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

[Nick&Trish]

We have two hens, Geraldine (boss hen), a Gingernut Ranger, and Victoria, a Pepperpot, who are both about 4 years old. Both are much loved, and have become part of the family.

 

On Maundy Thursday we noticed that Geraldine wasn't her usual boisterous self. She wasn't eating much, and seemed pretty lethargic for some of the time, but would then perk up and go back to normal. She and Victoria get regular check-ups at the Vet, are regularly wormed, and get to free-range most of the day. We are in close contact with them most of the day, so we have got to know their habits and personalities really well.

 

We gave Geraldine a good look-over, and found that she was underweight, so we took her to the vet, who prescribed a course of antibiotics, and we then took her home and spoilt her rotten.

 

We tried giving her all her favourite treats to try to stimulate her to eat, but after eating a small amount she would stop eating, which isn't like her at all. She also continued to lose weight, so we took her down to the vet again this Tuesday, with Victoria as company, to get her checked over again.

 

The vet was concerned about her condition, and decided to keep them both in and to crop-feed Geraldine in an effort to improve her condition. She has sent off poo samples for testing, and sent off a blood sample as well. The news isn't good. She is free of salmonella and parasites, but the blood samples seem to indicate that her liver isn't functioning correctly. She is now being given anti-inflammatories, has been wormed again, and they are trying a different antibiotic. But things are looking bleak.

 

We have been told that the nurses have found small amounts of food in her crop in the mornings, which may indicate that she is eating at night when it's quiet, and we have to decide whether to bring her home to see if see eats more in her home environment, or continue to crop feed her, which she is not happy about. Victoria seems to be suffering from being in unfamiliar surroundings too, so we have to consider her welfare too.

 

The dilemma that we are facing is what to do if Geraldine doesn't make it though this. We couldn't contemplate Victoria being a lone hen - that's just not fair - so we would have two options:-

 

1) Get another hen (or hens) as company for Victoria. We don't have the facilities to keep everyone separate during the introductions, and we are concerned that either Victoria or the newcomer(s) would suffer as a result. We really don't want that.

 

2) Find Victoria a safe and loving home near to us (we live in Henley-on-Thames), so that we can be available if required during the settling-in period, and even bring her back home again if things don't work out.

 

After much thought we have decided (very reluctantly) that the second option would probably be best for Victoria. At some time in the future we would like to move to somewhere where we can have a larger flock, and this situation wouldn't reoccur. However, we are constrained for space where we are at present, and we realise that if we do get another hen or two then we will again find ourselves in this position in the future.

 

Is there anyone near to Henley who can help us by giving Victoria a good home with new friends? She is a fit, healthy and friendly hen, and she is still laying - although not as frequently as she once did.

 

Failing that, we would be grateful for any advice regarding introducing new hens, and for advice on what type to get, and where to source them from. Can Omlet help? Do they supply single hens in situations like this.

 

Any responses gratefully received. We have been living at our wits end for a couple of weeks now, and would dearly love to find a happy ending for Victoria if Geraldine doesn't make it.

 

Sorry for the length of this post, and many thanks for taking the time to read it.

 

Regards

 

Nick and Trish

[Cinnamon]

Sadly I have a full house at the moment,so I can't offer your hen a home

 

Hope things work out for you......

[Guest]

difficult times for you 4 years is a good age for a hybrid. You will know the right decision for you and your girls in your heart so the only advice I am going to give is follow your gut feeling and your heart.

 

Sorry I can't help with the rehoming as I'm too far away xxxx

[Lydia]

Hello Nick & Trish

 

Very sorry to hear about your situation. I've been there and it is very upsetting.

 

Obviously I don't know your set up but if I was in your situation I would be tempted to get another 2 or 3 hens to keep Victoria company. She would at least be able to live out her years in her familiar environment. When we found ourselves with a lone hen we successful introduced 2 ex-batt hens and everyone was happy (and still is, although Ping the Pepperpot, who is also 4, is in declining health these days).

 

I have a spare eglu that you are welcome to borrow to do introductions if you need it.

 

Failing that I would be very happy for Victoria to live here. However, I do have a flock of 8 and Victoria is elderly so that may or may not be the best solution.

 

I'll PM you my contact details anyway.

 

Take care.

[Nick&Trish]

Thank you for your good wishes.

 

We have just collected the girls from the vet, to see if being at home will encourage Geraldine to eat - no joy so far!

 

I have noticed that there are white areas on the 'wattles' behind her ears. I noticed a few white spots before she went to the vet, but they are much larger now. Does anyone know what this means? I have looked in my chicken books but this is not mentioned anywhere, i would be grateful for any help.

 

Trish

[Nick&Trish]

Thanks very much for your offer Lydia.

 

We hadn't even considered that anyone would be kind enough to offer the use of an Eglu to help with the introduction of new friends for Victoria. It's a brilliant offer, which seems to provide the ideal solution.

 

We would be very grateful to accept, and we've sent a PM to you in reply to your PM to us.

 

I hope that we haven't given anyone the impression that we are just trying to off-load our problem on to someone else, as that's not the case. We are desperate to do the best for our girls, and Lydia's offer of a loan of your spare Eglu seems to provide a solution that we hadn't even considered.

 

We're both feeling a bit more positive now!

 

Regards

 

Nick and Trish

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear about poor Geraldine . She sounds like she's getting the very best care and attention from you .

 

Can't really offer any advice, just wanted to say good luck with Geraldine and whatever you decide for Victoria (my namesake!)

[*mummy_hen*]

I don't think anyone would feel you were trying to offload...it is a horrible situation for you to be in.

 

Am pleased that you have come up with solution that will be good for your girls but also for you.

[WitchHazel]

It's really great that you are thinking ahead and making plans. You obviously really care about he welfare of your Girls and they've been very lucky to have you.

 

Getting two new hens sounds like the kindest solution. That way, Victoria is still in familiar surroundings, and is dealing with two new girls who are being introdiced to her, rather than being a lone girl being introduced to another established flock.

 

If you get two new Girls then that means you, hopefully, won't be in the "lone hen" situation again for some time.

 

Good luck with this, I hope you'll keep us up to date with how things go.

[Redwing]

It sounds like you are being very good hen parents

 

I agree with the advice, get two more hens. A borrowed Eglu is a geat solution, well done Lydia for coming to the rescue.

 

It sounds like you have done all you can for Geraldine, hopefully bringing her home may help her turn the corner

 

all the best

[Nick&Trish]

Well, we've managed to get through another night. We've taken over the crop feeding duties now, as it's less stressful for Geraldine. Still not looking good though.

 

We'll keep you updated.

 

Nick & Trish

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Glad she's still with us . Good luck .

[Nick&Trish]

Thank you again for all your kind thoughts.

 

I have found out what the white (or lack of colour) on Geraldine's earlobes means and thought I would pass it on as 'useful information'. According to an acquaintance who has hundreds of chickens it is a sign of anemia. The vets had said the blood analysis showed this so it is no surprise.

 

The other useful thing she told me is that the average lifespan for a hybrid is only two years - so well done to the girls for making it to four and any other 'veteran' ladies out there.

 

By the way, crop feeding is not much fun!

 

Trish & Nick

[Nick&Trish]

Another short update for anyone who's interested.

 

Geraldine is still with us. This morning she was standing up, waiting to be let out. She had a drink and a scrtach around, and seems more alert. Her comb is red and upright and her eyes are bright (but then, they have been all along), and she's still fiesty when we crop feed her.

 

She's still not eating though, and we have no illusions that she's out of the woods yet, but we are giving her every chance to pull through. We are also having to dose her with antibiotics and anti-inflamatories, which we do when we crop feed her.

 

At the moment she's wandering around the garden, having a gentle inquisitive peck at things. So we're still holding our breath and hoping that she might improve further.

 

Nick and Trish

[Redwing]

Thats encouraging well done on your nursing duties so far

[Louisdog]

Well done on the crop feeding; it looks like a nightmare to me. Have you found it easier the more you do it?

[chelsea]

When our Ella had her bowel operation in february we kept her indoors with us (kitchen) in the warm and fed her on chick crumb (instead of layers) as it has extra protein in it and is smaller to eat and she really wolfed it down.

 

Cut up cucumber or a small amount of cut up grape might be good as they contain water and will keep her hydrated.

 

Avipro is very good for convalescing hens and I think it really helped Ella recover, tis good stuff!

 

Hope she pulls through.

[*mummy_hen*]

I have my fingers and toes crossed for you. I hope she makes it through.

[BeckyBoo]

I don't know how I missed this thread, I really hope Geraldine continues to improve, it's such a worry when they're ill but it doesn't sound like there is a single thing you haven't done to help her. Glad to hear you might be able to get Victoria some new friends, it would be so lovely if you could continue to keep hens. I know you've got a home lined up for Victoria if things do go that way, and I'll second th eoffer of a home - she'd have to become part of a bigger flock but one more "retired" lady won't make the slightest difference with my lot so if everything else fell through you've still got somewhere she could go

 

Good luck, hang in there Geraldine

 

BeckyBoo

[Egg Lou]

Sounds like you are being perfect chook parents and doing everything you can, I do hope she pulls through but would also consider getting another hen or two anyway as may stop you being in a single hen postion down the line..

 

Thanks for posting about the white ear lobe issue.. one of mine has been off colour and she has white patches in the centre of the red so good to know what it means.

 

I would also stand on line and be a 'spare' home offer if every you needed it and for some reason the others couldn't help.

 

Best of luck!

[miffy]

Sorry to hear about Geraldine, how is she this morning?

[Nick&Trish]

Many thanks for all your kind wishes and offers to help.

 

Geraldine actually began to eat a little yesterday, and began to behave a little more normally - although a bit like a 'slow motion' chicken. This morning she seems to have improved further. She was the first out of the Eglu, and started doing some serious scratching around before she wore herself out.

 

When we crop fed her this morning she seemed to have a small amount in her crop - which must be layers or pecker block, but we are continuing to crop feed her and give her antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. After we had crop fed her we put down some pastry and mashed potato, which are her favourites, and, encouraged by Victoria, she actually ate a reasonable amount - and went back for seconds later on. Victoria is loving all the treats too. She is currently the size of a small battleship!

 

Crop feeding is becoming easier the more we do it. It's really a 3 person job (according to the vet) but we manage between us, with me holding her firmly and Trish in charge of the tube and the syringe. We give her a little break between each syringe full, so that she can gather herself a bit before we continue.

 

We've settled into a 3 times per day regime, which seems to work well, and she spends the rest of the day free-ranging in our garden. It seems that we're managing a bit better than the staff at the vets - when she was being fed down there the nurses were all covered with feed where she had been throwing it around!

 

This is all very positive, but we're still being realistic. Geraldine has an awfully long way to go in her recovery, and we will have to continue to dose her and crop feed her for the foreseeable future - although the more she eats, the less we will have to supplement her feeding. The good weather has helped too. She has even indulged in a bit of sunbathing.

 

We're keeping everything crossed for her, and we'll carry on doing this for as long as it takes.

 

Thanks again for your interest.

 

Nick and Trish

[mostin]

So glad to hear she's perkier this morning. Sending positives vibes your way .

[Louisdog]

That all sounds really positive, I hope she continues to recover.

 

And serious kudos for the crop feeding; the vet tried to show me and I couldn't get the knack of it, it also seemed impossible to ensure I was doing the right hole i.e. food not air.

[Nick&Trish]

Unfortunately, Geraldine has taken a turn for the worse. After her rally yesterday morning, she decided that she wanted to spend the afternoon and evening just sitting around.

 

She is still with us, but all she has wanted to do today is rest. She is bright enough, and doesn't look like a sick chicken, but she is very lethargic. We've had a chat with the vet, who has said that we should carry on for another 24 hours - then we'll have to decide how best to proceed.

 

On the positive side we have been assured that she is not in any pain - and having nursed Victoria when she was very ill, and feeling very sorry for herself, we don't believe that Geraldine is suffering in any way, she just seems to be fading away.

 

Fingers crossed!

 

Nick and Trish