Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: taffndebs on August 05, 2010, 15:36

Title: Sick Chicken, floppy comb and hunched up
Post by: taffndebs on August 05, 2010, 15:36
Hi,  I have a 2 year old chicken who is acting very strange, she is hunching up, her comb has flopped over to the side, and she almost seems spaced out, she will eat from our hand, and is drinking small amounts, any ideas what it might be would be really appreciated.
Title: Re: Sick Chicken, floppy comb and hunched up
Post by: joyfull on August 05, 2010, 20:06
A big floppy comb (except in those breeds which normally have them such as leghorns) is a sign off being too warm. The comb acts as a cooling mechanism. Feel under her wing and then using the same hand feel under another healthy hens wing. Make sure she has plenty of fluids and if possible put some vitamin drops or electrolytes in it - I think Hillfooter put a recipe on here for one he makes up - I will try to find it for you. How long has she been like this? What breed is she? Does she have any other symptoms? Has she been able to get to anything that may not have agreed with her - plants etc?
Title: Re: Sick Chicken, floppy comb and hunched up
Post by: joyfull on August 05, 2010, 20:10
here is his recipe - click on this link below - hopefully it should help her xx

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=59219.msg706345#msg706345
Title: Re: Sick Chicken, floppy comb and hunched up
Post by: taffndebs on August 05, 2010, 20:17
Hi, thank you for replying, she is a hybrid,  cant say what she eats as she is totally free range during the day, although she does have a few mouthfuls of layers pellets with the others but just seems to lose interest after that,  her bottom is a bit messy but nothing excessive, we also think that she is laying but her eggs are very fragile shelled and sometimes not always completely formed.  thanks again for replying
Title: Re: Sick Chicken, floppy comb and hunched up
Post by: joyfull on August 05, 2010, 20:25
fragile shells suggest that she either isn't getting enough calcium or is not absorbing it. Tomorrow clean her up (you can bath her in warm water with a very mild shampoo - baby shampoo for instance) then blow dry her on a low heat. Make sure she has access to dark green leafy things - eg spinach or cabbage as this will help with the calcium uptake. Does she have access to crushed oyster shell at all times (or even washed, baked and crushed egg shells)? Does she feel all squishy underneath in her belly - feel bellow in between her legs area? She may have had an egg break inside her which would lead to an infection. If this is the case she will nedd to see a vet quickly for some antibiotics.
Title: Re: Sick Chicken, floppy comb and hunched up
Post by: taffndebs on August 05, 2010, 22:48
thank you for your reply, I will bathe her tomorrow and get her all cleaned up, and will also make up some of the stuff you gave me the link for, not given her oyster shell but will invest in some tomorrow, really appreciate your time and advice.
Title: Re: Sick Chicken, floppy comb and hunched up
Post by: joyfull on August 06, 2010, 08:14
If she has had no calcium supplement in her diet it does sound that this is the problem. Laying soft shelled or even shell less eggs really does take it out of them  :(