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[liz99]

Hi

One of my bantam hens died suddenly last week and I am wondering whether to get another bantam as company for my surviving hen, who seems perfectly well. We do have another chicken - a gingernut ranger, which we got from Omlet about 4 years ago - but she has always bullied the surviving bantam. This didn't seem too much of a problem before as the beautiful hen that died got on with both, so they did all hang out together. Now, however, these two don't have much to do with each other.

I am worried about them and would get another hen(s) but what if they all gang up on my little black bantam...? I have a v. small garden so don't have the space to separate them. Or will these two just get on better over time now they are just two.

Any advice welcome!!

[Budgies]

Sorry to hear that you lost a bantie.

 

Four years for an Omlet hen is pretty good going, so I think I would be inclined to bring some more girls in as company for the two that are left.

 

Would you like more bantams? I think it might be easier (although I personally have no experience of this) to bring in two new bantams, rather than say two new larger hens.

[tidygirlsuk]

I agree with budgies. 2 new banties.

[liz99]

thanks very much - I will start looking for a pair of bantams and hope that they all get on.

Thanks again.

[Budgies]

looking at other people's introduction threads where they integrate new chookies with existing ones, feeding and watering stations seem to be the worst flare points for fights and bullying.

 

If you can get in extra feeders/waterers at this stage it might help when you bring in your new banties!

 

Good luck!

[Egluntyne]

Article **here** that you might find useful.

[liz99]

Hello

 

I was planning to get a pair of bantam hens this weekend but now I am worried there is something wrong with my gingernut ranger, Clucky. She has been sleeping a lot in the day for a while now and seems less active since the bantam she hung out with died. The other bantam is broody (but seems in perfect health) and just now when I went to get her out of the house I found Clucky in there with her. However, when I took the bantam out Clucky followed her. She looks OK - bright eyes, red upright comb, etc - although her vent looks a bit dirty, poo stuck to her feathers - but she just seems odd. Can chickens miss a friend, is she just old - or could there be an underlying health problem?

Thanks for any advice

[Guest]

HI

May be worth worming ?? and giving her bottom a gentle wash to clean the poo off

 

Lice etc if she is run down...?? Disinfect the housing etc to be sure

 

Not sure what else probably all you can do really , perhaps it is old age?

 

Not an expert but at least they are basic checks

 

indie

[Budgies]

Yes, chickens can miss a pal, but it does sound as though she has a basic health problem.

 

As Indie says, I'd Flubenvet all your hens, disinfect the coop with something like Poultry Shield and give them all a dust with anti-red mite powder or a spray.

[liz99]

Thanks a lot for the advice.

 

By the end of that afternoon she did look quite unhappy so I took her to the vets and was given baytril (which seems to be what everyone is given, looking at other posts). She didn't really know what was wrong - perhaps enteritis - but definitely no lice or mites. I will worm her as I have been using VermX and have read here that it isn't up to the job.

 

I went also to an SPR centre and chatted to someone who has kept poultry for 50 years. He told me to bring Clucky along so I did, and he said he thought she had a blockage either in her reproductive parts or intestine. He asked if my bantam that died had been in lay (she was) and about the position she died in - which was neck curled round - and he said that she died of egg peritonitis. Has anyone else heard of this suddenly killing bantams? He thought it was definitely nothing contagious so it would be fine to get more bantams but I might give it a few weeks just to be sure.

 

Clucky was enjoying a dust bath in the sunshine this morning so fingers crossed things may turn out well. Thanks again for your help.

[Budgies]

Brilliant to get some good advice from someone so knowledgable. Hope Clucky continues to improve Liz

[tidygirlsuk]

I'm glad she seems better. It's funny how you say that your bantam was hanging around with the broody. My bantam was doing the same and there was no sign of anything. but i removed my broody and then she started sitting in the nest box most of the day(she is not in lay yet just crouching), I kept on checking her for lice and she did get lice a few day after, it was under her wings, i had checked her there a few times b4. i put on diatom straight away and and ordered xeno 200 from vet uk, the next day they appeared to be gone but she was still sitting in the nest box. The xeno 200 arrived and after giving it to her she perked up so fast, as it gets straight into blood stream. I've been told on here that there is an egg withdrawal of 7 days. I would keep checking her if i were you. I read on here that dirty knickers can be a sign of northen mites. have a look though the chicken clinic, i'm sure you will find something. take care.