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

[Ali G]

Hi I am new to the world of chicken ownership and had a pretty rocky start. We (my hubby and I) got two chickens on the 20th April as my birthday pressie. One was very small but we were told she was fine - just needed fattening up. A week later we had to have her put down which was very sad.

 

We have replaced her with another chicken (direct from a local breeder) now have a marran called Samantha and an amber fleck (?) called Georgie. After a day of fighting they have esablished their pecking order and are getting on fine. The only problem is that when either of them are sat sleeping or have any ailments (Sam has had a cold over the last couple of days) I find myself worrying they may suffer the same sad fate as the chicken we lost.

 

I am just being over worrysome? I have seen that lots of forums have a chicken health section and there seems to be so many different illnesses etc I just can't help but worry.

 

Any feedback would be great (I am hoping that I am just worrying over nothing because of a bad first experience).

 

The good thing is that despite the worrying they are lovely to have and are now becoming quite friendly and happy to be handled.......such a lovely addition to our current managerie!

 

Ali

[Redwing]

Congrats on your chickens after a sad shaky start

 

Bear in mind that while most forums have a clinic section no one will post in there about their completely healthy birds so it all just looks bad!

 

A natural product called Citricidal is available which is good for the sniffles, you just put a few drops in their water

 

Don't worry too much and enjoy your chickens

[jlo]

 

First of all, sorry to hear about your sad experience.

 

I am no expert and I am sure that someone will be along shortly with more experience than me. However, on the day after the Easter BH I added two birds to my existing two. The Rhode Sussex was a bit down in the dumps- actually, that is an understatement, she was really quite poorly - and, after two days I took her back to the farm and they said that she had a cold and they would treat her. I decided to take a Coral as I didn't want the other newbie, a bluebell, to be lonely whilst she was being treated.

 

Then the Bluebell got a cold, as did the Coral shortly afterwards. I was getting really worried and made arrangements to take them to the vet. Then I figured that if they were so lively that I wasn't able to catch them, they were probably not that ill so I cancelled the appointment. I have been giving them citricidal drops.

 

The Bluebell is now recovered and the Coral is on her way and neither of them got anywhere near as bad as the Sussex. I think that, as long as they are reasonably active, they will be fine. I know what it is like to worry though - I was awake at nights wondering if I was doing the right thing!

[smanners]

Welcome to the forum Ali!

We too had a bad experience within the first few weeks of chicken keeping and very nearly lost Rocky through illness . (nasty vets bill but she did pull through).

It was an anxious time for us and I worried loads.

We've since expanded the flock from 2 to 3 to 6 to 9 and all have been fine since the odd snuffle but that's all. I think it's only natural to worry after your unfortunate experience but as the weeks pass and all is well you'll learn to enjoy your chooks and worry less.

There is also a lot of moral support/ expertise from other omleteers here if you need it

I wish you well and hope you can put this bad experience behind you soon and enjoy your new chickens

[Hen Watch]

Hi. It is ok to worry. It's like having babies all over again.

 

I too had a hen die on me after only 2 weeks of chicken ownership. But 2 years on the others are all ok but I still worry about them.

 

Do try some Citricidal Liquid in their water for the sniffles. Buy it from Omlet shop or I got some online from both these places:

http://www.highernature.co.uk/ShowProductFamily.aspx?ProductFamilyID=80

http://www.yournutritionshop.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=463

 

They do get the sniffles from time to time and get over it. Just keep an eye on her and if she gets wheezy or rattely when breathing then take her to a vet.

 

Have fun with your new girls.

[chixandthecity]

Hi there

 

It is all a worry isn't it?!

 

I'm new to this too and also had a hen die early on (after two weeks). W started with two, one died and we replaced her with two more so now have three, but currently two of them are unwell and I'm about to take them to the vets.

 

I think perhaps they are tougher than we think and if you catch some things early (like colds) then they shouldn't cause a problem. When you have a hen die after such a short amount of time, you do feel as though that's what will happen whenever they're ill.

 

I'm stting here with one in a cardboard box and one outside with her head under her wing !

 

Good luck

 

Chix

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear about your traumatic start.

 

You are bound to worry when things don't seem right.

 

You can always ask for advice and reassurance here.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[Ali G]

Thank you all for yor comments and feedback.....I had hoped that I was just worrying too much for no real reason and it has helped to hear that from you all.

 

I have some Citrocidal on order now (apparently it can be good for people too so I'll give it a try myself as I have a cold at the same time as Samatha got hers). She had quite raspy breath yesterday, but this morning she seemed much better when I left for work, so I am hoping she is through the last of it.

 

I have been off work since I got them and it was tough going back today......I don't have kids and my pets are very much my kiddy replacements and whilst some poeple may think that chickens are not the same as cats etc....I have been well and truely converted to chicken addict.

 

It sounds like a lot of people grow their flock quite quickly....I have just a small garden and lots of other pets, but hope to move to the country soon and then will get lots more I am sure.

 

Thanks again for your comments and making me feel welcome.

 

Chix - hope you're too are ok.......it's hard to find a vet that really knows about chicken ailments and it sounds as though you have had a bad start to your chicken owning too.

 

Ali

[Phosphorus]

I hope this isn't a touch wood thing but.....

 

We had our 7 girls last April so just over a year now. Only one of ours has had to go to the vet (once), a month or so after we got her, for a dodgy eye. We think she might have had caught it on something or it could have been mycoplasmia infection - anyway she had eyedrops and an antibiotic jab and was well within a few days. Since then not really any problems.

 

It is normal to worry but they are not particularly prone to illnesses. You can help by maintaining good husbandry and giving them good quality layers pellets etc. It all helps.

 

Good luck with your girls and enjoy

[Egluntyne]

I have some Citrocidal on order now (apparently it can be good for people too so I'll give it a try myself as I have a cold at the same time as Samatha got hers.

 

I swear by it for humans.

 

The taste takes a bit of getting used to though. It is ever so slightly bitter!

[smithy36]

Hi

 

I dont know whether you have children, but if you do remember your first few months with teh first one... you worry about everything - but the overwhelming majority of children grow up to be be healthy, wingeing teenagers!

 

Remember most people only ask questions on teh forum when they are worried about something so this is massively skewed towards the negative - chickens are hardy and as long as you look after them you are unlikely to experience more than a few sniffles... and your chickens will grow up expecting corn, treats, lightly steamed veg and cuddles on demand, and will wreck your garden in return. Its worth it though - they will make you laugh every day, as well as give you yummy eggs.

 

Relax and enjoy them!