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

[miffy]

Couldnt believe the state of Primrose when I saw her this afternoon!!!! I thought she had been moulting, now I dont think so.

Please can you advise...I have no idea whats happening or what to do....please help!!!!!

[miffy]

I dont know what to do.

 

I have just settled them down for the night and I shall make an appt to see vet tomorrow. I really thought she was moulting......It wasnt like that on tuesday, at least I dont think so, I dont know now,... I.m sure it wasnt, I would have noticed how could I not see THAT

She has seemed to be moulting for a few weeks, I have dusted them all with louse/spider powdre again only 2 weeks ago and they seemed clear.

She is eating as usual, moving around as usual, laying as usual.....What a trouper!!! she must be feeling awful. It does look worse on these pics than I could see in real life....didnt have my glasses on.

oh hell......I feel really guilty, I wouldnt have let Millie get in that state.....I dont understand whats happened......or how its happened.

Should I have separated her...(just though) not sure what into.....cardboard box maybe.......then put her in lean to or the shed..........oh dear..........just off to have a peek.......

 

edited to apologise for ramlings of a guilty soul

[jos]

Can't help with what it is but would just say keep an eye on her tomorrow, the others may get "excited" by the sight and smell of blood and have a go at her.

Hope the vet can help.

J

[helenmb]

Ooh, looks a bit nasty for poor Primrose, however, it might look worse than it is. The vet will be able to clean it all up and have a good look for what the problem is. Don't feel guilty as hens are very good at hiding when they are under the weather so they don't loose their place in the pecking order.

 

Let us know how you get on

[miffy]

just had a peek, Daisy and Violet are snuggled up, asleep but Primsose is just standing there awake. she just looked at me, as if to say" what do you want" They all used to snuggle up together, is this change significant... Daisy in the nest box, then Primrose standing up then violet snuggled up on the other side.

[emmaw298]

its difficult to see from the photo, but could the other hens have pecked her, causing the wound? could you see any signs of blood on the other hen's beaks?

[Christian]

It does look like she has been pecked. If you can, clean the wound with salty water or tea tree oil and water if you have any. I would separate her from the others, as they will be attracted to the blood. Can you get hold of some purple spray? It will disguise the wound. The Vet might have some? They usually have a purple wound spray that is antiseptic aswell as a deterrent.

 

If it is pecking, then try and get hold of some bumper bits to protect her from further pecking.

 

Details are **here**

 

Hope she is better soon.

[miffy]

I have just checked again and they are all asleep now.

I feel so guilty, I have not been as vigilant as usual ( wont bore you with why) and as we have not had problems before I guess I put them down the list of priorities. which is perhaps why I missed earlier signs.

Ive never seen them peck her, why would they start now?

Just discussing with YS how we can separate her tomorrow, does she need to be separated 24 hrs or just day or just night? Will she be ok in a box alone for a couple of hours in the morning, till I sort something out for her?

Will call vet first thing, hope he treats chickens!!!! and ask about purple spray, can I buy it or is it a POM thanks Christian and Emma

I havent noticed any blood on beaks of the others but if I missed this, I guess I could have missed anything.

I am horrified at this situation, dont know how to tell MiL, shes still very shakey after her eye op, she will be very distressed

[chelsea]

they might have pecked because she is moulting.....the new feathers growing through might have caused a tiny pin prick of blood which the other hens would have been drawn to.

 

It should heal though, it looks nasty but with regular cleaning to prevent infection and spraying to stop the pecking. Just keep an eye on her

[Egluntyne]

It does look as if she has been pecked I would definitely take her to the vet tomorrow. In the mean time I'd bring her in and keep her warm and bathe and dry the wound, as Christian suggests.

[miffy]

Have bought her in, she is in the guest bedroom, inside a cardboard box, with lots of straw. I tried to bathe her wound, but she didnt like it at all!! will try again in the morning. Thanks for your help everyone.

[miffy]

She is now in the kitchen causing chaos!!! She has let me bathe the wound and its not looking so bad this morning,now its cleaned up. She has eaten a little and had a small amount of water. I had to phone 3 vets before I found one who would see a chicken however I have been told that this practice have an avian vet so that bodes well we have an appt at 5pm.

I made her pellets into a porrige but she still isnt interested.

We have found some chicken wire in the shed are are about to make a separate run for her, not ideal but the best we can do at this time.

her poo is very runny this morning and STINKS not like usual. No idea what that means.....begining to think keeping these girls are not for us I dont have the knowledge or confidence now.....

havent seen Mil yet to tell her...........

[miffy]

temporary run now in situ, just need to sort out a rain cover, sky is looking very ominous. She has laid a HUGE egg, and is now perched on th bar under the kitchen table. MiL seems to have taken it in her stride,but hard to tell really as she still out of sorts. She did enjoy sitting in the kitchen watching Primrose though. I will bathe her again in the next hour.

 

 

edit

 

MiL just been in to tell me she thinks the chickens are more trouble than they are worth, thats just brilliant.

[Scottie]

Try not to let this get on top of you - easy to say I know! Once you've been to the vet things will hopefully look much better. We've had a couple of difficulties with our hens in the last couple of months and things have got better.

 

Best wishes

 

Sheila

[Egluntyne]

Sling a deaf ear to MIL.

 

There are bound to be ups and downs occassionally when keeping hens. We've all had 'em and most have a simple solution.

 

You did the right thing by coming onto the forum, asking questions and following the advice given.

 

You will feel much better about it all in a day or two I'm sure.

[Groovychook]

Sling a deaf ear to MIL.

 

Quite right! That's the last thing you need to hear, isn't it?!

 

If you need bumpa bits a.s.a.p, I have a couple spare that you could have... I could put them in the post for you or you'd be welcome to collect them if you're passing through North Cornwall!

 

Hope Primrose is on the mend soon...

[SillyClucker]

Is that the oil gland (not sure if that's the right name for it) that's got infected?

[Egluntyne]

You know, you are right...it is the area of the preen gland, and if she had some irritation in it, she could have done the damage herself.

[sandyhas3chucks]

got some sudocrem?

[miffy]

Interesting about the preen gland, I have still never seen the others go for her.

However we saw a lovelly Vet,and V nurse both obviously love their chickens. She didnt mention the preenn gland though. She said Primrose it a bit light, and the feathers are fractured rather than moulted she said that indicates bullying, the others have deceided that Primrose is bottom of the flock. She said we are doing the right things, separating trying to encourage her to eat and bathing the wound. Thank you all for your advice.

We have baytrl to give for a week, I remembered to ask about egg withdrawal, she said 2 weeks. She also felt that we may need to keep her apart from the others rather long term as once they all see her as the lowest they probably always will. we will keep her apart at least while we givethe baytril, to give chance for the wounds to begin to heal.

 

Thanks to you I know we have done the right things, but i do feel I should have noticed something was wrong sooner.

 

 

This experience has shaken me, to be honest and I am seriously reflecting on chicken keeping. We didnt go into it lightly recognising many potential problems and to be honest knowledge of this forum was also a plus. But, you cant plan for lifes difficulties or how your life will change.

 

On a brighter note Primrose and I had a great morning together in the kitchen, its probably the only time I have spent watching, talking and enjoying her company. Usually "doing the girls" is just another job to get done.

[miffy]

thanks groovychook for the offer, but at the moment I feel happier keeping them apart. If we were to use these bumper bits would that mean we could keep them together?? it does seem very odd keeping her apart.

[sandyhas3chucks]

you will get lots of replies about separating her long term, as long as she is with them supervised, you will have a better chance of reintroiducing her later. someone will always be bottom, they just don't always get attacked. `the sudocrem if you have some is great it will sooth it & heal, you will be surprised.

i will leave thois short for now, had loads ptoblems similar.

[helenmb]

We have baytrl to give for a week, I remembered to ask about egg withdrawal, she said 2 weeks.

I was very naughty when my girls had Baytril as I ate the eggs anyway. I'm not allergic to antibiotics (I've had lots of different ones over the years) but my DH is so I tried them, no ill effects so I carried on (not DH though). I'm sure someone will tell me that this is not allowed but I couldn't think that anything that would treat a chicken was likely to hurt someone much much bigger than them. Although I stand to be corrected .

 

Anyway, glad you've been to the vets and had some reassurance too. It have to say it did look a bit like a pecked area so hope that is will clear up and they will find something else to occupy them (not each other either!).

[emmaw298]

really glad the cause has been found and it must be some relief it is nothing contagious so you don't need to worry about your other girls health.

i experienced a nasty pecking incident. it healed well after much bathing ( I used hibiscrub) and then I placed her back outside but separated from the other girls by chicken wire - its important they can still see her and be as close to her possible during the separation phase so they still recognise who she is. she sheltered in a rabbit hutch during the day and we brought her in at night in a box in the spare room. after about 2 weeks we started putting her into the eglu at night when the others were sleepy but still separated her during the day. after a week of this and all ok we let them free range together and fingers crossed they have not pecked her again. she is still the most submissive, letting the other hens eat first but thankfully no more injuries. successful re-integration can be done! good luck!

ps- i know how it knocks your confidence when these things happen, but we cant be around to monitor our girls 24 hours a day. im sure you noticed as soon as anyone else would have. you're doing the best for her and with all these supportive messages from the forum you will find you'll feel much better soon. especially when you see how all your TLC will pay off xx

[Egluntyne]

Bumperbits should allow them to live together harmoniously.

 

You could also divide and conquer buy removing one of the bullies and putting her in with the other, when she is recovered. It might do the trick.