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

[jackthelad]

This afternoon my OH let the 3 chickens we have out for a play in the garden, he then checked on them after a while to find Toyah our polish chicken hunched up on the flags. he went to investigate and she never moved so he picked her up to check her to find she was gasping for breath and had a cut foot and cut just under her eye which were bleeding. He washed her foot the best he could wrapped her in a towel and brought her in putting her in a cat basket.

He rang me at work saying she didn't seem well at all and would be surprised if she would still be here when I got home.

We have only had chickens for 4 weeks and new to this, its soooo upsetting whats even worse I am a nurse!!!! im no use when the pets are ill!!!

If she makes it through the night what can I try to feed her tomorrow as she wasn't interested in food or water this evening? Shall I spray her foot with the purple spray I was given some of that when I bought the chickens.Would it help to get some vitamin drops or tonics?

 

Please help........

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm sorry to hear that . It sounds like your OH has done the right thing, cleaning her wounds and keeping her quiet and warm.

 

The purple spray would be good if she's going back in with the other girls - I don't think you'll need it yet if you're keeping her indoors just now. Cornflour can help stop bleeding if it hasn't stopped yet.

 

To be honest, I'm not the best to offer advice as I've no experience of anything like this but if you let us know how she is in the morning, hopefully someone else can help then .

 

Fingers crossed she is OK .

[Redwing]

I wonder what happened to her

 

Yes the purple spray is good for the foot and the other cut if you are able not to get it in her eye otherwise just clean it up - some purple sprays have an antiseptic quality others dont but it wont do any harm to spray some on

 

Try her with some food mixed with warm water to make a porridge, that might tempt her - add some corn if you have any, rinsed tuna may also tempt her

 

If the cuts are superficial then she could just be very shocked so keep her in the dark overnight near a heater if you have one on (make sure there are air vents in the box)

 

See how she is in the morning and take it from there, tonics and vit drops are good but if she makes it through the night she should be calm enough and should eat and will not need them - the shock should only last a max of 24 hours really any longer than that and some vet attention might be needed as it could be an illness rather than shock

[Patricia W]

I wonder if she was attacked by one of the others? Polish chickens can be very vulnerable to bullying.

 

Don't put her back with the others until the wounds have healed or they will be attracted by the cuts and keep pecking her.

 

I hope she recovers.

 

Tricia

[Groovychook]

Sorry to hear about your poor girl... hope she's doing okay

[jackthelad]

Well it was a sad day yesterday I lost my first chicken after only 4 weeks can't believe you can get so attached she was the families favourite.

 

OH kindly took her to the vets while I was at work, vet said the cut foot and eye was the least of her worries and she was not a well chicken, the vet turned her over and apparently you could see she hadn't put on weight or any muscle and would never had made it to adulthood as she had other things wrong with her. She was only 12 weeks old.

 

The eglu wasn't quite the same without her today

 

On the up side OH says I can replace her but ive got to wait as our silkie could be a cyril rather than a cilla we don't know ye .so it would be easier to get 2 together if we have to, to assist with intros

 

Thanks for your support.....

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Sorry to hear your sad news , don't feel guilty though, they are very good at hiding symptoms especially from "new mums".

 

You and your OH gave her all the care she could have hoped for, RIP Toyah

 

Sha x

[Groovychook]

Very sorry to hear about your girl xx

[ClaireG]

I'm sorry