[Guest_zeus359_*]

If anything. Feeding and changing the water off the neighbour's chickens. Noticed yesterday that one was walking a little off, today the poor thing can't even stand up without falling over to the side. Will walk 2-3 steps then just fall over. The leg does not appear to be broken, but i can't really tell, it does look like it has some sort of growth on its foot, well its not on the other foot but i'm not really up on chickent typical appearances.

Neighbour will be back on monday late at night. On a sailing trip so i can't contact her. It's still laying eggs though.

[Old Grey Mare]

Oven bag?

[Sweet like a lem...]

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-...foot-sores.html

Hope it helps. Poor thing.

[Allie_D]

Mum and Dad had a chicken 2 weeks ago that suddenly looked sick, couldn't walk etc etc. Turns out she was egg bound. She layed 2 of the most weirdly shaped eggs I have seen about 2 days later, then she was fine to go again! I wonder if it could be something like that?

ETA - Just read that it's still laying eggs

This post has been edited by Allie_D: 17/11/2012, 06:17 PM

[i-candi]

I had my chicken that was egg bound put to sleep she had got past saving because I didn't realise there was anything wrong.

Problem with chooks is that when they are sick they don't show it until they get really sick.

Did your neighbour give you any instructions if a chook got sick? I know I tell my neighbours don't worry if one dies just dispose of the body in the bin or bush ( for the foxes). If they need a vet I tell them to take the chook and I'll pay the vet if possible or pay them back.

In your situation I'd take it to the vet (not sure if you can get one on a weekend) and if no vet is available I'd try to isolate the chook as chooks are actually cannibals so I'd worry another chook will decide that it's tasty !

[Guest_zeus359_*]

yeah that's what i am worried about, my neighbour told me that they had to er end one's sufferiing because the other chickens all ganged up on it and pecked it almost to death.

umm i found a pet carrier to isolate it, will torn up newspaper be sufficient for bedding. I can't find any of the other straw that is in the main coop.

[foxgirls]

If it is at the point where it is unable to walk far enough to drink water and eat, then it would be very cruel to let it starve to death or dehydrate. If it was one of my chooks I would be checking it every few hour or more to see it was fed and watered. To leave it til Monday night with no care would be a horrible thing to do. Knocking it on the head would be far kinder if it's that far gone health wise.

[Guest_zeus359_*]

OK i isolated it, i put some newspaper down and took some of the straw from the coop and put it on top. I put a dish of water and some food in, the chicken was eating and drinking when i left it. Sufficient? I'll get some epsom salts tomorrow and follow the directions on that site ^^. Eating and drinking is a good sign right? Do i need to throw something over the pet carrier at night, it won't get cold will it?

I'm not going to off the chicken, i just would like to keep it alive until neighbour gets back.

[Lyra]

Are you in Victoria? Apparently there is a really good chook vet in Burwood.

[Guest_zeus359_*]

no. North QLD. She's told me to take the dog to a particular vet if there is a problem, i've been looking after her for nearly 4 years on occasionas, she hasn't had the chickens a year yet and I forgot to ask and she forgot to tell. I'm not sure to take because if they would have just put it out of its misery, then that will incur expense for them. But if its still laying eggs and eating and drinking it can't be that bad yet. I hope.