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

[Misscherryskull]

 

OMG my chicken Cherry was fine until dinner time then i looked out window & thought she was trying to lay an egg in an odd place, on the path (she hasn't laid today) so i went out & picked her up & put her in the coop, then i noticed she isn't walking properly

 

I checked her over, no sign of anything so tried to make her comfortable, then ran crying to my next door neighbour (he has chickens too) when i wnt back & checked both her legs were spread out behind her & shes lying lop sided, heavy breathing, tail down & not good at all

 

been in & out like a yoyo and shes still like that,but shes huddled in beside Skull (my other chicken) who seems to be holding her up!!!

 

There is absolutely nothing i can see wrong with her, shes still all the right colours n stuff so please help coz i don't want to lose a chicken after only having her for a few months.

 

Thank you

Sam

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[Ain't Nobody Here]

That doesn't sound good . It may be a problem with an egg - perhaps one is stuck? I don't know if there's much you can do tonight except perhaps bring her into the house in a cardboard box to keep her warm?

 

Can you get her to a vet in the morning?

[Misscherryskull]

Hiya, thanks for such a quick reply, i don't knw any vets but i can phone around tomorrow but highly doubtful if they'd know anything about chickens. What would happen if she was egg bound?? could that kill her or would it rite its self??

 

I'm gonna do a search n see what i come up with, with her symptoms

 

Sam

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[Ain't Nobody Here]

You might want to read this about Egg Binding.

[Chucky Mama]

Poor you, what a worry. Can only suggest keeping her warm and quiet for the night. It could be an egg issue as already mentioned which can make them feel lousy. Good luck, keep up updated.

[Misscherryskull]

Hi again,

 

Checked on Cherry late last night, syringed water into her & gave her ready brek mixed with natural youghurt, wasn't intrested so i gave her it off my finger. Went to bed & hoped for the best, woke at 2am but resisted the temptation to go out & check on her (woz scared too aswell).

 

Braced myself this morning to find a dead chicken only to be greeted by the 2 but Cherry still isn't 100%, she was standing when i went out but seems to be limping around, so i took their pellets out for them but she just looked as if to say "you expect me to eat that )

 

Made up some more ready brek & she scoffed the lot but is still unhappy, tail down but still no other obvious signs of illness, shes sitting at the coop door just now watching Skull run around like a loony

 

I've got another Isa coming today so if anything happens to either one, the other won't be lonely, wish i'd done that in the first place but only thought about it after finding this site & seeing that suggestion. Anyway any more advice appreciated & thanks everyone that has replied or does so.

 

Cheers

Sam

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[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm glad to hear she's still with us . I think if she doesn't improve, though, a trip to the vet's is necessary. If she has an egg stuck, it really needs to come out. You could try very gently with surgical gloves and vaseline to see if you can feel an egg.

 

If you have a single hen arriving, make sure you read up about introductions. I see you've had your girls about 5 weeks which might make them unhappy about the newcomer. It's not generally a good idea to introduce a single hen either as it will be very lonely until accepted by the others. Can you fit 2 more in?

 

You should have a read of this for some advice and tips .

[Misscherryskull]

Thanks ANH, i'd be lost without you

[Egluntyne]

I agree with ANH. I think if she doesn't perk up, you should seek a vet's opinion.

 

I also agree with ANH about being careful managing the intros, especially as you have a hen who is below par.

[Misscherryskull]

Don't think my prob is an egg one, Cherry just laid a lovely normal egg

 

I can only assume its a leg or wing prob coz she just ventured out of the coop not that long ago, managed to get quite a bit up the garden then stopped for a rest then i saw her trying to get up onto the grassed area & had a little trouble, i've put her back in the coop & thats when i found the egg, Skull had already laid hers, so it was defo Cherrys'.

 

 

Sam

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[Ain't Nobody Here]

Well, that's encouraging news . Perhaps she pulled a muscle or sprained something? I would just watch her for a day or so.

 

Have you made a decision about extra hens yet?

[Misscherryskull]

I really don't know what to do now, i was just worried about Skull being on her own &don't really want an extra two, one extra would be ok, i read the thread on introducing one hen & was very useful.

 

As far as i know my neighbour is already away to get the hens & so think he will return with the one i asked him to get so i think it'll be just one i'll be introducing.

 

Hopefully an new addition will be fine coz both my hens are very very docile, they let me pick them up & are always with me when i go out in the garden so i'm hoping they take to a neewbie easily......................either that i'm hoping for miracles.

 

Thanks sooooo much for all your help & interest

 

Sam

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[cluckingmad]

Gald to hear Cherry's better this morning - its really awful when they're poorly.. it almost sounds as if she's slipped and damaged a muscle, but if she's laid ok and if improving just keep a close eye on her and agree with the others - vet if she doesn't improve

 

The newbie will probably be fine, but do keep her separate from Cherry and Skull, at least for acoupld of weeks - we separate the run and put a cat carrier in for introductions, that way they can smell, hear and see each other and get used to each other withouth having to share their feed/drinkers and coup... best of luck

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Just be aware that you may need separate accommodation for the newbie. My 3 girls are very docile too but Maisie is still having a go at my new girls 4 weeks down the line .

 

Keep a close eye on them. A water pistol is a good deterrant .

[cluckingmad]

lol, I can second that!

[Egluntyne]

Some info on managing introductions **here**

[Misscherryskull]

 

Cherry still alive & kicking She seems so much better than previous but still not 100% so only time will tell now, still baffled by what it was that was up, i was sure she was a goner but what do i know eh??

 

Got new chicken at POL, shes called Ruby, Skull was a bit mental for the first day, following me around & squwacking at me at some points i had to remind her she was a hen & not a cockrel she was really loud & reading the riot act, Cherry not bothered but i expected that from her.

 

Think the introductions are gonna be long winded but we'll get there

 

Thanks everyone for all your help, very much appreciated

 

Cheers

Sam

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