4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[OllieNLucy]

Yesterday eve we let Ollie n Lucy out for a little free ranging time this is the second time they have been out. They are 9 weeks old now and getting bigger every day. All went well they went to bed ok but by lunch time today They were both lying under the cube in the shade. Didn't think anything of it but then this eve when I went back down Ollie was pecking around as usual but lucy was just sat fluffed up. I let them out and she walked out she had a small peck around but didnt eat anything and a little peck of water.

 

 

She is now sat looking miserable and all fluffed up. Its now 9.30 and thye will be going to bed soon what should i do?

[Patricia W]

Just keep an eye on them for now. Make sure the little one is drinking - it is still quite hot. If you are still worried then I'd first contact the breeder and then go to the vet if shes seems really ill.

 

But it may well be the heat, excitement, too much exercise etc

 

Keep us updated as to how she gets on

 

Tricia

[bluekarin]

I'm not sure if they are too young, but she might need to be wormed. One of mine, Daisy, was very poorly after laying her first egg. She'd come out of the run have a bit of a wander round, but then find a corner to sleep in which was very unusual for her. She wasn't eating and was all fluffed up. But once I gave her a dose of Flubenvet, she was back to her old self. I'd check what age you can give it from, and if its okay try that.

[Olly]

I'd keep an eye on them, not much you can do tonight but tomorrow see if she's any better and try and keep her hydrated, if she's not drinking then syringe some water in or feed some sloppy food like porridge.

 

I am not sure about worming, I think they're a bit young - she's certainly too young to be laying. It could just be the heat. Do you think she could have eaten anything untoward while she was free-ranging?

 

I'm going to pop this into 'Chicken Clinic', where you're more likely to get answers on this sort of topic. Let us know how she is tomorrow.

[OllieNLucy]

Thank you for replies.

 

By the time I got back to the stables (had to come home to go on net) they had put themselves to bed. I have shut them in and will go down first thing tomorrow. I don't think Lucy ate anything she shouldn't. As they are still little and new to free ranging we watch them all the time Mum and my sister had them out yesterday they got some lovely pics Lucy is such a sweet affectionate girl. I so hope she will be brighter in the morning. My mum has got really attached to her.

[Chucky Mama]

Hope she is better this morning

[miffy]

soryy to hear Lucy under the weather, how is she today??

[OllieNLucy]

Lucy is worse. When we got down this morning to let them out Ollie came out and started his usual routine but Lucy just sat with her feathers fluffed up.

 

Mum phoned the vets but they are not open until 10. We could have an emergency call out from the cover vet but the standard booked call out is £40 and the girl said out of hours on a sunday would be more than that so we can't afford it.

 

I have cuddled her and tried to get her to drink but she wont. I dont have a syringe and the shops don't open til 10.30 or 11. I got the chicks from an animal rescue and the guy there knows nothing.

 

I tried calling the breeder nearest us for advice when I got them but they never answer.

 

Lucy has her eyes closed now I feel I am just sat watching her die I don't know what to do.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm sorry to hear Lucy is so poorly . It doesn't sound like there's much you can do . I hope she perks up .

[laurmurf]

Lucy is worse. When we got down this morning to let them out Ollie came out and started his usual routine but Lucy just sat with her feathers fluffed up.

 

Mum phoned the vets but they are not open until 10. We could have an emergency call out from the cover vet but the standard booked call out is £40 and the girl said out of hours on a sunday would be more than that so we can't afford it.

 

I have cuddled her and tried to get her to drink but she wont. I dont have a syringe and the shops don't open til 10.30 or 11. I got the chicks from an animal rescue and the guy there knows nothing.

 

I tried calling the breeder nearest us for advice when I got them but they never answer.

 

Lucy has her eyes closed now I feel I am just sat watching her die I don't know what to do.

 

try drops of water on the sides of her beak, for some reason it makes them open slightly and swallow. That will get some fluids into her before you can get a syringe of some sort. And it will give you something to do to make you feel better too!

 

all my best wishes,

[Olly]

So sorry, there may be nothing you can do - she is very young, and she could have some sort of congenital disorder that is only just developing.

 

I wouldn't pay a callout fee for the vet either in your situation (my vet charges £100 for out-of-hours) because it's not something obviously treatable, sadly the vet may not be able to help anyway.

 

This is part of the heartbreak of keeping chickens unfortunately. Let us know how you get on.

[legend21]

My girl was unwell last week, she had had to much sun and I think she got a touch of sunstroke, I took her indoors where it was cooler, put her in the cat box with bedding and put a towel over the cat box to make it dark and left her with water and corn. Like your chicken she just slept under a tree and would not eat or drink, however a day and night on her own and in the dark seemed to perk her up and she was much better.

 

Good luck it is heart wrenching, but I would not pay the vet fee either, she might perk up on her own.

 

Jackie

[OllieNLucy]

Hi this is Sams Mum. I have been a chicken nurse all day. I contacted the lady we bought our from who was very helpful so as soon as our local feed store opened i got a syringe and some naff life guard. Also bran and yogurt.

 

 

So every hour I have syringed her 5mls of fluids and also given her little amounts of the yogurt and bran mix. Throughout the day she has had perkier periods when she has walked around a bit had a little drink and a peck about. She also took some of the yogurt mix on her own.

 

Tbh its nearly their bedtime and I haven't seen the improvement I had hoped for although on balance I would say she is no worse than yesterday and at times a lot better. I'm going to drive down and give her one last drink and then put them to bed. Lets hope tomorrow sees a bigger improvement.

 

 

This keeping chickens is no walk in the park. So far i have spend hundreds on housing, lost sleep in the morning driving down to let them out and stayed out late at the yard until they goto bed. Predictably enough Sam's original enthusiasm is wearing thin!

 

Still they are worth it. I didn't realise how cute and they are. Watching them run around and play (before Lucy became ill) is very entertaining

 

Fingers crossed Lucy makes it Ollie will be so lonely on his own he is by her side every second.

[Kit]

Fingers crossed...

[Olly]

gosh, you're a dedicated chicken nurse! Lucky Sam to have you for a mum ... I do hope she improves, she's still very young, but it sounds as if you've done everything you possibly could for her. Fingers crossed.

[Egluntyne]

You can worm them from 5 weeks with Flubenvet. You might be able to get some from the vets if they keep it in stock, from an agricultural merchant if they are licensed to provide it, or online. Try googling.

 

It is a POM VPS medication so can only be supplied by the appropriate sources.

 

Good luck.

[OllieNLucy]

Well against all the odds Lucy has made it By yesterday afternoon apart from some residual diarrhoea which is getting more solid she was back to her normal self.

 

It was great to see them out doing their chicken things. Lucy even caught and ate a moth.

 

By eve though we had another problem. As I seem to be on here more than Sam I'll join under my own name and post about it!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Very glad to hear that .

 

(How will we know you if you become someone else . You'd better put the same signature in!)

[Olly]

Delighted to hear Lucy made it - a tribute to your nursing skills!