[little blue]

I have a very poorly pullet, and really dont know what's wrong with her.

She is about 8 months old, not yet started laying.
yesterday when we went to feed & water, she was lying just outside the pop-hole.

I picked her up, she only open one eye & was not very responsive. her skin wasnt very warm so I held her close to warm her up while I found a cage to bring her indoors.
she will not stand up, but hutches her legs as if to make herself more comfortable when lying down.
she had a tiny nick on her comb (think one of the others might have stepped on her) but no other injuries.

her crop is not swollen, or obviously impacted.

I've given her syringed water, Baytril and glucose solution.

a few hours after she first came in, she was gaping slightly and sounded slightly wheezy. I picked her up and she kind of retched. I've massaged her crop & held her upside down .. over time she has brought up a fair amount of undigested - or not quite digested food (it looks like pig meal, if that helps!)
she has then accepted more glucose solution, but occassionally makes a little spluttery noise.

today she has brought up the liquid glucose within an hour of taking it.  I'm worried she'll become dehydrated

she is reluctant to open her eyes, and is not reacting to loud noise, or nosey cats sniffing her.  I carried her outside to listen to the other hens and she cocked her head to the sound but still wouldn't open her eyes.

all the birds were given Panacur & Baytil in November (or just before?) as a coccidiosis treatment / prevention. there have been no new birds introduced.
we have an occassional visiting fox - but he can't get to them, and a fair few rats...

is there anything more I do for her?
or is it dispatch time
 

[Hermit]

Does not sound good, sounds like she is actually dying to me. Dont know what to suggest,sounds like you are doing what you can. You can let her go peacefully or dispatch her. I am afraid it does happen to all livestock, you think everything is ok then wham, mother nature whacks you in the back to prove whos in charge. Hope she does pull through but by the sounds of it she wont. Good luck anyway.

[plumseverywhere]

oh bless her    it does sound like she is very ill and like Hermit says, perhaps dying.  Very sad.  I don't know what to add but wanted to say it sounds like youl have kept her ever so comfortable and done all you can x

[OhLaLa]

Not sure what is wrong with her, but it does sound like she won't make it through the night. I think it is time to choose; dispatch now or leave her cosy and peaceful in her box. Don't let the cats sniff her, just leave her to relax and maybe go peacefully in her sleep.

Well done you for looking after her so well, hope she perks up, but sounds unlikely.

God bless.

[little blue]

thanks everyone
I do agree that she seems to be dying.
Just want to know why...

had some good and bad news today - the good that my neighbours' dog has damaged if not killed the fox thats visited our hens & killed half a dozen of theirs...

[black_feather]

Have a look on here and see if you can match the symptoms http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044 personally if you can isolate her from your other chickens completly I would give her a few days to see if she recovers.

[faith0504]

oh hope she makes it, bless her, let us know how she gets on please 

[little blue]

well she's still here.. but only just.
Deep but silent breathing, still taking the glucose & Baytril , eyes closed.

rang the vet - said keep on with what I'm doing, all they might offer is a steroid injection "if she's still with us tomorrow"
Said I'll do it myself, if she's alive when I finish work.

[plumseverywhere]

sounds like a fighter you have there x

[littlechick]

Awww the poor thing  I hope she perks up

[chezlouise1980]

I know its not really the same, but one of my quails did this last week. Sleeping on feet loads, feathers ruffled, slow quiet breathing, rarely responding to noise/touch, not eating, only drinking when syringe fed. I isolated her in hospital pen, gave her fluids every two hours, and gave her a couple of days treatment with colloidal silver, and within 3 days, she was back to normal. Still dont know what it was. Hope that helps even though it doesnt give you an answer. 

[BlueDaisy]

How is she today?
Sounds like you are doing all you can, fingers crossed she pulls through for you.

[little blue]

thanks again for all your nice comments.
sorry to say the little girl died on Wednesday. 



I've cheered myself up by buying a trio of Rhode Island Reds today!  I didnt realise they were so small - I expected something bigger, but they are gorgeous.
and the cockerel will be used for breeding hybrids, so useful as well....

[Jonny]

Sorry about your loss but you wil have great fun with your Rhode Island Reds!!

[faith0504]

oh rip little hen, bless her