Keeping hens and ducks chat.

Cheery_Daff

Aw bless her Rebekah. Poor little thing. Is there a chance she might have jumped off something and hurt her leg? One of our new rescues barely stood up when we got her - we were advised to put her on 'cage rest' (on her own in a dog crate, but still in the run, so she could get at food and water without being trampled) and after a few days of sitting down she stood up and has been fine since.

It's a good sign that she's enthusiastic about treats, and CAN still stand up. If she was proper poorly she'd be looking all miserable and refusing food and feeling sorry for herself.

I'd make sure she gets into the coop with the others tonight, then see how she is in the morning. If the others aren't bothering her maybe observe her for a day or so, but if they are, maybe cage rest to keep her put of harm's way. 

You could try ringing the British Hen Welfare Trust phone line tomorrow, they may have other suggestions.

Do you have a local vet you could take her to if she gets worse?

edwink

Hi Rebekah

Aww, your poor little hen. To be honest I'd go with what Cheery has already said. Definitely, a good sign with the enthusiasm for treats, that's for sure. Poorly hens normally totally ignore food and treats. Also, a good sign that she has laid an egg too. Is there anything from a height she could have jumped from in their enclosure at all?. I am wondering if one of your other hens has jumped on her in a dominant sort of way as they would at this stage be sorting out between them who will be the top hen. And, yes there really is a pecking order with hens. Another hen may have jumped on her as a Cockerel would normally and she has been too rough with her and slightly squashed her leg perhaps. You could check her toenails to see if there is a problem there like a snapped/broken one too close to the toe itself, or she may have one that is too long and is getting sore. 

Tomorrow watch her and see if she is limping in any way at all even if just very slightly. That might give you the answer.

Do let us know how she is when you get a minute, bless her. 

Edwink x

RebekahR

She's the same today. Just sat down most of the day. Still comes for treats. Eating and drinking if its taken to her otherwise not really seeking it out. Talking. Will let us pick her up although usually she runs away so that's out of character. She can stand as we put fruit out for her in the kitchen and she ate grapes and strawberries. So no idea what's going on! Checked for mites/lice and nothing. Might have to seek out a vet end of the week or so. Given poultry tonic tonight we shall see.

edwink

RebekahR said:

She's the same today. Just sat down most of the day. Still comes for treats. Eating and drinking if its taken to her otherwise not really seeking it out. Talking. Will let us pick her up although usually she runs away so that's out of character. She can stand as we put fruit out for her in the kitchen and she ate grapes and strawberries. So no idea what's going on! Checked for mites/lice and nothing. Might have to seek out a vet end of the week or so. Given poultry tonic tonight we shall see.

Hi Rebekah

From what you have said she doesn't seem to be in any sort of pain or discomfort, which is good. A really poorly hen wouldn't normally want "any" food or even treats and as you say she will eat.  When she eats the grapes and strawberries have you tried spacing them out on the floor to see how she walks to each piece of fruit? If not you could try that and see how she moves about on the floor. I'd space them out quite a bit and see how she reacts to it. 

Edwink x

RebekahR

edwink said:

RebekahR said:

She's the same today. Just sat down most of the day. Still comes for treats. Eating and drinking if its taken to her otherwise not really seeking it out. Talking. Will let us pick her up although usually she runs away so that's out of character. She can stand as we put fruit out for her in the kitchen and she ate grapes and strawberries. So no idea what's going on! Checked for mites/lice and nothing. Might have to seek out a vet end of the week or so. Given poultry tonic tonight we shall see.

Hi Rebekah

From what you have said she doesn't seem to be in any sort of pain or discomfort, which is good. A really poorly hen wouldn't normally want "any" food or even treats and as you say she will eat.  When she eats the grapes and strawberries have you tried spacing them out on the floor to see how she walks to each piece of fruit? If not you could try that and see how she moves about on the floor. I'd space them out quite a bit and see how she reacts to it. 

Edwink x

The girl is slightly better today. She came in and had some fruit and water. Then wandered around for a bit hten went to lie down again then up a bit later and wandered for another 20 minutes. She is chatty and happy enough so the only thing we can think of is if she has hurt herself somehow? But not mega bad. I dunno! Will see how she is Friday and re-assess. Meant to be going away next week for Easter so don't want a poorly bird whilst away!

edwink

RebekahR said:

edwink said:

RebekahR said:

She's the same today. Just sat down most of the day. Still comes for treats. Eating and drinking if its taken to her otherwise not really seeking it out. Talking. Will let us pick her up although usually she runs away so that's out of character. She can stand as we put fruit out for her in the kitchen and she ate grapes and strawberries. So no idea what's going on! Checked for mites/lice and nothing. Might have to seek out a vet end of the week or so. Given poultry tonic tonight we shall see.

Hi Rebekah

From what you have said she doesn't seem to be in any sort of pain or discomfort, which is good. A really poorly hen wouldn't normally want "any" food or even treats and as you say she will eat.  When she eats the grapes and strawberries have you tried spacing them out on the floor to see how she walks to each piece of fruit? If not you could try that and see how she moves about on the floor. I'd space them out quite a bit and see how she reacts to it. 

Edwink x

The girl is slightly better today. She came in and had some fruit and water. Then wandered around for a bit hten went to lie down again then up a bit later and wandered for another 20 minutes. She is chatty and happy enough so the only thing we can think of is if she has hurt herself somehow? But not mega bad. I dunno! Will see how she is Friday and re-assess. Meant to be going away next week for Easter so don't want a poorly bird whilst away!

Hi again

We have had several girls here limp or whatever and within a few days or even a week, they are back up on their feet again as if nothing has happened.  The trouble with hens is they are nosy and climb on things just to get a better look at something or are just curious about what is on the other side of something so climb up to have a look and then wonder how they will get down again. So they sort of fly down awkwardly and land with a bump and then start limping or just sit about because their leg or foot aches or really hurts them.  Funny creatures these hens are. bless them.

Hope she improves further.

Edwink x

RebekahR

Well yesterday the girl looked better and today she did too. Only sat down a couple of times otherwise pretty much back to normal! Phew!!

edwink

RebekahR said:

Well yesterday the girl looked better and today she did too. Only sat down a couple of times otherwise pretty much back to normal! Phew!!

That is great news, bless her.  She was obviously resting it and trying to hide it by sitting down a lot. 

It is always a good sign when hens are still eating or at the very least responding to treats.

Edwink x

edwink

I am really feeling for my girls with this really nice sunny weather because hens do like to sunbathe and feel the warmth on their little bodies. There is nothing better than watching a hen flop down on the ground anywhere they feel like and spread their wings in order to get as much sun on themselves as possible.  As most of you know hens are busy little things and spend the best part of the day either feeding, scratching about, or dustbathing and rarely just stop and relax. So with them being in lockdown and undercover, I do miss seeing them sunbathing. 

We often go out for walks and sometimes quite long ones which we enjoy and I can't help feeling annoyed about the number of hens we have seen out and about and their owners NOT sticking to the Avian Flu Lockdown rules. I have a relative who works at a local farm about 5 miles away that has well over 200 hens and he has said they are all out every day and never kept in or undercover.  It really makes me cross because we are religiously sticking fully to the Avain lockdown rules by keeping ours penned in and undercover and have disinfectant boot dips to use before entering their runs as required whilst others within 5 miles of us are just doing as they please. 

Just wondering if anyone else on here has seen the same as us. 

Edwink x

edwink

Lost one of our ex-battery girls during the night.  Bless her we found her in the nesting box when we opened up this morning.

Edwink x