tallulah Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Please help someone!!! Jusr found Angel in the run, laying down, unable to get up and periodically twitching, like she has hiccups. She's a Gold Line (hybrid) approx 3 years old - we recently lost Princess about 3 weeks ago and put it down to old age, but we didn't notice anything wrong with her prior. I've brought her into the kitchen, she's in the cat basket, and I've had to prop her up at the front with straw, when I first put her in she seemed unable to support herself at the front where she isn't moving and was nose-diving. She looks healthy; comb lovely and red, eyes look alert and bright, though she does have a slightly messy rear end - definately some runny pooh. She seems quite settled in the kitchen, I've put food and water in with her and she did have a bit of a peck at the food. But she still is still twitching, like she has hiccups but without the noise, but the twitching doesn't seem as violent as it was when she was outside. It looks like some sort of muscle spasm along her back towards the rear. She seems content when being stroked but occassionally she squeaks a little and moves, like I've touched a tender area, but I can't identify where exactly it is. I suppose what I want to know is, is this just her getting ready to pass on naturally or is she ill?? Any other suggestions as to what I can do to make her comfortable now and overnight? Has anybody experienced anything like this before and if so, what was it and how did you deal with it?? Oh, questions, questions, but its the first time we've had a chicken thats been unable to move/stand, and its panicked me! Any advice and suggestions would be very gratefully received!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm really sorry to hear about your poorly girl. It sounds really alarming. I've not heard of this before but I'm sure somebody will have. I would suggest calling the chicken vet http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/ They will probably be closed now but they are really lovely and helpful. Keep us posted, I hope someone can help. megan x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Oh your poor thing. I think she sounds a bit poorly, and is an old lady. I think if she survives ther night you may need to to take her to the vet I lost a girl myself yesterday to old age, we are very sad, she had to go to the vets as she couldnt stand up. If you have some nutri drops or rescue remedy I'd give her those, otherwise you are doing the right thing keeping her warm and dry and in the dark. Fingers crossed for you.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Really sorry your girl is poorly, hope she makes it through the night. Sorry not experienced enough to offer advice but fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjagraham161 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Really sorry to hear of your plight with Angel Not being experienced enough to know chickens and their traumas, I may be way off the mark here - but has Angel had a fall, or a severe impact? Without knowing the finer detail, she sounds as though she is suffering with a severe back problem, hence the spasm (or hiccups, as you refer to). I do hope she makes it through the night - but the vet may be the only one to help you and Angel at this stage.... ...I apologise if my inexperience amounts to no help at all - just thought I would offer my opinion in the hope that it could assist in some small way. Good luck - keep us posted. PG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallulah Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Thank you everybody. Thats an interesting comment re the fall.....she was at the bottom of the cube ladder, I initially thought she was dusting as thats one of the girls favorite places. Maybe she was on her way in and came off it awkwardly? Thinking on it a bit more, she's seemed a little distant from the gang today, though maybe I'm just looking for things that aren't really there. I had a look at the Chicken Vet site (hadn't heard of it before), though the vets don't come far enough up for us - we;re in Newcastle (and oh so NOT looking forward to proespect of snow tomorrow). I will be contacting the local vets tomorrow to see if they have any chicken eggsperts who could see her. Angel seems quite settled and, dare I say it, content. She's alert and definately with it, but surprisingly unfazed, it seems, by being inside with us. From what i can see (peeping into a darkened kitchen), the spasms aren't coming as frequent as they were before. I'm more hoeful now that she will see the night through and give us the opportunity to get her seen tomorrow. thank you everyone for your support, its so comforting to know that there's people out there that understand, sympathise and are willing to share their own experiences. Will let you all know how she is doing tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 It sounds to me as if she has cracked her head or got something like an infection going on in there. I'd take her to the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallulah Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share Posted February 19, 2011 Well she survived the night and seems quite peaceful. She's been to vet this morning and she thinks its respiratory and that her unable to stand is more a result of not wanting to; her feet still grip when you put yur hand under them but she definately wants to huddle. Angel is obviously feeling really poorly. Shes had a steriod and anti-inflammatory injection so we just need to see how she is after 24 hours. It seems that the spasm was more likely a throaty cough, which is definately much better, but there is an audible rattle to her breathing. The vet has recommended that if she is not imrpoved tomorrow then we should consider putting her down , but we are keeping everything crossed that this helps her overcome it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Fingers crossed for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossco Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 hope she pulls through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Poor Angel. How is she today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 i am thinking of you and angel hope she is feeling a bit better today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallulah Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 Angel has gone back into the pen today!!! She has been living in the kitchen for the past week and, while still limping a bit, she was desperate to get back outside with her friends. We were concerned that she might be pecked once she went back in - that the others might have forgotten who she was and needed to put her in place - but no, no need to worry, within a few minutes she was being dragged along behind Cleopatra holding on to a beakful of feathers as SHE started to peck the others! We've been away for few days - MIL has been on chicken and cat duty - so it was lovely to come back and see her strutting/limping around with her tail perky again. She was definately improving as we left but a real big difference coming home again. Gotta do something with the ladder to the Cube - theres quite a gap between the floor and the base rung, and I think maybe where she's getting older and wasn't well, I think she most probably tried to get up and fell and hurt her right leg. Has anyone else had to adapt their cube ladder? If so, got any pics on the best way to tackle it? I'm currently thinking back to girl guide days, involving rope and wood and lots of lashing up. thank you every one for your kind wishes - they worked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Good news I've got a length of picket fencing over my ladder. They still jump to the top though so I've put my ikea stool beside it and when they come out they often hop on that first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Awwww great news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
