4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[ValR]

Have just posted this as a reply on a 'clinic' topic, but would really like some advice:

 

My gingernut has been sneezing since she arrived, 10 days ago. She also had a broken beak. Omlet sent me some citracidal, which I've been using for about 5 days now, and I've been putting chicken spice with her feed for 3 or 4 days. If anything she's getting worse. The pepperpot has grown noticeably, she hasn't,

Question - Omlet have offered to exchange her on Thursday, which is tempting. It would be good to start with a healthy chicken, but the pepperpot has got used to her, so have I, and it would be a shame to have to go through the 5-days confined to the run getting used to the eglu again.

What should I do?

[Egluntyne]

Difficult. What a shame.

 

If she is getting worse I think I'd let Omlet take her back. The pepperpot will soon get used to the replacement, as it is early days.

 

Omlet have given assurances that the occasional sick chicken that is returned to them will not be routinely culled, if that is what is at the back of your mind, but they are nursed back to health, and usually adopted buy one of the staff.

 

Sorry you are going through this.

[Cinnamon]

If I were in your situation,then yes,I would exchange her for a healthier hen.

 

BUT,I would also get a secon hen from Omlet at the same time,to help smooth over the introductions (its much easier with 2-1), & also because 3 is the perfect starter flock amount,in my opinion.

That way,if & when you lose a hen,you will still have a pair left.

 

Hope it works out for you

[Yolky]

Just wanted to add I have an omlet chook with a broken beak. She is totally fine and it doesn't bother her or stop her feeding or anything.

[buffie]

If I were in your situation,then yes,I would exchange her for a healthier hen.

 

BUT,I would also get a secon hen from Omlet at the same time,to help smooth over the introductions (its much easier with 2-1), & also because 3 is the perfect starter flock amount,in my opinion.

That way,if & when you lose a hen,you will still have a pair left.

 

Hope it works out for you

 

Not sure what to say except go with your instinct perhaps. I am with Sarah on getting two more hens

 

Buffie x

[ValR]

There's some really helpful replies thanks. I'll certainly think about getting 2 new ones - but aren't 3 chickens rather squashed in an eglu run? Although they'll be let out most days (after the 5 day accclimatising) there will be odd weekends when they'll be confined to the run.

[Egluntyne]

They will be fine if they are only confined for long periods occasionally.

[hils78]

Ditto to what others have said - take up Omlet on their offer but get 2 more.

[Al]

We had 3 chickens which have been left in the run for a week while we were on holiday, coming out for only a couple of hours per day when friends came round to collect eggs, check food and water etc. They were fine.

 

Now we have 4 we have ordered a run converter, but 3 seemed ok in the eglu run, as long as they weren't kept in the run all day.

[RubyReckless]

yes, I agree 3 are fine in the eglu run if they get free-ranging time too. Sorry your poor gingernut is under the weather.

 

My first hen (a Warren) was ill within a couple of days of getting her and I spent a lot of vet bills, and had to administer antibiotics twice a day. If I could have swapped her for a healthier hen while I was a novice it would have been an easier introduction to poultry keeping

[ValR]

Just to let you know that I've decided to persevere with my gingernut. A tough decision, but she actually looked quite perky this morning and for once her tail was up, so in spite of the sneezes she's staying!

 

Thanks for all the supportive posts.

[Egluntyne]

Good to hear that she is improving.

[Chicken Licken]

My speckledy Primrose has been sneezing on and off since I got her - the vet checked her out and says she is okay - she has citricidal in the water and tends to sneeze when she is too greedy and eats too quickly.

 

I'm sure your poorly girl will perk up soon enough.

[Hen Watch]

Just to let you know that I've decided to persevere with my gingernut. A tough decision, but she actually looked quite perky this morning and for once her tail was up, so in spite of the sneezes she's staying!

 

Thanks for all the supportive posts.

 

Glad to hear she is looking more perky. Tough decision, I would be the same not knowing which way to jump.

 

I had a sneezy chook last year, 2 weeks of Citricidal in the water and she was fine. It may have been the Citricidal or she may have just got over it, I will never know. She sometimes gets the odd sneeze for a few days but gets over it. However, it is good to keep an eye on them in case it is anything serious.

 

Don't worry about the beak. If she eats and drinks then she is OK. I had an Omlet girl delivered with a chipped top beak. 16 months later it is a little more rounded and worn but she's fine. I also bought a chook from an agent with a perfectly formed beak, and within a few months she managed to chip the top beak and I have no idea how or why, but she is OK too. Not sure if this pic of her beak will come out ok. The little white bit you see in the pic is her lower beak sticking out under the rounded top bit.

 

[ValR]

That's exactly how mine looks. She seems to have no problems eating and foraging so I'm living with it.

I have to say my Pepperpot is a little darling!

[Yolky]

Thats good news. I have to say I put citradel in the water all the time as a preventitive measure.

[MedusA]

My Gingernut (Scully) had the same beak issue - top beak shorter than the bottom. She's about 18 months old and has never had any problems eating or drinking.

 

I have to admit that I'm glad you decided to keep yours, ValR, as I would have done the same. I would rather nurse a sickly hen than consider giving her back, though I appreciate it's not an ideal introduction to hen-keeping. I would always be worrying what happened to her if I sent her back. I do realise that not everyone would agree with me and that I am a total softie!

 

Citricidal is brilliant for chicken sniffles. It worked a treat when Toffee had the sneezes.

[ValR]

How much did you add to the water? Omlet suggested 2 drops per pint, but I'm wondering whether that's enough as she's not improving.

[MedusA]

Sorry for the late reply. Haven't been online since Thursday.

 

A squeeze per glug. I'm not scientific about it, I'm afraid. Hope your hen is on the mend. *hugs*

[Mrs Frugal]

Citricidal is very bitter so if you add too much to their water, there's a risk that they won't drink at all and hens can dehydrate quickly. I use 2 drops per litre for my own hens and have got them through sniffles and runny noses brought on by the stress of being transported and introduced to the others before.