HENthusiastic Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I collected my 3 rescue girls yesterday. I'm feeling so out of my depth now, and inadequate! I'm having to do some fast adaptations to their house, because they couldn't manage the ramp down into their run, they were so clumsy and kept falling off the ramp Id made. I felt awful watching them, I thought I whad done a good job, by making it a lot less steep than the one my current girls have in their coop, but they still cant use it properly. Im not doing too bad on changing it though. But Ive just seen fresh blood on one of their crowns! I know you are supposed to separate a hen if its being bullied and one of the others has drawn blood. Do I have to separate the one with blood on her crown? I dont know if she caught it on something (ill have a good check) or if one of the others did it. This is so hard, they look so threadbare and they are so scared of me it makes it hard to do anything with them, ie check the bleeding, or possible cause of it, change food water etc. One of thems laid an egg tho! Advice about the blood and general reassurance please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEB Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I haven't had rescue girls, but I've a couple of bleeding comb incidents. I think my girls had caught them on something, but I was horrified at how much they bled. I just bathed the comb with some salty water on cotton wool to clean it. The bleeding stopped(the wounds were actually tiny when cleaned) and i returned the chook to the group with no other problem. I think because the cut was on the comb where it would normally be red/pink they didn't even notice there was a wound there. If the wound was on a skin area I would probably seperate the wounded chook, But I didn't find that to be necessary for the two occasions when we've had a bleeding comb. Hope this helps. I'm sure you're doing a fantastic job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Someone with far more expertise should appear shortly, but I'll do my best in the meantime. The sight of blood can turn hens into killers, so I'd removed the chicken from the rest and put it in a box in the kitchen if you have no other alternative. There is a purple gentian spray and Stockhold tar which can be applied to wounds. Look in the Chicken Clinic forum for advice. I know you'll do your best. Be confident of a good outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Try bathing the area with warm water with tea tree oil in it. If you have Purple Spray, use some of that too. There will be pecking order disputes, but unless there is real bullying, it is better that they sort it out themselves. Some "time out" to make sure she gets to feed and drink OK may be necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 The ladder issue could solve itself as their strength developes. I noticed how weak my girls were compared to the others at first....they had trouble jumping up onto a little wall we have, whereas the others can hop up without any difficuty. A month later and they can hop up without any bother too. I would give them a couple of weeks to build up their muscles, which they haven't been able to use fully in the battery cage, and I bet they will be running up and down the ramp withut any bother. Try not to feel inadequate....you have done a wonderful thing in rescuing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 We had blood on combs too - the result of the fight for top of the pecking order which set in almost immediately. We did nothing (like yours ours were terrified of us at first) but it did not get worse (unlike the 'blood on bottom' that had them chasing Petula up and down the run about a week later). If its really bad I would try and clean it up, but if it is from them grabbing each other's combs to show who is boss I would not worry too much - as someone else said the combs are normally red, so it doesn't seem to attract attacks in the same way as blood elsewhere does. Our also had problems with the ramp we gave them - but it only took them a day or so to work it out. Try not to worry too much - everything is hard for these girls at first and it does make you wonder if you have done the right thing. (You have by the way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 Thank you all so much for your replys. It was a huge relief to read them and a huge comfort. I didn't feel like I was on my own. The blood on her comb has dried up and wasn't as serious as it sounds like some of your girls have experienced. I've seen no evidence of bullying or even any sign of sorting out a pecking order. So far they just seem to be rubbing along nicely together. I'm feeling a lot calmer now and a lot more positive. They are now in their single story apartment! so dont have any extra stress of working out ramps! They have spent ages preening and actually are looking a lot less scruffy for it. Its taken them a while, but now all three girls are coming out into the run and they are getting less paniced when I open the lid to fill up water or pick poos! Their poos have also changed from foul stinking sloopy poos to much healthier looking ones. (On their new diet of organic layers pellets which have been put through the blender for them). Now feeling optimistic! Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Sounds like you're doing a great job, Henthusiastic . I've no experience of ex-batts, but from what others are saying you're doing fine - keep it up, you've done a lovely thing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 Cant believe the change in the way I feel and the change in the girls after just one day!!! I'm still a bit worried, but nothing like as much as I was earlier today. My girls are amazing, their combs have reddened up IN ONE DAY! I cant believe its possible, but they are definitely redder than they were yesterday. I am watching them as I type and it looks like they are going to put themsleves to bed! Clever little buttons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Mine were like that yesterday as well and I did put the big bully out in the run for 10 minutes last night so that the smallest one could get something to eat and drink. Been a bit of it again today but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. Adele did tell me that all the hens from this rescue seemed feisty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Hi my exbatts were too week for the first week to get up the cube ladder, I had a couple of exra steps for them and the first two nights they had to be lifted up - but I have to say the change in how they look and their attitude has been astounding, they had a bit of pecking the first 10days to establish the order and now confidently own the garden and jump up and down in the cube as and when they want to. They are still abit scabby with feathers coming through - but happy as happy things and laying 32 eggs a week between 5. I never expected so many eggs ! was a bit over run till I got organised enough to do a egg delivery around friends. Loving my chooks, good luck with yours, am sure it will all work out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...