Picked on Chicken

[labradors]

Sick chick got picked on today. She was the one who was hiding out in the nesting box and keeping out of everyone's way. I didn't see her first thing as I had opened the pop door to the covered run, and when I opened the coop door she had gone.

I just went down to check on them and her bottom was bare and bleeding where she had been pecked. I grabbed her and rushed to the house to spray some Gentian Violet on the wound which we did. We felt it would be better for her to be away from the other three, so she can rest and recover. She is quite heavy and alert, but has a pale, floppy comb. She was all fluffed up during the cold spell.

I'm thinking of putting pinless peepers on the other three so that she can go back with them. Would that be a good idea?

She's in a box in the sunroom at the moment, but we could put her in a vari-kennel in the basement for a few days. The temp there is 50F. The sunroom is warmer, but gets natural light.

Linda

[Killerbunny]

Does she have mites? CHeck around the vent and behind ears. You can wrap scotch tape around your finger and dab. I would keep her in overnight and see how she does. Pinless peepers work very well but you need to figure out what is going on with this girl before she goes back.

[labradors]

Thanks so much Killerbunny. I will check her out and keep her inside overnight :).

Linda

[labradors]

No mites, but I think she may have gapeworm. A couple of weeks ago I spotted a little red worm on the board. It was half an inch long and looked a bit "forked". Surely it wasn't THAT! The chicken with the pale, curled comb has been holding her head up and opening her beak a lot..... I gave her some Safeguard tonight, and hope that there's enough in the tube to treat her for 5 days, or until I can get some more.

Linda

[Killerbunny]

Wow that's unusual but for sure possible! Treat again in 10 days. Supplement her with some pedialyte vits without iron.

[Killerbunny]

Oh and treat them all with some type of wormer. Also make sure if she has a lot that she can cough them up and not choke.

[labradors]

Thanks very much for the help, but how can I make sure she can cough them up but not choke?

Linda

[Killerbunny]

Just keep an eye on her and have a Qtip ready. I've only come across this in pheasants. The old Gamekeepers used to put a turpentine soaked feather down the throat and twirl it to remove the worm.

[labradors]

OMG! You are a fountain of wisdom :).

I have read that the die-off can be a problem. I'm hoping that the Safeguard might be the "safe"est way to go since it needs so many doses to do the job. We are keeping her in the sunroom where we can keep an eye on her.

Many thanks,
Linda

[labradors]

Sick chicken had her second dose of Safeguard last night. This morning she was lying down and breathing heavily with her toes curled!!!!! I Googled the laying down part and learned that some chickens do that - phew! Decided not to disturb her if she was sleeping. Well she woke up and had trouble getting a foothold with the curled toes. I propped her up on the side of the vari-kennel and noticed that her eyes were closed. She stood like a penguin. (Her belly feels heavy, but I don't think she has laid an egg in ages). Later she had moved to the front of the kennel and was eating! Toes back to normal, trouble walking though I think. I syringed a little pedialyte into her mouth and she had some more to eat. She is not doing the gaping behaviour (stretching her neck and opening/closing her mouth). I'm guessing there was some die-off and hoping that she can overcome this.


Linda