Storms and chickens

[chickenNutter]

I found my bantam slumped in the corner with her head stuck fast between the bars of our eglu classic this morning.  I am not sure how long she had been like that - it was raining yesterday and the girls were in most of the day, so I didn't specifically do a head count last night - she could have been there since late afternoon.  At first I thought she was dead, her head was well jammed and she was limp.  I got her out but her head was flopped forwards and she was off her legs.  I lifted her head up and syringed some water down her throat a few drops at a time and she moved her head around whilst it was up.  I have brought her inside and repeated the water drops a few times.  She is now watching telly being nursed by my daughter, while her head is up, she seems to be able to move it around looking about her and is now scoffing pellets from my daughter's hand like there is no tomorrow.  If she lowers her head however, it flops to the floor.  She has managed to weight bear on her legs a few times but then her legs go.  She is chirruping a bit too.  I am carrying on nursing her assuming she is weak and dehydrated from lack of food and water, and tired from struggling.  I am concerned about her neck though.  I am hoping it is just sore and that getting it from the floor to 180 degrees upright is too painful, but when it is upright she feels more comfortable.  I don't have any nutridrops in, is there anything else I can do to boost her up?

Also slightly concerned about the whole roosting bar issue.  Has anyone else had this with an eglu classic.

[The Dogmother]

Not had that before, but I once had a chick get its head stuck in the run mesh. It was fine after 24 hours. Keep up what you are doing and keep her warm, treat for shock with liquids. If you don't have NutriDrops, then do you have the Vit Boost tonic? You can give that diluted 50/50 instead.

See how she goes, if she is going to improve, you wil lsee it in the next 24 hours, otherwise, you may need to euthanase

[chickenNutter]

Thanks Dogmother.  Did a search and someone else had broken legs with 2 bantams, so I think I will take the roosting bars out.  will being on flat feet cause foot problems though?

 

[The Dogmother]

They will be roosting their their bedding which isn't ideal - they will get hot, be lice magnets and get pooey bottoms. I have had Omlet housing since it came out and never had a problem with the roosting bars. The only time I take them out is when I am hatching.