My eco solution to rat problems

[waders]

Hi,

In a bit of a dither. Just rescued Pearl from the fox. She's alive, breathing (if a bit fast) just very scared I should think. I've got her in a box by herself, my daughter is being the nurse - administering water and grapes as a treat.

 

My query is do I take her to the vets yet? She seems ok apart from a wing that looks a wee bit uncomfortable. She is quite quiet and calm in her box, she has stood and peeked out over the top and ate the grapes (including fingers) greedily. I was going to wait, keep her inside tonight and let her walk about to get her supper. I haven't seen her walk as she was scooped up into loving arms and was put straight into the box. She has made little noises.

 

The problem is, and I wish I'd thought about this before I got the girls, I have found out that the very local vet 'doesn't do' chooks. I explained that I only wanted a once over (after all how much different can they be to a budgie - apart from being larger!) but no. They suggested another one that is 10 minutes away so I phoned them. They do not do 'exotic' pets! They suggested another that is at least half an hour away. I do not relish distressing her more with an hours drive in all unless it's really necessary.

 

What does every one think? Husband is sat on patio with bb gun and daughter is urging him on. For a vegetarian she has now got some pretty extreme views on fox hunting!

[Egluntyne]

See how she goes.

 

If her skin hasn'r been punctured and there are no obvious fractures she might be OK.

 

Foxbites easily get infected because off all the bacteria in the fox's mouth, so if there are signs of a bite I would take her to a vet tomorrow.

 

Bach's Rescue Remedy will help her over the shock.

 

I'd keep her warm and quiet and make sure she is drinking afor tonight and reassess in the morning.

 

Bloomin' fox.

[waders]

Thanks Egluntine,

She's eating and drinking and had a little preen. I thought I'd let her out of the box to eat her supper and I can see her walk/move. My daughter is being very attentive, no-one is allowed to speak in anything louder than a whisper and she has even switched off the tele!!!

 

You mentioned Bachs Rescue remedy, how much and how would you give this to her? Luckily we have some. I can see no puncture wounds/blood so that's a plus. Should I keep her in on her own for tonight?

 

Lisa

[waders]

Hi,

Well, I lifted her out of the box to let her eat her supper. She managed to stand Ok but stayed put to eat. She then walked over to me as I was stood in the corner and she got behind me, it was like she felt safer. She definitely limped.

She has gone to sleep now, back in the box that we put on it's side with a towel for her to sleep on. We are leaving her indoors tonight but we shall have to be up early as it's quite bright in the kitchen. I have researched more vets in the area and will be phoning them in the morning to see if they will at least look at her if she is still a bit stiff and awkward.

Have also told OH that he has to pee at the bottom of the garden to deter Monsieur Reynard! Luckily we have a very large copper beech whose branches almost touch the ground!

Am now looking at extension part 2 for the eglu as I really don't feel happy letting them out now but also worry about them being bored and cramped if I don't.

[lisa33]

Hope she'll be OK.

[Egluntyne]

Just a few drops of the Bach's in her water should do the trick.

 

Good to hear that she is making the effort to get up.

[Olly]

She might just be limping because she's a bit sore, or strained something in the flapping around. What a lucky escape - I daren't let mine free-range unless I am in the garden, because of this risk, but getting a Foxwatch (sonic deterrent) has definitely put the fox off using my garden as a playground.

 

Hope she is fully recovered tomorrow. It might be worth finding a sympathetic vet anyway, in case of anything future. I can't believe they are so unhelpful ... after all, there's money in it for them! My vet is not particularly experienced with chickens, but he is willing to help. He says 'a bird is a bird, whether it's a budgie or a chicken, it's the same principles'.

[waders]

Thanks everyone for your concern over Pearl.

 

Update is I got up to find her out of her box and walking round the kitchen! She seems much, much more like her old self today. She's making those little throaty gurgles and is lapping up the one to one attention she's getting. She's walking carefully but then the floor doesn't offer her much grip and she's not limping. Her wing that I was concerned about yesterday seems more of a normal shape today too. I shall watch her to see if she stretches out her wings at all today. My daughter wants to keep her as a house chicken!! We are going to put her in the eglu with her sisters in a mo so she can give them all the gossip! I shall not be letting them out today needless to say but shall be keeping a close eye on them all.

 

Thinking of changing her name! She is always the one to find the hole in the fence and get next door, get over any obstacles or get into the kitchen when you think she can't. And now she 'escaped' the germans (Foxy)! Can anyone remember the name of Steve McQueen's character in 'The Great Escape'?

 

Definitely phoning around today to find a vet that will look at chooks. Perhaps that should be one of the must do's when thinking about getting chooks? I never gave it a second thought. I just assumed a vet would look at any animal that was hurt but then, as OH says, you should never assume anything! (right again!) I didn't like the delay whilst phoning around, what if she had really needed attention?

 

Thanks again Egluntine about the Bachs, I did put a few drops in the water. It will now be kept in the chicken drawer!

[waders]

Ooops, forgot to ask about the Foxwatch.

I have 2 very yappy noisy dogs living next door to me. Will it affect them? Not that I mind very much, it could be quite nice to sit in the garden without all the snarling and barking!! Do you put it up at the perimeter of the garden? I know it emits a noise and I take it only dogs can hear it or does it affect cats too? Another possible plus side to it perhaps! Have had a quick look on 'tinternet' but these questions remain unanswered.

Have thought about an electric fence as Monsieur Reynard can only get in at the bottom of the garden where the fence belongs to the Water Board, but there are little children to consider as the local infant school is the other side.Or is that a bit belts and braces?

Appreciate any advice.

[WitchHazel]

 

Thinking of changing her name! She is always the one to find the hole in the fence and get next door, get over any obstacles or get into the kitchen when you think she can't. And now she 'escaped' the germans (Foxy)! Can anyone remember the name of Steve McQueen's character in 'The Great Escape'?

 

Hilts.

[Gamebird]

Veronica came back after a fox took her off into the woods

 

She recovered completely and now lays the biggest eggs.

 

Steve's character was called Captain Hilts 'The Cooler King'.

 

I hope Pearl recovers quickly. Fingers crossed.

[waders]

Thanks Witch Hazel and Gamebird.

Pearl/Hilts has been doing very nicely I put her in through the egg port and when I went out later she came out to see if I had anything interesting and then went back in and sat in the nestbox! I even got a bok-bok out of her. Her wing still looks a bit stiff but she doesn't appear in any pain.

 

I haven't left the back of the house today and I haven't had the tv or radio on. My ears have been tuned into any noise from outside. I remembered that I had read somewhere about a farmer that played a radio to his girls and it relaxed them. I wonder if it would keep Monsieur Reynard away too if I played some Terry Wogan (Yes, I'm a TOG!). I'm willing to try anything!

 

I have been phoning round the vets and have got the number of a local one that will help out in an emergency and they have given me the number of another vet who is a bit further away but will give advice over the phone.

Hopefully I won't need them for a long while but I feel happier knowing I've got them.

[Louise]

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4447

 

Link to recommended vets section with a search facility to look for people who 'do' chooks

 

It drives me crazy that they do this they are supposed to see a sick animal no matter what it is as part of their registration as a vet I know I am going to get jumped on again for saying it they are not allowed not to look at an animal Even if the person can't pay believe it or not

 

They can be reported to the RVC if they refuse

 

I know they don't necessarily specialise but they can all at least decide if a wound needs cleaning or if a distressed animal needs an emergency treatment

[waders]

Thanks Louise,

 

Have had a look at the list of vets in my area and John Chitty is on there although Andover is a bit of a trek for me.

 

I didn't let the girls out yesterday at all. So I'm going to bite the bullet and let them out today under close supervision for an hour.

 

Bless her little cotton socks, Pearl actually laid an egg yesterday.

 

My son says he heard a fox last night in next doors garden but then he sleepwalks and talks gobbledegook whilst doing it! So he could have thought he heard it if it was preying on his mind

 

Next doors dogs were out early this morning, howling at nothing as usual although I did go and check just in case.

 

I haven't seen Pearl stretch her wings yet so hopefully when she gets out I can have a better look at her. She's in the mad scramble in the morning to get out and she's been eating and drinking but I also haven't seen her scratch yet either.

 

Thanks every one for your help.