Slow-feathering, now stargazing, speckled sussex- need advice on care, not treatment!

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Thanks all!

I did previously try the fabric over a box with holes cut out for legs, she kicked until she caught a toenail in it and flipped out of it.

I went to my parents today and my mom taught me how to sew. It's not the best, I'll take a pic when she's not in it (I want to modify it a bit) but a few hours later I had something I could hang her in that will try to keep her wings secure. Currently she's hanging in it and she looks almost normal! Posting pics.

I added the nylon to help her feel more secure. But I want to sew another piece that can attach to the main body.

Little worried that her legs shake in it, afraid of cutting off circulation. So we lowered the rods so she can barely touch the ground. She seems to be able to eat and drink in it, and even saw her preen a bit!

Crossing fingers. Will update with more pics.
Hoping we can sleep a bit tonight.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How about .... a child's T-shirt? Stick her legs through the arms and her head out the neck? Maybe even cut the sleeves off if that helps? Tie up the back part or clip it shut once you have her in, would that work? Just thinking on the fly here..

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

How about .... a child's T-shirt? Stick her legs through the arms and her head out the neck? Maybe even cut the sleeves off if that helps? Tie up the back part or clip it shut once you have her in, would that work? Just thinking on the fly here..

That's actually something the vet mentioned, but I don't have kids, don't know anyone here with kids outgrowing their clothes, and trying not to go anywhere during this pandemic, so I was looking for other options. I had been cutting up my own old clothes and fabric grocery bags. But my mom has a sewing machine and some fabric so I tried to make something work!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

That's actually something the vet mentioned, but I don't have kids, don't know anyone here with kids outgrowing their clothes, and trying not to go anywhere during this pandemic, so I was looking for other options. I had been cutting up my own old clothes and fabric grocery bags. But my mom has a sewing machine and some fabric so I tried to make something work!

Ah. Oh well!

 

[coach723]

@Sarahh_Janeyy , I think you did a great job. Things don't always have to be perfect, they just need to get the job done. Thinking out of the box is where good idea's come from! Most chickens will be more comfortable if their feet just touch the ground, don't have to bear any weight, just need to know it's there I guess. She looks pretty comfortable and content, should make it easier for her to eat and drink, and rest. And hopefully you can rest too. Good luck with her.

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

@Sarahh_Janeyy , I think you did a great job. Things don't always have to be perfect, they just need to get the job done. Thinking out of the box is where good idea's come from! Most chickens will be more comfortable if their feet just touch the ground, don't have to bear any weight, just need to know it's there I guess. She looks pretty comfortable and content, should make it easier for her to eat and drink, and rest. And hopefully you can rest too. Good luck with her.

Thanks so much

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Here's my first go at sewing:

 

[coach723]

Looks fine to me!

 

[Shadrach]

This is a follow up to this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feathering-in-speckled-sussex.1368639/

Chipmunk was healing up nicely after 2-3 weeks and had almost all her feathers finally grown in. The first night back in the coop (with bullies in isolation instead of her) seemed to be going well, she was up on the roost with all the others. Last I checked on her was 9pm Sunday night. Monday morning, 8am, I went out to check on her and she was no where to be found. I found her wedged up against the inside wall of the coop between the wall and the waterer. Stargazing,

Of course Monday was Memorial day so everything was closed. We did call an emergency exotic vet but she said due to the pandemic and holiday it was just her there, and they wouldn't be able to do any diagnostics. So we decided to do what we could to stabilize her and get a vet appointment for the next morning.

In the meantime we did all the scouring of the internet (and this forum) for treatment. We did what we could - I ground up my own B-complex vitamin and mixed it with water and food, we got polyvisol, vitamin E, and selenium and mixed that up and tried that too.

We went to the vet yesterday morning, he did bloodwork, fecal, and gave her liquids, vitamin supplements and probiotics. It seems her bacterial gutload was very very low- so it could be a vitamin deficiency. We just heard back from the vet, her white blood cell count and immunoglobulins were very low and he suggested that she may be immuno-compromised- it may be genetic or it could even be an adverse reaction to the Marek's vaccine she was given as a chick.. He said to give her at least a week before deciding what humane thing to do.. He did say that this could be why she wasn't feathering well- she could have some viral infection and a nutrition problem.

So, all of this isn't even my question- we are having a HARD time putting her down- on the ground, in a box, in our arms- if her feet touch ANYTHING she flips out and starts flapping her wings. She definitely can't stand, she just keeps kicking her legs backwards, while flailing around. We've been trying to keep her calm and everything, but my partner is staying up with her all night, and obviously that's not gonna work while trying to take care of her for any amount of time.

We tried a chicken sling - I searched it here, someone had made a little chair with leg cut outs. I tried this and she just kicked until she flips over and ends up in the box below.

Any tips? Advice? This is so sad and disheartening and my partner is devastated and trying to do everything we can to help her.

I've just read the first thread and I see she hasn't always star gazed. You mention skittering around if you set her down. Does she eventually come to rest in a corner or with something behind her?
I have a hen who showed similar problems. I tried all the medical stuff, most of it guesswork and my vet and I eventually decided this was a neurological problem possible caused by some trauma at hatch.
The good news is that the hen in question, Bracket, did recover.
You may find the thread interesting.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nuerological-or-something-else.1318208/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nuerological-or-something-else.1318208/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nuerological-or-something-else.1318208/

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

I've just read the first thread and I see she hasn't always star gazed. You mention skittering around if you set her down. Does she eventually come to rest in a corner or with something behind her?
I have a hen who showed similar problems. I tried all the medical stuff, most of it guesswork and my vet and I eventually decided this was a neurological problem possible caused by some trauma at hatch.
The good news is that the hen in question, Bracket, did recover.
You may find the thread interesting.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nuerological-or-something-else.1318208/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nuerological-or-something-else.1318208/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nuerological-or-something-else.1318208/

She was s totally normal chicken (with a feathering problem) until I found her Monday morning wedged up against the coop interior and the waterer, on the ground. So she did come to rest but since we've taken her inside the amount of flailing she does is too awful to watch. We have gotten her to sit in a box for a little while but mostly her feet touching things makes her flail. Has to be touched verrrry lightly. The vet just told her the over reaction to touch stimuli is also neurological.

I read parts of your thread - going to get to more of it later as I have time. It seems like she wasn't completely incapacitated - just acting strange (like this) at night? I'm glad she's okay now

Chipmunk is completely reliant on us right now. Really hoping it's a deficiency. Vet said to give the vitamins time to work at least for a week.

He said since none of the other chicks have had problems that it is probably specific to this chicken, though. Which makes us worry it's genetic.