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

[House MD 221B]

Hi there,

 

first time chicken owner,

 

I went outside just to see how they were, and I noticed a little blood on Poaches beak and droplets of blood over the bark chippings, Scramble had been in the Eglu for an undertermined period of time and Poach was wandering around the Roost. It is unusual for Scramble to spend so long in the Eglu in daylight hours after 12. So I went out to give them a run around in the garden, when I came to let them out, I saw a large amount of blood on Scrambles posterior.

 

although there was blood on Poaches beak I do NOT believe she had been pecking Scramble, there was a bloody egg in the tray of the floor of the eglu, and there was blood and yoke running down the back of scramble.

 

There was no tearing, and her vent looked clean and healthy, I flushed it with saline and warm water, and cleaned her up as best I could. She has been very lethargic and off her food and water since. she also has lost a little balance and doesn't want to move much (understandable)

 

(all of this is from 5pm onwards tonight)

 

Scramble is in the Eglu now, with the door shut, and Poach is in the Run, as we have no better means of separating one from the other, except the use of a hamster cage minus the hamster (would that be acceptable, Im not so sure.) But will Poach be ok overnight outside?

 

we are chcking Scramble every half hour, I have rang the vets for an emergency consult, there is no prolapsing, and no further bleeding.

 

what can we do, what should we do better if it happens again, what should we expect.

 

if you require ANY more information I will answer anything I can, ALL advice is welcome.

 

Thank you all kindly for your time.

 

Rob + Sally.

[xScrunchee]

Hi Rob or Sally

 

Any chance of bringing scramble indoors for the night in a cardboard box, cat box or similar?

That way Poaches can still have the Eglu and scramble will be in the warm as she does sound a little poorly.

[House MD 221B]

Hi there,

 

funnily enough I've (Rob) Just moved in with Sal, and have some moving in boxes which are quite sizeable, would a small bed of wood shaving be acceptable as a comfortable bedding like they have in their Eglu, or may she over-heat? Also should we put a bowl of water in with her and some food?

 

Thank you for your help.

 

 

------------------------------------------------

 

Ok, what we've done, is put down a cardboard box on top of a bin bag, given her a bowl of normal feed (with a grape on it) and a bowl of water. with a thick layer of wood shaving bedding. I've brought her in and she was quite docile, that could be time of night, that could be she's still exhausted and stressed, maybe a little hypovolaemic, because usually she'll do anything to avoid being picked up, but there is NO signs of further bleeding.

 

And poach now has the Eglu to herself.

 

Any further advice? or something we should be doing or shouldn't be doing?

 

My partner's 2 year old Hamster passed away this week due to a respiratory infection, and obviously we're a little jumpy, they're very well looked after and spoilt chickens, and although this seems quite a common thing, we're eager to make sure she gets the best.

 

I forgot to mention I did speak with a vet over the phone (at 17:05), but we can't afford the £80 emergency fee, so should we still take her in tomorrow morning at 08:00 even if there's no further signs of trauma?

 

I also don't know if this is relevant, but while flushing with saline, he vent made a "chewing" motion it all seemed normal, but what signs should we be looking for.

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

we've obviously put some holes in the box, and gently closed the lid over (to keep it dark for her), and it sounds like she moved a little bit, perhaps settled, and drank a little water.

Edited September 13, 2009 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hi Rob & welcome to the forum . Sorry to hear about poor Scramble . It does sound like she's just laid a huge egg and has torn a bit - I take it they are fairly new to laying? It's not uncommon to have a bit of blood on an egg but this does sound like quite a lot of blood .

 

I'm sure you've done the right thing bringing her indoors in a box. She'll be fine overnight and shouldn't overheat as long as you leave some ventilation space.

 

The "chewing" you describe is normal (not heard it called that before ).

 

I hope she looks a bit better in the morning .

[House MD 221B]

Hi Rob & welcome to the forum . Sorry to hear about poor Scramble . It does sound like she's just laid a huge egg and has torn a bit - I take it they are fairly new to laying? It's not uncommon to have a bit of blood on an egg but this does sound like quite a lot of blood .

 

I'm sure you've done the right thing bringing her indoors in a box. She'll be fine overnight and shouldn't overheat as long as you leave some ventilation space.

 

The "chewing" you describe is normal (not heard it called that before ).

 

I hope she looks a bit better in the morning .

 

 

thank you for your help.

 

it was a semi-softie-double-yoker. and was quite a beastie.

 

They have been laying since the 17th of June, they started to lay 2 weeks after they arrived.

 

and you could fit 4 or 5 of her in there, its a good sized box.

[Redwing]

Hi Rob, it sounds like you have done a good job so far, if there are no wounds and no further signs of bleeding in the morning and she seems well I would get hold of some 'purple spray' you can get it in horsey shops, it will cover any redness and stop the other chicken pecking

 

Chickens will always peck at blood thats why the other chook has blood on its beak so the purple spray is a good precaution

 

If your poorly chook still seems unwell in the morning an antibiotic/painkiller jab at the vets might be a good idea

[House MD 221B]

Hi Rob, it sounds like you have done a good job so far, if there are no wounds and no further signs of bleeding in the morning and she seems well I would get hold of some 'purple spray' you can get it in horsey shops, it will cover any redness and stop the other chicken pecking

 

Chickens will always peck at blood thats why the other chook has blood on its beak so the purple spray is a good precaution

 

If your poorly chook still seems unwell in the morning an antibiotic/painkiller jab at the vets might be a good idea

 

Thank you, we will do first thing, if she still seems under the weather she'll be in the vets by 8am, and ill go straight off purple spray hunting, there's a couple of shops nearby who are likely candidates.

 

Thank you all for your rapid response.

[Redwing]

Forgot to say purple spray is the sort of generic term for it, normally its sold as Gentian Violet but most people in the horsey/chicken world will recognise it as 'purple spray'

 

Be careful with it - it doesnt wash off so if you have a board meeting you will get funny looks if you have purple hands!

[House MD 221B]

Forgot to say purple spray is the sort of generic term for it, normally its sold as Gentian Violet but most people in the horsey/chicken world will recognise it as 'purple spray'

 

Be careful with it - it doesnt wash off so if you have a board meeting you will get funny looks if you have purple hands!

 

 

Brilliant, thank you kindly, i've got it written down.

[xScrunchee]

Any further advice? or something we should be doing or shouldn't be doing?

 

I forgot to mention I did speak with a vet over the phone (at 17:05), but we can't afford the £80 emergency fee, so should we still take her in tomorrow morning at 08:00 even if there's no further signs of trauma?

 

I also don't know if this is relevant, but while flushing with saline, he vent made a "chewing" motion it all seemed normal, but what signs should we be looking for.

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

 

I agree with everyone else-you seem to be doing everything you can

I wouldn't have been able to afford £80 neither

 

I would just see how she is in the morning-if she seems fine I wouldn't take her to the vet to be honest. Just keep your eye on her for a few days, especially after she lays.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[House MD 221B]

thank you all for your help and support, we really appreciate it, we are nervous 1st time keepers

 

there are a couple of tiny watery spots of blood on the bedding but it doesn't look serious, shes looking more lively than she was, but she does appear to be sitting funny, although I'm not surprised id be a little sore after that.

 

she has had a little drink but not touched her food, googled some nearby shops to get spray so will be at the door at opening time

 

again thank you all so much, we're very greatful.

[xScrunchee]

Everyone has to start somewhere and give it a few months and it'll be you two on here handing out advice to nervous first time keepers

 

You are doing a great job so far and I hope she wakes up in the morning full of beans, lays her egg with no trouble and you can get back to enjoying your girls

 

Let us know how she goes

[House MD 221B]

Thank you, I shall do.

[xScrunchee]

How is she today?

[House MD 221B]

How is she today?

 

 

well she has shovelled her food about a bit, and drank some water, but left the grape, there are a couple of spots of watery blood but that could just be the clot discharged as there doesnt appear to be any fresh bleeding, it doesn't look like she's tried to lay or anything thank god, she has had a bowel movement which didnt have any blood in it.

 

She's not overly mobile but she's looking around, her wattles look about normal, not bright enough like when she's in lay, but not pale as if she's dehydrated or hypovolaemic.

 

so we're going to go get some spray, give her another clean up, and then spray her, and then put her back in with poach, cus bless poach is outside making crying noises. and we shall just observe them closely throughout the day.

[xScrunchee]

So far so good then.

She may even perk up when she is back outside with her friend. They do seem to miss eachother when seperated.

 

Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you's anyway.

Hope things continue to improve

[House MD 221B]

So far so good then.

She may even perk up when she is back outside with her friend. They do seem to miss eachother when seperated.

 

Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you's anyway.

Hope things continue to improve

 

 

Well we just gave her a liberal spray of Purple around her Vent, there doesn't appear to be any more blood, but the vent did look a little cream coloured, could be normal, it didnt look infected or anything like that.

 

Does anyone have any advice for the downy feathers being a little matted? its mostly runny faeces and a bit of dried blood from yesterday, but we didnt want to cut them because of insulation, can we bath them or does that take away their natural oils, its probably a really simple thing and we're making it overly complicated.

 

So we shall give her a few minutes to relax, and then put her back in with Poach and watch and wait.

 

Thanks all for your help and support, we really appreciate the strong community feel, it really reassured us, and by heck thats a lovely shade of Purple

[Egluntyne]

I'd bathe and trim.

[House MD 221B]

I'd bathe and trim.

 

 

Thank you kindly we shall... and your names for your coops, as inspired us, ours are now in Hentanimo Bay Or they will be when we move to the south coast in the New Year

[Redwing]

Yes I would bathe them too, chickens take surprisingly well to being bathed

 

Dry well with a towel and leave her in her box for a bit to dry off and only put her outside when she is nearly dry no matter how sunny it is there (its not here!) it may be less stressful for her to be washed before bed and kept in overnight then they shouldnt miss each other as much

[House MD 221B]

Yes I would bathe them too, chickens take surprisingly well to being bathed

 

Dry well with a towel and leave her in her box for a bit to dry off and only put her outside when she is nearly dry no matter how sunny it is there (its not here!) it may be less stressful for her to be washed before bed and kept in overnight then they shouldnt miss each other as much

 

 

well we took her outside and she went behind the shed and just sat there, Poach showed little interest in he rear.

 

we got them in the Run, and she went into the Eglu and came out again, and she's standing in a corner resting her head against the run trying to doze off (I get the feeling she didnt get much sleep) but she's choosing to be outside rather than in the Eglu, so ...

 

Poach is just sat next to her.

 

she isnt moving much but i imagine she is quite sore.

 

she wont eat a grape or a blackberry, and hasn't really touched her food.

 

I dont know if this is all normal because she's just tired and has been handled quite a bit and its all a bit overwhelming for her.

 

So we're checking on her every half an hour, we shall let her spend the day with Poach and observe, then give her a bathe this evening and we will bring her back indoors over night.

 

But there's been no more blood so I don't see any reason why she should deteriorate, but how long should a full recovery take???

 

Thanks all.

[Redwing]

Keep an eye on her, the danger now is internal infection if anything has been torn inside

 

She should be perking up by now really but she could have another dodgy egg on the way and they often look poorly until that has been laid

 

It might be worth changing her diet for a couple of days as the layers pellets will continue to send eggs through her system and a rest might do her good, weetabix mixed with water is a good option and a little natural probiotic yogurt would be a good idea

 

An antibiotic jab might not go amiss if she continues to look under the weather

[House MD 221B]

Keep an eye on her, the danger now is internal infection if anything has been torn inside

 

She should be perking up by now really but she could have another dodgy egg on the way and they often look poorly until that has been laid

 

It might be worth changing her diet for a couple of days as the layers pellets will continue to send eggs through her system and a rest might do her good, weetabix mixed with water is a good option and a little natural probiotic yogurt would be a good idea

 

An antibiotic jab might not go amiss if she continues to look under the weather

 

 

Thank you, we decided to bring her back in, as she was trying to sleep standing up (because im assuming sitting is sore) and Poach was making a fair old racket, so we brought her back in the warm in the box and she was a little more lively, we think she's just conserving energy.

 

But we shall give her some weetabix and probiotic yoghurt, we shall monitor her bowel movements, and if she still looks peaky by tomorrow morning, we'll book her in at the vets.

 

Thank you for your help.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It's certainly sounding hopeful but a trip to the vet's might indeed be a good idea, if only to set your mind at rest that she doesn't have any tears .

 

Sounds to me like you are both fantastic, caring chicken owners .

[redhotchick]

How is Scramble this evening?