Nursing a Sick Chicken & A Tip For Keeping Them Healthy

Nursing a Sick Chicken in the Chicken Hospital-
One of the things you learn raising a small flock, is that sometimes you see one sick chicken out of the group. Everyone else looks fine. Little Blackie started looking droopy Friday , so I kept an eye on her yesterday- droopy, staying off by herself, eating, but tail down. Not egg bound I found. I decided to worm the flock today, even though I use an all natural wormer year round Wormguard . I didn't want to risk losing anymore. I lost 2 girls, 6 weeks apart from worms 2 years ago. I figured out is was worms, after I lost them. They're pretty common in many flocks, especially if they share a yard with dogs, and in warmer weather. Last spring summer or so, I started the flock on the all natural stuff.

Today I broke out the chicken hospital (above) and brought my sick girl in. I brought out the Wazine, my last resort wormer, since you can't eat the eggs for about 10 days after. It does work however. Then I got out the high calorie dog paste GNC High Calorie Booster, eye dropper and 2 laundry baskets. Baskets are great to use for sick chickens as they're easy to just throw an old towel in the bottom and can be disinfected after use easily. You can also diagnose better by looking at the stool on the towel. Worms are easy to spot if they big enough. She passed a big one about 1/2 hours after I dosed her up, yummy, ech. I read about using the high calorie paste for sick birds, and I think it makes a big difference in the hens bouncing back faster. You just put some on the tip of your finger, reach above their head and squeeze their jaws open gently, then rub it into their months. They swallow it right down! Wait a bit and repeat. I also gave her some wormer out of a dropper. Another tip I learned is- drop the liquid on the top of the beak, below the nostril, and they will drink it up. She did! I have done this with another bird, Ellie, very successfully.

So Little Blackie is the the room with a view, nice dry towel, so rolled oats, water and a little leftover cooked fish. She'll go back in the coop this evening, and I'll see how she looks tomorrow. The nice thing about this "system", is that it's easy to repeat. It gives the hen a rest, extra nutrients, and quiet.

                                                   

A Tip For Keeping Them  Healthy-
I noticed lately that Rosie's feather were really looking gorgeous! Really full, shiny and there's some teal now that I don't ever remember seeing. Her feathers had been a little rough looking and she hasn't laid in a year and a half. She's in retirement :) I think that adding the natural wormer AND the Bragg's Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar to their water has really helped. I had read that the vinegar helps cut down on swollen crops and is really good for the hard shells. It's unfiltered and great on salads too! There's lots of interesting ideas of easy flock management on Backyardchickens.com

Signs of spring! Finally!!!