dying chicken?

lcorteen · #1 (**permalink**) 29-10-2008, 10:40 PM

Woe is me...

we adopted 3 cage hens a few weeks ago, and one (named icecream) appears to be quite unwell. I wondered it anyone can help? as we haven't kept chooks before.

They are given clean water and food everyday plus vegie scraps. They live in a good sized pen under 3 citrus trees and have a converted shed w concrete/dirt/hay bedding. They have a perch and nest boxes. We let them free range in the garden nearly every day.

Icecream is the friendiest chicken but was just sitting on the ground a lot this morning. This afternoon she seemed worse and by evening she was just huddled in a corner of the garden with her eyes closed. She has a bit of poo on her rear feathers - normal looking colour. I can't see any parasites on her. And she was probably the healthiest looking of the three.

Please help
xx

**sweetchili** · #2 (**permalink**) 30-10-2008, 06:24 PM

oh no! poor little thing.
can you get to a vet?

as i just posted on another chook thread there are forums dedicated wholey to raising chooks.
maybe someone there would be able to help you.

the only think i can think..is have you checked for ticks??? you need to be pretty thourough to find them.

ChickenCrossing.ORG - Raiseing Chickens - Chicken Coop Ideas - Egg Laying

BackYardChickens Forum / Search results

heres two places that might be able to help.

lcorteen · #3 (**permalink**) 31-10-2008, 12:35 PM

Thanks R'ee

Sadly icecream was dead in the pen the next morning. Think it may have been coccidiosis.... byt not sure. Other hens seem fine.

We had a little ceremony for her and buried her in the garden and we are going to the fairy shop tonight to get a garden fairy to look after her.

xx

Bronnie · #4 (**permalink**) 31-10-2008, 01:36 PM

poor ice cream :( but she had a few good last weeks, instead of being trapped in the cage

**sweetchili** · #5 (**permalink**) 31-10-2008, 02:44 PM

oh no, thats sad.
the fairy is a really nice idea.

Little bean · #6 (**permalink**) 31-10-2008, 08:31 PM

the garden fairy is a lovely idea...

lcorteen · #7 (**permalink**) 31-10-2008, 08:37 PM

yeah... we scattered petals and blew her kisses and burried her...

its amazing how natural the kids are about death though.

My Grandfather died in May and we were on our way to see him when he passed away, but the kids still wanted to see him - Daisy had made him a special hat so that noone would know he didn't ahve any hair. So we went to the hospital and said good bye and the kids played in his room and put his hat on his head... and yesterday Poppy was asking me lots of questions about 'old poppa' and icecream (obviously trying to work out the whole idea of death) - 'old poppa's dead too isn't he?' 'but he's not a chicken is he?' 'he was really really oild wasn't he?' 'but icecream wasn't as old as that was she?' etc. Daisy was more upset... i guess understanding that icecream won't be coming back

I'm just really glad we've been able to talk about death in an open way and that it hasn't been scary or taboo for them. I still find the whole concept of heaven a hard one though, as I'm not really a believer in it... but I think it's nice for them to think that the people and pets they love are happy

Little bean · #8 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 10:10 AM

thats really lovely that you could share that moment with your girls in such an open way. Kids are incredibly accepting of things aren't they.
That is so sweet about the hat as well.

Dorasmum · #9 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 11:25 AM

Maybe if you adopt another in place of Icecream you could call her vanilla or strawberry in honour....

I asked my Mum and she said something about worming them? If she had poo stuck to her bottom she may have had the runs..if a chook can have the runs...

Hope the others don't get sick too.

Em

little · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 02:42 PM

I have been keeping different types of fowl for about 10 years. Fowl can be made quite sick by two major factors, not enough sun (rickets) and coccidiosis. My limited experience and tears made me trial options other than antibiotics. Since adding uncooked rice to their food no more sickness has happened to the severity I had had before. 6 fowl would have about half cup rice to a meal twice daily. It must be good as it is always gone. Symptoms are sneezing, standing with eyes closed and sleeping or dopey, mucus from beak, and loose motions with bits stuck on tail feathers. Rickets are prevented by green feed, (mown grass is OK if petrol is lead-free), and 4 hours sunlight per day, dappled light OK, each bird can organize its use of the light. Results of my treatment are many eggs and many chickens. Other option small bottle @ $15+ treatment every xx time and bottle is often of date. Enjoy