Keeping hens and ducks chat.

ali-t

Thanks for all of the good wishes. Her eyes and nose are fine and she laid an egg yesterday indoors but stood on it so it broke. A night indoors has done her the world of good so we put her in the garden this morning and she was wandering about scratching the ground happy as larry. I have put her in a coop with a run inside the large enclosure so she can either rest in the coop or scratch about outside while we are at work today. She nas got her own food and the glucose drink and seems mjch better so time will tell. I tnink i have seen the tonic mentioned in pets at home so will pop in there on my way home tonight. Thanks everyone

Happygreen

ali-t wrote: »

We have a sick hen today and no idea what is wrong with her. This morning when I went to let them all out she was sitting on the bottom of the coop (not particularly strange as for some reason 10 of them piled in the one coop last night) but she wouldn't move and when we picked her up she wouldn't stand up and just fell over to the side.


She didn't appear to have any problem with her crop or her vent and no obvious injuries so we brought her inside to try to feed her and keep her away from the other hens who were pecking her - vicious little beasts aren't they?


Still no idea what is wrong with her but we got a glucose based 'tonic' from the place we got her - a bit like berocca for birds and she has perked up a bit but sleeping indoors in a dog cage tonight. Fingers xed she will be ok but everything we have read online says the symptoms are a sure sign she is on her way to the chicken afterlife :-( She is only about 20 weeks old so really hoping she pulls through.


Any thoughts for what it could be or suggestions for perking her up a bit?

Ali-t, we were in a similar situation last year when a rejected newcomer died. We found out later that she had been too cold because the night temperature had rapidly dropped and she'd been sitting on the floor with nobody to keep her warm. So taking her inside was a good move if that might have been the cause. I so hope she pulls through as it is heart breaking when they go for not real reason...

edwink

Hi Alt-t


Aww bless her. She appears to have had a good night indoors which may have done her some good. You could try that again for a couple of nights to see if that will help her.


Just wondered what her weight is like compared to your others. Are the others allowing her to get to the food?


Please let us know how she is doing.


Edwink x

Better_Days

Sorry to hear about the poorly hen, but TLC can make a massive difference.

We have found keeping a poorly hen inside in the warmth with food, water, treats and plain yoghurt to tempt her to be helpful. I use one of those microwave heat pads to keep the carrier nice and warm (also use them at night when we got some new hens in January)

Dominant hens can guard food and water, so make sure there is more than one feeding / drinking station in their run.

Poultry drops are a great pick-me-up and we give these to any under the weather hen. Really does seem to give an immediate boost http://www.amazon.co.uk/Net-Tex-Poultry-Nutri-Drops/dp/B003L6PN02

Hope she continues to improve.

ali-t

There is no issue about her getting food as we have 2 feeders and 2 waters and lots of extras. Despite being one of the 2 babies she is one of the bigger hens and has outgrown the older ones.


That's a good point about not being warm enough but sometimes there is only one hen in one of the coops and all the others are in the other one. The night this was unwell they were all in one coop which was unusual.


I might bring her in again tonight depending on how she has got on today.

zaax

Has something given them a fright, a Fox been around, but not got in?

edwink

Hi Ali-t

How is your little hen doing? Is she ok?

Mine have had a soaking in the garden today because of the almost non stop rain. They had some lovely warm spaghetti for lunch today and some kibbled corn. So that should have warmed them up. The newer rescue girls look so tiny when their feathers are wet, bless them.

Thinking of you Ali-t and your little hen.

Edwink x

ali-t

Great news on the littlie front, she is doing fabulously. No sign of any after effects and she is back to her clucking normal self.

im pretty sure a fox hasnt got in as they are in a coop inside a secure pen in the garden but its definitely worth considering. Thanks for all the well wishes.

jim-jim

Hi, thanks for the advice on the 'things' we didnt set fire to the coop due to the weather, but what ever they were they have gone. (touch wood)
Still getting 5-6 eggs a day even with this manky weather.
jim-jim x

edwink

ali-t wrote: »

Great news on the littlie front, she is doing fabulously. No sign of any after effects and she is back to her clucking normal self

That's great news ali-t. I am so very pleased for you and your little hen. What a great outcome. Even though they can be quite fragile at times some soon bounce back.

That has made my day!! YAY!!!

Edwink x