Seen this chicken 2 blocks away from my house. I think it's sick

[Alopez1773]

I was on a walk with my dog and spotted this beautiful chicken on the sidewalk sleeping. I started to feed it yesterday and giving it water. I checked on it today and she is more mobile yet hiding and sleeping in the bush of these palms. It's sneezing and has puffy tired looking eyes. More mobile today and is even scratching ground. I gave him or her some hydro hen in water mixed and drank half of it within just a couple of minutes. I threw some scratch to see if he or she ate and it did. I feel so bad for him or her. Any ideas on this breed and if it's a hen or rooster. Thank you for your help. I know avian flu is going around so I am keeping my distance. I just don't want it to die of dehydration or starvation, but I want to help.

 

[AntiqueB]

I'm going with hen, although a side body pic would definitely help.

If you have feed, that would be more useful to her than scratch. Are there any rescue groups that might be able to catch her? Being alone will be very stressful for her, and sleeping on a sidewalk near a road invites dog attacks or getting hit by a car.

 

[WoDia]

@Alopez1773 I agree with @AntiqueB. She’s not going to make it, being so vulnerable, without help. What you’re doing is helping, but she really needs to be somewhere safe where she can be evaluated and treated. Otherwise, her future, sadly, isn’t a good one. So kind of you to be looking after her. Please keep us updated.

 

[Alopez1773]

I do have chicken feed. I just kind of threw the scratch to see if she would eat something so she did. I will go back again in a few minutes to check in on her provide her chicken feed and refill her water since she drank most of it. There aren't any rescue groups I'm aware of. My area has a lot of chickens everywhere mostly the bantams. I am not sure what breed she is but she is so darn cute. I want to keep her but don't want to expose my own to being sick (although it's been more in my mind than not). I really care about animals and I love chickens since I grew up with farm animals. Animal control would not do a thing it's a waste of time (I know from experience). I just want to help her the best I can. Thank you for your feedback and I'll keep you posted.

 

[WoDia]

This article could be helpful with determining whether she is infected with bird flu. She appears, in my opinion only, to have something else going on, and not bird flu specifically. But some type of respiratory infection.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/bird-flu-what-you-need-to-know.77544/

 

[Alopez1773]

This article could be helpful with determining whether she is infected with bird flu. She appears, in my opinion only, to have something else going on, and not bird flu specifically. But some type of respiratory infection.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/bird-flu-what-you-need-to-know.77544/

Thank you! I just read it and it's very informative. I also feel it's been 2 days or more since I first met her and she does seem better in the sense that she is walking, eating, and drinking. I have faith that she will survive this. I've been praying for her. I'll keep everyone posted. I appreciate it!

 

[AntiqueB]

The only other thing would be to catch her and quarantine her far from your flock, but you'd really need to be strict about biosecurity. I mean shoes, washing hands, clothes, etc. If a friend or neighbor without chickens could be enlisted to help, even better.

 

[GodLovesU]

Do you have a dog crate that you could quarantine her in?

 

[Alopez1773]

Do you have a dog crate that you could quarantine her in?

I do have a dog crate but don't have a garage. If kept outside I'm afraid I can't secure her. I don't have hardware cloth or anything. I know she is out now, but not sure how she would do confined or if predators may come. Any suggestions. I don't have a lot of land. I have 8000 sq feet of yard space but my chickens roam the whole yard now. I don't have any neighbors who can keep her.