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

[Nats]

Queenie jumped over the fence into the delighted mouths of my two terriers who are not chicken friendly. Nasty wound so straight to the vet. He said it was a large skin wound but only skin - what did we want to do? I'm sure you'll understand that we gave the go ahead for operation stitch up (not everyone thinks she was worth the cost at over £75 for the operation!) but feeling somewhat responsible we did it. She is one of our layers and she's only 25 weeks old bless her.

 

She's caged in the conservatory as she's not allowed to move too much and must be kept warm while healing. Post op check after five days so hopefully she'll be back with her chums and happy again soon.

 

Am I just a sentimetal fool or would you have saved your hen too? I'd be interested to know!

 

Of course the next step is to ensure this doesn't happen again..............

[Nats]

Oh yeh, and she even laid an egg the day after the operation but not since. So cute.

[Tiggy]

some people see hens as a commodity & wouldn't spend too money but once they become a family pet it's different I've spent £100s over the years looking after my 2 cats, so I dont suppose the hens will be any different

[laurmurf]

Hi Nats,

yup - i would have done the same.

Speaking as someone else who took a chook to the vet yesterday, and who is now hand feeding said chook to encourage her to eat more - I'm with you on this! Our Buffy is living indoors too, confined to stop her trying to move around too much: she could do with a bit more head room though!

 

Good luck with your girl and I'm really pleased that it wasn't worse, for Queenie or for you!

[chelsea]

yes definitely, our girls are like family so yes we would have spent the money.

 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery

 

Naughty terriers!

[Olly]

Glad she's ok, hope she recovers quickly.

 

I made a policy decision before I got my chooks, that I would treat simple illnesses, and of course not let them suffer, but that I would not go down the route of operations etc if they got anything more serious.

 

Having said that, I think I'd probably have done exactly the same as you in these circumstances! What she has is obviously treatable, and not likely to recur - but I wouldn't want to put a bird through repeated procedures and operations if it had a digestive or egg-laying problem, for example.

 

It is a very personal decision though, I've spent hundreds on the cat but although I love my chooks I don't view them in quite the same way. To others, they are treasured pets and I guess that's what makes us all different.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I hope she recovers quickly, poor little thing.

 

I think I would probably have done the same as you . She is still very young and will recover fully whereas, as Olly says, if it was a condition that required constant intervention I might feel it kinder not to put her through it. Never had to make that decision however, so don't really know .

[Redwing]

I would have spent the money

 

A few months ago I felt very passionate about the fact that we should all spend lots of money on vets bills if necessary however now I realise that not everyone feels that way and it is a very individual decision!

 

Money is tight in some cases and sometimes people see their chickens differently (although love them no less)

[Janty]

We would have done the same thing in your circumstances.

We had to call the vet earlier today for advice.

To us the girls are no different to the cats or the hamster.

[Egluntyne]

Poor girl....and poor you. A nasty shock.

 

You have learned the hard way that terriers and hens aren't a good mix.

 

Fingers crossed that she makes a full recovery.

[blackgold]

All of our animals if they need the vet gets to go, We must have spent £000s over the years. I am worried about my girls jumping fences and meeting some of our dogs. I will have to be there all the time as my dogs will drop and lie down on command.Luckily our dogs are border collies and dont usually attack other animals but will nip if the said animal doesnt move when asked

[Julia W]

Just like Tiggy, I've spent £100's over the years on my cats and wouldn't hesitate to take my lovely chickens to the vet if necessary.

[Alfred]

Obviously it's an individual decision but £75 is the sort of amount that some people spend on getting a hair do - or on 2 weeks worth of petrol - or a couple of nights out. Doesn't seem too bad to save a well loved pet compared to those things.

 

£75 well spent if you ask me!!

[sandyhas3chucks]

Hi Nats,

yup - i would have done the same.

Speaking as someone else who took a chook to the vet yesterday, and who is now hand feeding said chook to encourage her to eat more - I'm with you on this! Our Buffy is living indoors too, confined to stop her trying to move around too much: she could do with a bit more head room though!

 

Good luck with your girl and I'm really pleased that it wasn't worse, for Queenie or for you!

Same her, got 2 hoUse chooks!

[chickenanne]

Broadly agree with Olly. Though would make an exception in spending £lots on treatment for an injury for Biscuits. Or Pertelote, as they are more like pets than the others.

[Woodcat]

we have taken ours to the vets one of them even had to stay in for 2 days (the mother was not impressed at that one) and would do it again in a heart beat. when our lousia died we were at least has heart broken as when our cats have if not maybe a little moreso in my case so on that basis yes they're chooks but they are pets first.

[callyfc]

I think its money well spent too.

I went into my local vets just before the girls arrived in July, to ask if they treat hens. The girl at the desk told me " no we only treat, cats , dogs, small animals and birds " " What is a hen then I asked??" She couldnt answer that one, but went on to tell me how you just wring their necks if the get ill. I wonder if thats what she tells budgie and parrot owners!

Thank goodness Ive not needed a vet yet. But I certainally wont be taking the advice of my local vet !!!

[Nats]

Queenie update:

I thought I would give you a Queenie update. She went back to the vet on Monday for her post op check. The wound was doing well so the vet agreed we could try to reintroduce her to the others with supervision to be careful about pecking. Fortunately the others welcomed her back and Queenie put herself to bed in the coop and seemed pleased to be back in the garden. She is going to the vet again tomorrow for her final check and hopefully that will be the end of the saga.

Large poultry pen on order, arrives next week. This has a roof so she won't be able to jump over the fence into the terriers mouths.

Thanks for all your comments

[sandyhas3chucks]

ahhh, so pleased to read good news!

[Alfred]

Very glad to hear it has all ended well. Good on your vets and you for the TLC!!!

 

Callyfc, the receptionist at your vets probably only meant that they don't get many hens in, if you spoke to the actual vet they would more than likely be happy to look at a hen (although would probably not be very experienced and you might still be better going elsewhere!)

[laurmurf]

somewhere else there is a post about finding a poultry specialist vet via the Veterniary website... can't remember exactly where but it does give you an idea of who is in the area who knows their chooks. Turns out York has a huge specialisty chook vet practice, found out when i looked!

[sandyhas3chucks]

it was om the royal vet S RVS? website look under find a vet advanced options Poultry

[callyfc]

Thanks , I ve now found a good hen vet through my chicken breeder!

Hope I dont need him!!