Tammy Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I have two pet chickens....never had any problems with them. One of them seems to look 'sad'....and has his tail feathers pointing downward (I guess I described that correctly, LOL). He doesn't look for food much.....just mopes around. He does eat when I give him food.....or when the other chicken finds something. What could be wrong? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Mouse Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Tammy, Have you tried byc? www.backyardchickens.com I have found that a wealth of info on raising my small flock. Hope your chicken feels better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 She has all of her feathers.....and I just looked at her....and it seems her bottom area is swollen....and puffy (the aread on the bottom part of her....closest to the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Mouse Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 We had a hen that had prolapse - but it was very evident and she was in distress. We treated her successfully (I say "we" - I mean my dh :), he was the one that had to put on the gloves and do the dirty work). Has she been laying? Could she be egg bound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 She quit laying a long time ago (probably more than 10 months).....when I felt her abdomen...it felt swollen....not hard or anything, maybe like fluid was in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Tammy, I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "her bottom area" is swollen and puffy, but my guess is that she's suffering from peritonitis. It is a fairly common condition in laying hens which is brought on by a reproductive malfunction resulting in a bacterial infection. This causes retention of fluids and, sadly, most often death. In all my years of raising birds, this was the most common cause of loss. If she was mine, though, I'd separate her from her flock mate(s). Put her in a cage with lush greens (pull and chop chickweed, dandelion, plantain, etc. from your yard) and protein rich foods like chopped hard boiled egg. Give these to her in very small amounts. See if she'll eat anything. Fortify her water with a vitamin/electrolyte solution if you have it, and see if some TLC will bring her around. Hopefully, she'll recover, but do prepare yourself for that to not be the case. I'm sorry. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 The swelling is more on her 'abdomen'....not near her rear end. When I picked her up....and turned her up a bit....I noticed it....because the feathers were not as dense there. I felt it ....and it felt full of fluid. She is probably at least 3 to 4 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 One more question.....I only have two chickens....if something happens to this one....will the other one be ok by herself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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