Critter Farm Hospital

I've got a sick chicken:

When I walked into the coop the other day, Skippy, my beloved White Leghorn, clearly wasn't well:

I immediately checked her into a private room at the Critter Farm hospital:

I quickly took note of her symptoms: droopy and pale comb, extreme lethargy, no appetite and a weepy bottom:

The only thing she wanted to do was sleep:

After a bit of a nap, she decided she wanted to tour the hospital ward. It was then that I got a really good look at her chicken bottom. Ick:

I needed to get some fluids into her, so after quickly washing off her birdy bottom, I added some poultry electrolytes to a container of water and used a syringe to squirt some into her mouth:

She flat-out refused the syringe, but, thankfully, she wanted to drink on her own. It's the kiss of death if they stop drinking - dehydration quickly sets in, especially with the weepy bottom that she had:

She was very thirsty:

At times excessively so:

She had no interest in her usual favorite treat - sunflower seeds - choosing instead...:

to drink and drink:

Then, despite feeling under the weather, Skippy decided it was time to return to her coop:

She was slow, but very focused:

And headed straight back to her nest box:

I let her spend a few hours there and then brought her back to the sick ward for some special hospital food... yogurt with sunflower seeds:

and shredded cheddar cheese:

The cheese was the real hit. It may not have been the best thing for her, but it was such a relief to see her eat. She really loves cheddar cheese:

Skippy is normally such a busy, active girl, it was touching to see her trying to maintain that routine even while being so sick:

George and I kept a close eye on our girl while she wandered:

But she would never go far before she would fall asleep in her tracks:

George was quite happy to finish off any food that Skippy left behind:

He's a helpful cat that way:

My friend, Lori, who gave me Skippy back in January, said that when one of her chickens had experienced these symptoms, her vet had suggested a course of antibiotics. So, she brought me some for Skippy:

I'd never given a chicken an injection before...:

but I am happy to say that I have learned a new skill:

The needle goes into the padded part of the breast to the right or left of the breast bone:

This will be happening once a day for ten days... and, oh, what a good girl she is. Not a bit of fussing and only a little bit of leg wiggling:

Here's Skippy this morning. Look at those bright eyes and that beautiful red comb:

Turns out, my little girl wasn't ready to leave us just yet:

I'm breathing easier today.