I went out to let them out of the henhouse this morning and 1 of my 8 (8 months old) chickens was laying on it's side and couldn't get up on it's feet. A few minutes later it did get up and made it to a bush about 25' away. I put it in a pet carrier with food and water, put it under the edge of our trailer where it's cooler and it did eat and drink. But it still isn't on it's feet but for a minute os so at a time, then it's very wobbly. The others appear to be fine. It was in the 90's here the last 2 days. Any ideas?
Robin
Orpington problem
It could be the heat, but it could be something else too. I'd keep it in the pet carrier for a bit and try to keep it as cool as possible. I would give it electrolyte water if you can, it helps with energy and keeps them from being dehydrated.
I know some ppl mist their poultry with a very fine spray of water to help try to keep them cool. It was very hot here this last week and my birds panted something fierce even in the shade. I misted the whole gang a couple times very lightly.....the only ones who appreciated it were the ducks though to be honest.
Good luck, hope she gets to feeling better soon.
Julie
I agree, isolating her is a good idea until you have a little more info. I would also include some hard boiled egg yolk for protein.
I would check the legs, make sure it isn't something physically wrong with those. Is it strength? balance? lack of motivation :) ? If you observe carefully you should be able to see why it appears that she isn't walking. Does she look sick? Is she sneezing or coughing?
Appears fine other than not hardly being able to walk. Doesn't act sick. She's eating and drinking and clucking, but not standing up. I removed a piece of skirting and still have her in the pet carrier under the edge of the trailer where it's cool. Before I put her in it yesterday morning, she did get about 25'. I didn't actually see her get to the bush, but I know she wasn't standing well when I came in to get Al. She was fine the night before when I closed up the henhouse. We looked on her underside yesterday morning and couldn't see anything wrong.
Forgot to add...
These are very large chickens for 8 months, I think. I've never seen them before we got these. One started walking funny (throwing one leg way out to the side when walking) a couple of months ago. My husband went to grab it, to take a look and caught it by the legs. It ended up hanging upside down for a few seconds, we looked at (couldn't see anything wrong) and put her down. We couldn't tell which one it was after that, as it started walking right. I'm wondering if this is a problem for this breed. And since there doesn't appear to be an injury, if it's out of joint or something like that. There really wasn't anything in the henhouse or pen that it could have got hurt on. I've never had a problem with any chickens I've had before, so I don't have a clue what to do.
Thanks for helping me figure this out.
Robin
This message was edited Aug 5, 2007 9:02 PM
They are buff orpingtons?
that is funny that your husband fixed the leg previously. I wonder if it is out of joint? Maybe it is the same hen and she can pop her leg out of joint. Maybe he can give her the magic touch again :) It can't hurt!
My buff orpington is a very big girl, but I haven't seen that problem before. I looked online for you and I haven't seen any articles about this, so I don't know if it is a breed trait. I think it may be this one particular hen.
msrobin, The Buff Orpington pullets that are sold all over the USA at feed stores have become one of the most popular dual purpose egg laying chickens of the backyard poultry enthusiasts. I have Orpingtons in 4 colors (buff, white, black & blue). Your one hen with a health problem should not be a reason to fret. I'd recommend you look up a terrific chicken soup, stew or frickasee recipe. I don't want to be cruel but the hen likely cost $1.25 at the local feed store and you can get another one or two next spring for the same price. Chickens succumb to a myriad of ailments ..... most of which the normal enthusiast has no control over. Better to cull her now before she dies or causes too much trouble. Making pets out of chickens is close to insipid but everyone realizes they are endearing. My sister has her 1st flock of 3 hens and is absolutely NUTZ about them. I have had more like 60 chickens for several years so ......... she calls me every time a magical 1st occurs. I'm way beyond the 1st egg from the 1st pullet. My advise to everyone is to be practical. Realize that the hens cost you a buck and a half or less at the feed store and that if they have problems ..... don't go running to the local veterinarian. No one or hen is irreplaceable. Just make the best of an unfortunate circumstance and enjoy a good meal.
BackyardHens, I was wondering the same thing, if it might be the same one. I haven't seen where anyone else on this forum has had this problem, so am past wondering if it's a breed issue because of their size.
Photogragher, I agree with you, too. I wish I'd only had to pay $1.25 each...I had to pay $4 each at a flea market because I couldn't find any elsewhere and we've already lost 2 to predators. Taking it to a vet wasn't even being considered, but keeping it safe and comfortable for a couple of days while we figured this out was.
It's hard being on such a small scale with animals, and not make pets out of them. We had one yesterday on the back deck with us chasing a flying bee around. And watching them run around the yard is quite entertaining, too. But then, I remembered yesterday why I didn't like letting them freerange,,,they have already destroyed the hostas and flowers that I have planted, but have also ate 1/2 of almost every ear of corn and then started in on the cantaloupe.
But being pets doesn't fit in the scheme of things for our place. We bought the chickens specifically for egg production and bug control. Trying to be more self-sufficient. Unfortunately, I guess this is just another fact of life. And culling this hen is probably the most humane thing to do.
Robin
Robin,
If a person can stand the squawking and screeching ...... guinea fowl are significantly better at eliminating bugs than chickens. Guinea eggs are reasonably plentiful (hard as rocks) and they eat sparingly once you have them beyond the "chick starter stage". I originally got chickens for eggs but have been selling the eggs to break even. My eggs cost $4/dz to eat. I can still buy eggs for less than a $1/dz at the grocery store. I've pretty much tossed in the towel trying to raise egg laying chickens. The American Game Fowl (Pit Game fighting chickens) are a wide ranging chicken but they get into your flower bed nearly as much as other chickens. I'm aiming to keep the fighting chickens around because of the pleasure..... but in reasonable quantities. We'll have gone though $60 of chick starter this spr/sum. Eggs from these chickens are a nearly free byproduct in the spring/summer. These chickens forage wide for 80% of their feed needs. Combined with the guinea fowl .... we don't have bug problems. Having the guinea keets and the and chicks running around our compound following their mothers is extremely entertaining. Fences are a requirement because marauding dogs can decimate a flock in a few minutes. I have 4 acres surrounded by fences to keep from having a massacre of enormous proportions. We're involved in a long and tedious process of burying and sowing a 2 ft wide welded wire skirting around the base of the perimeter fence line to prevent dogs, skunks and cats (rabbits & gophers too) from entering our compound.
I've had Guineas before (a few ago), and they sure can screech! We got down to one pair and then the hen started sitting on eggs down in the brush and the male sat on our porch and screamed for hours on end until she came out in the evening. OMG, worse than a cat in heat! The biggest problem I had was getting them to go into the pen, so I could lock them up at night. Finally gave up trying. Gave the last one to the neighbors a couple of years ago.
Yes, eggs are much cheaper in the stores. Guess we really just wanted to feel like we were making some progress towards having a self-sustaining lifestyle. I know that sounds pretty naive. But there is something very satisfying about collecting eggs in the morning.
The game chickens are pretty common around here, but obviously more for fighting purposes, as each rooster is tethered to a barrel. If I could have found them, I'd rather have had Araucanas again, but couldn't find them anywhere around here. I'm not fond of eggs anyway, but found their eggs were easier for me to eat taste-wise. But I use eggs for baking and cooking frequently.
Your fencing and barrier sounds like a really good idea, and something for us to consider for the future. Right now, I see a chicken tractor in the very new future!
well I only sort of agree with photographer about the chickens as pets thing. If you love them, love them. We spend money and energy on all sorts of foolish things in life, and I know my mini obsession with chickens isn't the silliest thing I've ever done! Part of the enjoyment I get out of the chickens is the eggs, but the interaction between them and interacting with them myself is also part of why I love them. This is a pretty sentimental forum, which is why I enjoy posting here. It is nice to talk to other people who simply enjoy chickens for their chickeness as well as the eggs and meat.
I find it incredibly rewarding to figure out what is wrong with a chicken and heal her. Now, I hear what photographer is saying about it, and it is true that the most practical thing to do would be to eat her, but if you aren't ready and she isn't suffering, I say do whatever feels right to you. Did you get your husband to hold her up by her legs yet? :)
photographer, the guinea hen association of america should pay you for advertising! You've even got me considering getting a few next spring!
Yes, you do have to really fence your gardens or the gals will redecorate them for you.If you make a big run for them and only let them out in the late evening, so they only have about 30 minutes you can also minimize damage.
Backyard Hens, That's a good idea about letting them out in the evening for just a short bit, like just before DH gets home from work. I just worry about them being cooped up all day with the sun beating down on the henhouse and fenced side yard. That's why I've been letting them out all day, in spite of the damage to my plants. But I will do that after this heat wave is over and the vines grow up over the top of the fence for shade.
I know this is a really sentimental forum, and I was reluctant to answer Photograghers post, not knowing how to phrase things to avoid upsetting anyone that is more sentimental. As a practical matter, Photogragher is absolutely right. On the flip side, when someone treats their critters as pets, it's painful to hear someone speak so honestly. I am somewhere in the middle of the road. I cry when I lose one and don't know if I could eat the first one after butchering. When I was a teenager, my family did butcher a pig we raised, and it was tough emotionally and it was quite awhile before I could eat any of the meat.
I'll ask Al to help me when he gets home. He's much better at handling them (Did I happen to mention I was terrified of feathered creatures until we got our first chickens a few years ago? I'm not anymore, but still a little leery.) Hopefully, it will work. But she can't continue like this, barely able to move.
Alright, the Guineas...yes they are excellent birds, suppose to be the best for tick control! Some will even squawk when someone pulls up in the driveway or there are predators around. They are a very vocal bird. Our dog and Guineas used to take turns antagonizing each other. Samson would charge them from behind to make them fly and they would hop on his back to startle him. Their egg shells are very hard. When Samson was a pup, he played with golf balls, until he started thinking the guinea eggs were golf balls. He used to get them out of the henhouse and play with them out in the yard, even tossing them in the air, he never broke one.
Okay, wish me well on saving this chicken! :)
Robin,
Whether or not the guineas go into the coop at night has not been an issue. I figure ..... if they're that reckless with their lives .... then let the owls have them. I've only noticed one sleeping outside...... ever and that was last week. My son and I laughed about the dumb thing because we both understand what might happen. Around here its survival of the fittest. We have 8 guineas and are not concerned about one failing to go in at night. These are tough birds. I bought my 1st group from a fellow in the Lower Valley (Yakima). He told me he never fed the guineas .... never except the keets he was selling. His chickens are penned up because they're OE Game bantams (hawk food). His guinea hens have nests all over the property. I remember almost stepping on one when I have visited (3 times). His mom has an antique shop. His place is like an army fortress. He has a great dog inside his fence line that prevents intrusions by raccoons, skunks, cats and other dogs. The guineas have no house except perches 12 ft high up in the rafters of his double wide carport. His 5 ft tall welded wire fence line is skirted .... so skunks are kept out. I don't believe he has raccoons any more than I have them. The feral cats don't cross into the property because they'd be dead meat in a few minutes due to his dog. His dog loves the chickens, geese and guineas. His is an incredible dog.