Help I think one of thew chickens I am sitting is dead

[ShinyPinkShoes]

He is scrunched up right in the corner of the coop so hard for me to get to

The other 2 chickens are hunched over her making a weird noise.

[hellymelly]

are the others attacking her?

[ShinyPinkShoes]

It looks as though they are trying to protect her????

[Doodle2U]

You need to find a way in to pick her up and check her over.

Can you see her face - her eyes?

Check the colour of her head comb. It should be stood up, pink/red. NOT pale.

[ShinyPinkShoes]

Ok will go and try but is dark out there and I can't find a bloody buggery torch-plus the area to get into is titchy. I am NOT!

[Doodle2U]

Well good luck - try to keep in mind that you are doing it for all the right reasons - oh...and the fact that you really don't wanna hand over a dead carcass when the owners get back.

In ya go Girl!

[hellymelly]

should be obvious if she needs to see a vet,fluffed up,listless,etc.Have you got her out?

[Doodle2U]

C'mon, c'mon ... I need to know!

[ShinyPinkShoes]

Right- I made it in there.

Now look like Worzel Gummidge but anyway...chicken is still alive. Moving around but very slowly. Other 2 are hovering over her, no pecking at all- I suspect they are protecting her.

I have put some food and water close by and some extra straw for nesting.

Not much more I can do except keep a close eye on her tomorrow I suppose?

[hellymelly]

I would bring her in and keep her warm in a cardboard box with snuggly stuff in it,and/or get her to a vet.I don't have specific chicken experience (though I have lots of bird rescue experience I am used to wildfowl),so someone who really knows their chickens will hopefully post something more helpful-good luck,i hope she is ok tomorrow.

[Doodle2U]

Nope. Sounds like you've done the right thing for now. Check again in the morning. She may just be under the weather.

There's far more experienced chicken owners than me on Mumsnet. Hopefully, they'll see your thread and will be around to advise tomorrow.

[ShinyPinkShoes]

Okay.

Thanks everyone- will update further tomorrow!

[mamadiva]

I know this isn't a funny thread but I thought it said one of the chickens I am sitting ON is dead, I was going to say I'm not surprised.

Sorry about that just thought I'd share my strange visual impairments with you.

I'm sorry to hear about that BTW I don't have or like chickens but the poor wee animals.

[ShinyPinkShoes]

LOL!

ON top of the truly dreadful week I have had this chicken thing made me sob earlier but your comment made me laugh lots- thank you x

[Miaou]

me too mamadiva

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

The most likely causes are that she's slightly egg-bound and will get the egg out very soon or that she is properly egg-bound for which you can pull on latex gloves well lubricated with oil and stick your finger up her vent to see what's what. Or she's gone broody - was she sitting on any eggs or hogging the nest box? If so, she may be walking around slowly with all her feathers sticking out making almost menacing brau-brau noises and constantly trying to get back in the house and onto any egg available. Or she's damaged her feet, could a rat have got to her? You may have to pick her up and inspect her feet. Or she is being bullied and they only stopped pecking her because you were in their house!

In the morning, get them all out of the henhouse and see what she looks like moving around the run. Her comb will look a bit flat if she's broody OR ill (helpful eh?).

So, are you enjoying hen-sitting?

[ShinyPinkShoes]

Just been in there again she let me stroke her, seems a bit more alert today. She has squeezed herself into the tiniest, most difficult to get to spot in the coop. Seems quite cosy and happy there but I doubt I could lift her out so will try coaking with some food.

No idea how she was before I got here on Thursday. All I was told was that she has been a bit laZY, not wanting to move. Eating and drinking fine, just not very active.

I usually love looking after them!

Not sure if I should chuck the eggs that have ben laid in the last few days just in case she is ill?

[ShinyPinkShoes]

Just checked her again.

She looked worryingly still so I gently prodded her. In return she pecked me- a good sign I thought?

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

She sounds broody. If she's been sitting on any of the eggs for more than a day then get rid as they will addle with the heat. You can eat them otherwise, ill or not.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Ditto that she sounds broody.

[Doodle2U]

Pick her up and take her out of the coop. She'll peck about a bit, go for some food and drink etc. IF she does an almighty big dump, which stinks to high hell - she's broody!

[Bronze]

She does sound broody. Is she flattened? Mine hiss at me vicious little buggers. If it is broodiness I would leave it for her owners to contend with.

[ShinyPinkShoes]

Hmmm owners not back until Wednesday though.

Off to check her again.
really must find a shwoer cap, this is causing havoc with my hair!

[ShinyPinkShoes]

She finally moved today, she shot back to her spot as soon as she saw me but not before I saw the 7 eggs she has been lying on

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Deffo broody then! And if she's going out to eat, drink & have a toxic dump, then she'll be just fine!

[HappypillsGalore]

at this