Help - Ill baby...again!

[Bephlam]

Once again I have a baby chicken trauma....and unbelievably it's the same little girl that's constantly being injured. I'm beginning to wonder if she's trying to commit suicide!

Anyway...last night she was accidentally locked out of the coup ALL night. When my OH found her this morning she was huddled up under the coup. I've since been checking on her and she's not looking good at all...she's huddling and has her eyes closed.

I've brought her indoors and currently have her in a basket in the kitchen with a hot water bottle. She's drinking lots and eating (porridge with poultry spice)...which is good. My gut tells me she's just exhausted and cold, and if I get her warm she'll be good to go!

Any other suggestions?? MUCH APPRECIATED, as usual!

[di]

I can't think of anything to add,although if it's not bitterly cold out might she not be better with her mum?Would she let her snuggle under her or is she too busy keeping the others in line?
Sorry,I can't remember how old yours are...don't take that as disinterested,I have to count from the diary whenever I need to know how old mine are...& Boo & Roo are only about 5or6 weeks!
Hope she picks up!{{{x}}}

[MaureenHall]

I'd be thinking that she's just cold, got frightened and lonely. I'd feed her up today and pop her under Mum's wing at bedtime. Keep an eye on her though

[Bephlam]

Mum's not interested in any of them now. They're 9 or 10 weeks now...so Mum is very much uninterested. The other girls sometimes let her snuggle, but they are way too big to put in the box with her. I brought one of her sisters in, but she was not happy. I think she just needs to be left alone to sleep (probably didn't get much sleep outside on her own last night) and to heat up...then I'll pop her back in with them at night. If they reject her, then we'll have a house chicken! Poor wee thing has been to hell and back in her 9 weeks...please lord make her be a she!!

[Nicos]

sounds like you're doing just what I would do!
I'd have thought she'd have died by now if she was going to die of cold...(shock is a different thing of course)- keep up the good work!
let us know how she gets on x

[CoraxAurata]

a hair dryer is a very useful way of warming cold beasties, -used with care of course,

You're organic aren't you? Did the chicks get coccidiostat in their chick crumbs? if not (or even if they did) she may be sick and need medication...

[Bramble-Poultry]

warm her through gently with a hot water bottle just like you are doing is the absolute best thing you can do for her - if shes perked up enough pop her in tonight if shes not then keep her another day inside - it can take while to feel better sometimes. shes only a wee one still so should be ok to pop straight in with no real problems, you would be surprised even though mom is disinterested I bet they still snuggle up a bit at night!

[CoraxAurata]

How is she?

[Bephlam]

Well, I put the wee one back in with Mum around 10pm last night. In fairness Mum wasn't interested in keeping her warm, but the copper maran did the job for her!

The little one looks ok today, but has very odd behaviour in general. Almost as though she could be blind...doesn't seem to want to interact with the other birds, but when brought in to the house alone she's really chirpy and cheeky...although still very odd!

[Eco-Chic]

Perhaps she thinks she should live in the big house with the food source

[Suechooks]

My ex-batts do that - look all woebegone and scrunched up so I take them home and spoil them and within an hour they're as perky as you like! OH reckons they tell each other it's a holiday home!

[Bephlam]

Development with the baby - aptly named Dozey (for now!).

Last night she was found lying in the corner of the run again - seems to be unable to get up the ramp to bed (or unwilling). My OH popped her in the nest box with her siblings, and this morning she wouldn't come out the coup. So, again...my OH put her out with the others. When I checked on her she was all haunched up in the corner, looking very unresponsive. I checked her over and found a fairly big hole in her head. She didn't react when I touched it, but is definitely acting odd. I have since brought her inside and given her some scrambled egg and water - she's eating and drinking fine....and being a fairly normal chicken inside.

I was thinking of giving her a day indoors with food and water to see if she perks up...then the Vets for a check up...and then if she's not improving make some decisions.

Can anyone offer any other advice? Anything I should try before I take her to the vet or cull her?

Help please...she's adorable!

[Eco-Chic]

Is she being bullied?

She seems reluctant to be with the others and has to be forced into their society, has a hole in her head, but seems ok when in the house with you

Can you have a house chook?

[Bephlam]

lol...I am seriously considering it. The dogs are great with her, the cats are fine with her...I don't see what the problem would be. I'll need to start litter training her though!

I don't think she's being bullied...in general they all just ignore her. No doubt something has definitely happened to her (hence the hole in her head) but I think it's been her Mum...and she's now freaked out by them. She's not ok indoors...she's a bit better, but still odd. She almost acts as though she's blind...or deaf. I can't tell, but she definitely is a little odd at the moment...and it's just started!

[RichmondHens]

Chances are she is suffering from something, the other hens know it and as a result are pushing her out of the flock (protecting flock health etc). The wound on her head is obviously not helping, but I suspect she is ill from something else. Unless you have a good avian vet my instinct would be to cull her. Sorry.