Hen house corner

leonie_2

Sarahsaver wrote:

How's your hen Leonie?

Hmm she's no better really Sarah.

The vet said theres nothing actually wrong with her. She doesnt have crop problems or anything.

Vet said try to feed her up, but thats easier said than done because she turns her nose up at everything. I dont think she will make it as she just lays under the bbq and just picks at the grass for perhaps 30 minutes a day. I've now got her on poultry tonic and we are syringing live yoghurt into her twice a day.

She has stopped laying now as well. Its very sad and I wish she did have something wrong with her crop as at least then I could 'fix' her.

The vet says what can happen is that the hen at the bottom of the pecking order can be bullied if she eats so they stop eating, get depressed and then thats the end, but to be honest, i've not seen any signs of bullying, they get on well together.

As for the other two, well they go from strength to strength! They run around the garden all day and fly at me for treats when I open the door. One of them lays an egg everyday bless her but the other one doesnt do eggs! Honestly she's the biggest, hungriest of them all but she wont lay an egg, not even any signs, her comb is still pink and she is content being a freeloader!

Magentasue

Leonie, if she's sinking, it might be an idea to bring her inside and keep her warm. If you have somewhere you could put her in a box, it might help her. You could then try feeding her little and often, she might eat better if the others weren't around. You don't want to do it for too long but a day or too might help build her up.

Have you tried poultry spice? It's a powder that smells like liquorice and is supposed to be a boost for poorly and moulting hens. Don't know if it's the same as poultry tonic but our hens had it all through winter and seemed to like it.

Hope things improve.

Curry_Queen

This is a very tricky situation as you can add to her stress with the force feeding etc (been there, done it with my reptiles) yet if she doesn't eat you know she will die :wall:

All I can suggest is to provide as stress free an environment as you can manage, even if it means separating her temporarily, but also have minimal contact with her if that makes sense.

Most animals won't starve thenselves voluntarily, but when being bullied this becomes more prelavent, and you may not even notice it happening. Hens are very social creatures and have an astute pecking order, which is why it's advised to keep them in flocks (minimum of 6) rather than pairs, or even trios, to minimise the effects.

I don't think all is lost yet though if you can separate her and get her to eat/drink again, or alternatively see if you can't rehome her into a much larger group where she won't feel the recessive one of a bunch

Sarahsaver

good luck with the poorly hen *hugs*

leonie_2

Thanks guys.

I do hope that she pulls through as they are such lovely girls :-(

I honestly didnt think she was the bottom of the pecking order, for instance, today the other two were sunbathing and the poorly one came over and started pulling at one of the sunbathers feathers. The pecked one looked 'put out' but didnt peck back and finally just got up and walked off!! Surely if she was higher up in the pecking order she wouldnt have stood for it?

I honestly dont know the answer. I am trying to let poorly girl come in the house but she isnt keen and just stands at the door. She has been eating a bit of grass today.

I am wondering whether I should get another couple of hens so five of them wont have the 'two and one' situation. Maybe thats the way to go but I was hoping to buy the others later on in the year so I would still have a couple of layers whilst one lot was in moult.

Thanks again, I shall of course keep you updated :-)

Curry_Queen

Please don't add any more hens to your collection until you get to the bottom of why one is ill.

I've not really kept up with how/where you got your hens, but I'm assuming you got them all together from the same place, and fairly recently? You must treat them as though they're "in quarantine" for the next few months, even moreso now you have one that isn't "well", and not allow any other poultry come into contact with them for now.

leonie_2

Ok advice taken on board, wont add to my three. I just wondered whether it would take the pressure off her in the pecking order.

I have only had them for two weeks and yes they were all together in a barn. They are free ranging in my garden and have a purpose built coop for the night-time. The vet says that this type of hen (warrens) can just lay themselves to death but I cant see that being the case as I was told they are only about 20 weeks old.

I am careful with them and in fact they are quite spoilt with affection and treats so I dont think its neglect or anything. Other people on this board have had hens from the same place as me and had no problems and my other two are so happy and bubbly its like having puppies rushing around.

I think I will ring the vets again tomorrow and ask if she can give me any more help, although to be honest I dont think she has anymore answers for me. I rang the farm and they said its probably sour crop (vet says not)

When I put dinner out (they have layers pellets available at all times plus greens from the garden as they are free range, the dinner is just a treat) I pick poorly girl up and put her with the others who are tucking in, she puts her head in and sniffs but never really bothers. The others dont stop her or anything, she just isnt interested :-(

Curry_Queen

Some vets, especially small animal practices, will have no experience and very little knowledge, apart from what they can read in any books to hand, of how to treat poultry so ring around all the vets in your area to find someone experienced in farm livestock.

I'd sooner trust an old farmer than an inexperienced vet on matters like this

Sarahsaver

leonie have you contacted the farm you got them from?

Curry_Queen

She said she had above