Keeping hens and ducks chat.

edwink

edwink

Pyxis

edwink wrote: »

Aw! Bless.







.

StarShapedPeg

Hello all
I'm really struggling with my little one.

You might remember when I was worried about her over the summer. She was very very broody, for a long time very sleepy and finally was shocked out of her broodieness by the change in weather. We were worried because she went through a dreadful moult and then gradually we realised that she couldn't see properly, whereas the other two would run out to us for treats and bits she kept getting stuck in corners.

We initially thought it was one eye but now it seems to have progressed into her other eye. She can barely see anything we think, we took her to the vet just in case it was an infection or something, although both her eyes look normal and I was checking her all the time. The vet said that all see can see is that she can still see something in one eye as she reacts to the light. I think she's had a stroke, but the vet wasn't conclusive.

We have to take her out of the coop every morning, she can't see to eat out of the hooper so we've created a whole box with a black soil floor which we basically cover with food (mix of seeds, mealworms, sunflower seeds and her normal pellets) and put her in it. For a couple of days I was very worried out her I was syringing water and food into her beak, but she manages to eat and drink herself now. Usually I'm with them when they're going to bed, so I make sure she can get into the coop. However this evening we went out and got home at dusk, the other two were already in and she was perching outside on a log in the corner. thank goodness we got home before it totally froze over.

I don't know what to do for the best for her. My husband says as long as she's eating, she's drinking she's managing, which she is, but it's just so sad to watch.

suki1964

Sorry to hear that SSP, I can't offer any advice as Im not one that gets too attached to my hens any more, and if they are struggling I take them to the vet


Sorry to hear you lost another Edwink, I know how attached you are to yours as well.

We lost a bluebell at the start of the year, the "mummy" to the ones we hatched the year before last. She was only a young bird and have no idea what happened, just found her dead one morning

We have lost a few other the past few months. Funnily the old girls are still going strong, some are coming up to 4 this Summer and they are still laying now and then

We have also gained a few, next doors hens think our coop is nicer so pop in to lay and some stay the night lol

Mr Suki is a happy bunny as the duck has started laying. Already he's talking about letting her sit in a month or two to hatch some more.

Its flipping cold, has been for weeks now. having to change the water 3 or 4 times a day because it keeps freezing over, as does the duck pond. And of course the cleaning out is more often as they don't get out so much now

Roll on the better weather

Pyxis

How long do hens generally live for?

I had to laugh at your next-door hens popping in!

I wonder what your neighbours think?

I had a cat once that preferred next door, so in the end, we decided he could live there permanently.
It wasn't me, because I had three other cats who were quite happy with my company and living conditions! He was an extremely timid cat, even scared of me (!!!) and when I got a puppy, I think he decided that that was the last straw, and that next door, who were elderly, no children, had only two old cats, and no dog, was the better option! :rotfl:

(Sorry, off topic!)


Starshapedpeg, when Edwink comes along, I'm sure she'll have some advice.....she knows a lot about hens.
Did the vet offer any advice about her quality of life?
I know that with other animals I've had, whether or not they were still eating was the deciding factor.
It's very hard, when you're fond something.

Even a sparrow I once nursed for six weeks......on vet's advice.......when I eventually took it to a bird sanctuary, I felt so sad and burst into tears...... and it was a wild animal that I'd only had for six weeks, and was going to live the rest of its life at the sanctuary!
What are we like, eh? You get so fond of their little personalities.

edwink

StarShapedPeg wrote: »

Hello all I'm really struggling with my little one.
You might remember when I was worried about her over the summer. She was very very broody, for a long time very sleepy and finally was shocked out of her broodieness by the change in weather. We were worried because she went through a dreadful moult and then gradually we realised that she couldn't see properly, whereas the other two would run out to us for treats and bits she kept getting stuck in corners.
We initially thought it was one eye but now it seems to have progressed into her other eye. She can barely see anything we think, we took her to the vet just in case it was an infection or something, although both her eyes look normal and I was checking her all the time. The vet said that all see can see is that she can still see something in one eye as she reacts to the light. I think she's had a stroke, but the vet wasn't conclusive.
We have to take her out of the coop every morning, she can't see to eat out of the hooper so we've created a whole box with a black soil floor which we basically cover with food (mix of seeds, mealworms, sunflower seeds and her normal pellets) and put her in it. For a couple of days I was very worried out her I was syringing water and food into her beak, but she manages to eat and drink herself now. Usually I'm with them when they're going to bed, so I make sure she can get into the coop. However this evening we went out and got home at dusk, the other two were already in and she was perching outside on a log in the corner. thank goodness we got home before it totally froze over. I don't know what to do for the best for her. My husband says as long as she's eating, she's drinking she's managing, which she is, but it's just so sad to watch.

Hello SSP

Aww poor little hen and a great worry for you. Bless her!!

Firstly I am so pleased you have already taken her to the vet as I am sure that the vet would have noticed if her eye was scratched in anyway.

Do you by any chance use a deep litter method in their coop. Can't remember what size your coop is and if you are able to do that. Some coops are too small for this method. If you do use the deep litter method is it changed on a regular basis? Can you smell Ammonia in it? The reason I ask is that the most common form of blindness (sadly) in poultry is Ammonia blindness.

There is also Mareks Disease which is viral. This is a type of Cancer and in hens it can cause tiny tumours in the Iris. Have a close look at her pupils if you can to see if she has regular shaped pupils. Did your vet have a real close look at them?.

Sometimes no actual cause can be found and sadly it just happens.

I would say if she is eating and drinking ok I would keep a very close eye on her to see how she is managing. Life is obviously going to be somewhat challenging for her but with your help and support she could managed ok. Just one thing don't move anything around in their coop like changing where the water bowl sits etc. as this will totally confuse her and she will have to go back to square one to find everything she needs again if you do move it about.

Have you put them back together since you put her in the box with her feed? If so what was the mood like with them all?. Did she sleep with the others last night?.

Life will be more challenging for her now but if she has some sight she will learn to cope and know where everything is she needs. In fact even if she goes totally blind she can still manage with extra support from you. You will just need to keep a very,very close eye on her to make sure she is not being picked on in any way. Keep an eye on her body/feather condition to make sure everything is ok from time to time.

Please let us know how she is doing, bless her heart.

HTH

Take care

Edwink x

edwink

suki1964 wrote: »

We lost a bluebell at the start of the year, the "mummy" to the ones we hatched the year before last. She was only a young bird and have no idea what happened, just found her dead one morning. We have lost a few other the past few months. Funnily the old girls are still going strong, some are coming up to 4 this Summer and they are still laying now and then.

Mr Suki is a happy bunny as the duck has started laying. Already he's talking about letting her sit in a month or two to hatch some more.

Its flipping cold, has been for weeks now. having to change the water 3 or 4 times a day because it keeps freezing over, as does the duck pond. And of course the cleaning out is more often as they don't get out so much now Roll on the better weather

Hello Suki

That's sad that you have lost some too. It is more common in the Winter sadly. We have found some of ours have died during the night when opening up their hotel in the mornings. I thinks some just get old and tired so there is no real apparent reason, bless them. I've still got my Bluebell she is getting on a bit now whereas her pal also a Bluebell hen died at 2 years old.

I am glad Mr Suki is happy now your ducks have started laying BECAUSE OURS HAVENT THIS YEAR AND MR EDWINK IS STILL PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THEIR FIRST EGG OF THE YEAR.:rotfl: I find it amusing because every time he opens them up in the morning he comes in and says "Still no B****y eggs today, looks like they have stopped laying. He says that every single time.

Its flipping cold here too Brrrr!!. We are down South and it has just started snowing here. I was frozen just letting mine out of their hotels this morning. It only takes about 15 minutes to get them all out and fed normally but I had to break the ice on all their water containers. I will continue to do that throughout the day especially for the ducks because their water just keeps freezing over.

Hope the snow doesn't settle. As much as I like building snowmen I still hope it doesn't.

Edwink

edwink

Pyxis wrote: »

How long do hens generally live for?

Hello Pyxis

From what I have learnt regarding how long hens live for. Most (not rescue hen though) live to around 5yrs old, some 8yrs+ a bit more. The oldest hen from what I know was 16yrs old.

Ex Batt hens are normally around 1 to 3 years old when they are rescued but most are 2 years old. Once rehomed Ex Batts on average live for a further 18mths to 2yrs after rescue. One of my Ex Batts who came to live with us when she was 2yrs old lived until she was 4 and a half which was good for a rescue hen.

Edwink

Pyxis

Aw, that's not long.

At least they're having a good quality of life for their remaining months, but it must be sad.