Chicken Licken Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Barry is my Bovans Nera hen. She has always been a scraggly looking hen with wonky tail feathers. I have been away for a week and come home to a very thin and scrawny chicken. She has been bullied by Primrose who keeps leaping on top of her to establish her place att he top of the pecking order. The friend who has been taking care of them seems to have fed them solely on treats, but Barry seems to be fading away. I have started her on flubenvet today and also bought some of the ex bat crumb to see if she will pick up a bit on more nutritious feed - I will also shut Primrose out into the netted area and keep Barry in the run for a couple of days respite! Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be the problem and anything I can do for her?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 might the bully have kept her away from the food the whole week you were away? perhaps some extra protein washed tuna (not in brine) mealworms. there will be more suggestions come soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I was thinking the same as sandyhas3chucks. My Stella is the bottom of the pecking order (still after 2 years). She is always jumped on and pushed out of the way when treats are around. So I put treats in 3 bowls when they are free ranging and spread them round the garden so she has a bit more of a chance to get at a bowl. But even then after a bit of a nibble she still gets chased off and goes off on her own. She's my favourite hen and I take her away from the others and give her her own personal treats sometimes. I expect your chook just needs feeding up with pellets/mash like you suggest. Not your chicken sitters fault at all. Chickens and the pecking order thing is just what they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I was thinking the same as sandyhas3chucks. My Stella is the bottom of the pecking order (still after 2 years). She is always jumped on and pushed out of the way when treats are around. So I put treats in 3 bowls when they are free ranging and spread them round the garden so she has a bit more of a chance to get at a bowl. But even then after a bit of a nibble she still gets chased off and goes off on her own. She's my favourite hen and I take her away from the others and give her her own personal treats sometimes. I expect your chook just needs feeding up with pellets/mash like you suggest. Not your chicken sitters fault at all. Chickens and the pecking order thing is just what they do. flippin heck I was doing that for the last 10 months too! and the fav same!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
