a lot of blood. I quickly ran inside to get a box and put her in it. Then put her inside and kept her there for a week or so. She healed a lot, but we put her outside and she eventually died of the cold.
 
(pictures would help a lot )

  

If she can't handle the cold do to age or illness, she needs to come in or be warmed. A large dog crate in a sealed room would help protect them from the cats. Lack of space is much less of a worry than freezing to death.

Okay so can I just say thankyou to everyone who tried to help me figure out how to keep Annie healthy during her time. I brought her inside in my room as my mum said I couldn’t have her inside so I offered my room so she wasn’t in her way to try and keep her warm for the night but unfortunately about 11oclock at night she was going what I can only describe as unconcious and she kept falling over and couldn’t stand so I put her against the wall of a large rabbit cage we had outside and she sat there half opened her eyes a few times but sadly she passed away during the night after looking a little better during the day. I now only have one chicken so I’m not sure how long she will last as they don’t do well alone but I’m going to give her the best life as well but she is also 5 so I don’t expect to have her for long either.

I would just like to say that I don’t really want any comments saying that I told you to do this or it could have been prevented as I feel really bad about it already that she passed away and I couldn’t do anything but watch, I thought taking her to a vet would be stressful and they would put er to sleep anyway so I left her in s comforting warm place with me. I know that everyone is too nice to comment that kind of stuff but yeah thanks all of you for your brilliant help anyway.

[Hamsterix]

    
Okay so can I just say thankyou to everyone who tried to help me figure out how to keep Annie healthy during her time. I brought her inside in my room as my mum said I couldn’t have her inside so I offered my room so she wasn’t in her way to try and keep her warm for the night but unfortunately about 11oclock at night she was going what I can only describe as unconcious and she kept falling over and couldn’t stand so I put her against the wall of a large rabbit cage we had outside and she sat there half opened her eyes a few times but sadly she passed away during the night after looking a little better during the day. I now only have one chicken so I’m not sure how long she will last as they don’t do well alone but I’m going to give her the best life as well but she is also 5 so I don’t expect to have her for long either.

I would just like to say that I don’t really want any comments saying that I told you to do this or it could have been prevented as I feel really bad about it already that she passed away and I couldn’t do anything but watch, I thought taking her to a vet would be stressful and they would put er to sleep anyway so I left her in s comforting warm place with me. I know that everyone is too nice to comment that kind of stuff but yeah thanks all of you for your brilliant help anyway.

I'm so sorry for your loss... I don't think anyone could've prevented it or helped her. I think she was just old as 5 years of age is pretty old for a chicken. You did your best and don't be upset because you gave that chicken a happy life 

[Hamster~paws]

I'm so sorry for your loss... I don't think anyone could've prevented it or helped her. I think she was just old as 5 years of age is pretty old for a chicken. You did your best and don't be upset because you gave that chicken a happy life

Thanks very much xx

[Hamster~paws]

I'm so sorry for your loss... I don't think anyone could've prevented it or helped her. I think she was just old as 5 years of age is pretty old for a chicken. You did your best and don't be upset because you gave that chicken a happy life

Thanks very much xx