Yesterday morning I woke up and went to let the chicks out only to find them
scattered all over the yard in the cold rain. Some appear to have died from
exposure, some had a few holes in them. I found bob cat/cougar prints in
the cage. Anyway, 5 of 27 survived but of those 5, 3 of them are all blown
up like balloons. Has anyone heard of this happening? What should I do?
Their skin is full of air.
Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks,

Ellie


--
http://stores.ebay.com/Ellies-Everything-Store

In article <8gu3h.2778$L6.477@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
hotlikemagma@earthlink.net> wrote:

Yesterday morning I woke up and went to let the chicks out only to find
them
scattered all over the yard in the cold rain. Some appear to have died
from
exposure, some had a few holes in them. I found bob cat/cougar prints
in
the cage. Anyway, 5 of 27 survived but of those 5, 3 of them are all
blown
up like balloons. Has anyone heard of this happening? What should I
do?
Their skin is full of air.
Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks,

Ellie


--
http://stores.ebay.com/Ellies-Everything-Store

.Damaged air saccule system.

Put them on antibiotics, keep them protected and warm, and drain the air
out twice per day....

and pray.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack
Nicholson

What should I drain it with? A syringe?

Thanks for the help Om.

Ellie

In article <9kv3h.2815$L6.1299@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
hotlikemagma@earthlink.net> wrote:

What should I drain it with? A syringe?

Thanks for the help Om.

Ellie

That would work, but simply puncturing the swellings with a sterilized
large needle would work too. Flame a large needle, then cool it by
dunking it in some alcohol, and treat the area to be punctured with some
disinfectant first.

It won't hurt them if you do it right.

Good luck!

I've had birds damaged this way and they seem to have about a 50/50
chance at surviving. Usually takes 7 to 10 days of draining out the air
once or twice per day to get them to heal up.

My usual problem was young raccoons or ringtail cats.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack
Nicholson

Thanks Om,

I've drained them for the night. One of them didn't want to let go of its
air and I had to poke her several times. I ended up using a sewing machine
needle...sterilized. I guess I did it right, it didn't seem to hurt them in
the least. I'm a little afraid for the holea that were left...hoping they
won't get infected. It's tiny, but it's an entry for infection still I
guess.

Do you know what has caused this saccule damage? Did the wild cat trample
them (there's no bite marks or anything like that)? Is it from trauma from
running around franticly in the dark?

I'll continue to drain and medicate...and pray. One of the balloon chicks
is walking strange...like it's lopsided and off balance. The other balloon
ones walk fine. Hopefully they'll recover from this.

Thanks again...VERY much.

Ellie