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

[cluckingmad]

Got home today to find Nutmeg our baby buff sussex had managed to jump inot the big girls half of the run, she was trapped and they've pecked her half to death

 

Her tail and half of her back feathers are gone, they've turned her tissue into mush and her preening gland is hanging on by a thread. We rushed her to our outstanding vets, shes given her shots of antibiotic, fluids and painkillers and now all we can do is keep our fingers crossed.

 

Even if she survives theres a possibility that her feathers won't regrow due to the amount of tissue damage, and she may never be accepted back into the flock. We'd come such a long way with integrating them too, they free ranged together no probs and shared the separated run without any issue, feel awfl about my other girls, just looking at poor little Nutty makes my want to sob.

 

Please keep your fingers crossed - I honestly don't know what would be best for her, what ever happens it'll be for the best, but I've let her down so badly

[Patricia W]

That's everyone's worst nightmare! I have 3 really small ones and I let them out for 10mins - their first free ranging - but I put them back quickly when I realised they could get through the netting.

 

So there but for the grace of ......

 

 

Thinking about you and the little one.

 

Tricia

[Plum]

How awful, hope she makes it. Don't blame yourself you thought you had made them safe

 

I'm really hoping she makes it but you'll know whats the best thing for her. hugs xx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm so sorry, how awful . I second Plum's comment, it's really not your fault. It's just the way chickens can be given a chance .

 

I really hope she pulls through or slips away, if she really is too poorly to survive .

[cluckingmad]

Thanks everyone, it really helps. She's spent the evenign sleeping on my lap, she's now on OH's lap. Bless her, she's trying to fluff up her feathers but doesn't have anything to fluff! She's goign to be spending the night in a cat carrier with a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel so she can save her energy - the wound gel seems to be making the injury more comfortable for her, and hopefully the painkillers will be working too.

 

She's going to be inside with us for a couple of weeks the vet reckoned, feel so sorry for the poor little mite - hope she'll accept us as a surrogate flock! I'm even going to ask at work if I can bring her in in her carrier so she's got company during the day...soft or what?!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Not soft, a loving mum.....I hope the little one recovers as she has a wonderful chooky mum & dad who will help her all they can, but if Mother Nature & God have other ideas for her, please let it be quick and peaceful

 

Lots of healing thoughts & huge {{{hugs}}} Nutmeg

 

Sha x

[Reikiranf]

Oh that's terrible But she's got a lovely Mum & Dad to look after her so hopefully she'll be ok, I can't help but think you've just got yourself a house chicken

 

Amanda

[cluckingmad]

Thanks Sha

 

Nutty's sleeping peacefully in the cat carrier on a warm water bottle currently - she's got her antibiotic in her water so we'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.

 

I'm not even going to think about the alternative so... what foods can we give her to help her mend? I've posted pics up on a different thread that show the mess they've made of her, what it doesn't show is all the bruising to her sides and legs. Wondered about cat food or tuna as they're high in protein, so may help tissue repair?

 

Anamda - if she DOES end up as a house chicken then I may have to start persuading her to use a litter tray!!

[SillyClucker]

fingers well and truly crossed for her I really didn't think the pecking could et that bad.

 

Re food - how about meal worms, they're high protein and she'll love them. I would also give her her normal food as well. If she is otherwise healthy I'm sure she'll pull through, she'll heal very quickly and will be back to normal soon

[cluckingmad]

What would I do without all you lovely people?! And sillyclucker, that is the best name ever

 

Is it just the same mealworms that you buy for wild birds in pets at home?

[Chook n Boo Mum]

When I had a very poorly chook I was recommended cake crumbs.......but she was starving herself in favour of feeding her chicks & was very very poorly !!

 

I'd go with a porridge made from her pellets/crumb, some rinsed tuna, maybe some yoghurt & bokashi to help with the flora & fauna which the antibs will knock out........perhaps some Life Guard or similar in her water.........in fact anything she'll eat to start with as she may well be shocked once the painkillers wear off & not eating at all....and that opens up another pandoras box of problems

 

I hope you don't have to go as far as "force feeding" her with a syringe, but I had to for the sake of Buffie and her babies......I found anything that went through the syringe was good.......to start with I had a mix of honey, egg yolk and well softened chick crumbs, looked revolting, but kept her alive so I could move on to simpler recipes and maggots which she would eat by herself thankfully ......weetabix & yoghurt was devoured by the babies too once mum had endured enough syringing ........and Avipro in her syringed water too before I moved on to Life Guard.

 

Good luck

 

Sha x

[SillyClucker]

What would I do without all you lovely people?! And sillyclucker, that is the best name ever

 

Is it just the same mealworms that you buy for wild birds in pets at home?

Yep, the dried up looking things. They don't look like they've got any goodness at all but apparently they do - and chooks find them irresistable

[Chook n Boo Mum]

- and chooks find them irresistable

 

.....unless they are Wild Girls it would appear....if it ain't a wiggly mealworm, it ain't worth munching on, they tend to get scattered & forgotten if dried

 

Sha x

[Egluntyne]

Poor thing. I hope she pulls through.

 

Have locked this topic as it is also under discussion **here**. ** Graphic photos.