cluckingmad Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Today our poor Nutmeg was set upon by the 6 big hybrid girls after she jumped over the dividing mesh and into their half of the WIR - we think we arrived home just in time, the poor little girl was between the cube and the mesh divider, all tail feathers gone and a very nasty looking wound along her rear and back. Our vet was superb, she even waived the out of hours charge - we've since put that money to good use and put up a rabbit run inside the WIR for the other three little ones, so they can't do the same thing as Nutty. After a shot of antibiotics, painkillers and an injection of fliud to help with the shock, we've brought her home and she's spent the evening sleeping on our laps. She's now in a cat carrier with a warm water bottle wrapped in newspaper and a towel so she can get comfy and concetrate on (hopefully) getting better.... she's got antibiotic in her water so we're just praying that she makes it through tonight. These pics show the damage done: The vet agreed with us that we need to give her a chance, even if her feathers never come back and she can't be rehoused with the other hens she's still our girl and I still think she's beautiful, if a bit bare currently Fingers crossed for her everyone Carolyn x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Oh goodness what a shock I am so sorry The same thng happened to one of my hens a while back, we didnt thnk she would survive but she did, they are tough little things. The vet covered the wound in a layer of Stockholm tar and told us not to touch it, a few months on it has healed, the tar has worn away after doiing its job and some feathers have grown back although the muscle tone has gone so Tawny is a bit lopsided, she is still livng alone but we have faith that she will return to normal Fngers crossed for your girl x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Just found these after posting on the other thread, Nutty you are one very lucky little girl, lots of love & snuggles little one.......and Mum & Dad too Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 Well, God obviously didn't want her back just yet, she's up and about this morning, eating and drinking fine and is currently pottering round the front room after her Dad The wound looks less angry this morning, and she's trying to preen herself so we've been gently washing the worst of the blood/mess off her remaining feathes with warm water and an old toothbrush, which she seemed to appreciate (she had her head in a tub of corn at the time, so think she's going to be ok :D:D) She doesn't like having the wound gel applied, but it a pretty good girl about things really - only problem is that she wants to go back outside with the others but we daren't while its still so red and bloody. Once the skin's healed over I'll pop her back outside but in her own run, so she can see and hear the others and they can her, hopefully that'l;l make reintegration possible and easier.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 Just a thought that's occured - has anyone successfully reintegrat4ed a badly injured hen before after a long time separated from the others and how did they do it? Really don't want Nutty to be alone as I know she'll be very unhappy - we['d like to reintegrate her as soon as sensible, the vet suggested keeping her inside and on her own for a couple of weeks to let her heal, but I'm keen not to separate her that long incase the others don't accept her back. Would it help if she was outside with them all but protected behind mesh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 When Ella our hen had an operation we kept her living in the kitchen for about 4 weeks, it was February and cold so the warmth aided her recovery. I would keep her seperate for as long as possible, maybe she could free range on her own when the others are shut in? Or like you suggested you could rig up some sort of seperation area/fencing where they can all free range together but so the others can't get near her. When we intergrated Ella back in we had no problems whatsoever, but then our issue was not a pecking one. But I think the hens remembered her! If you have any Avipro it's a great pick me up for convalescing hens - it perked Ella right up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I'm glad to hear your girl will be fine. You're a good chicken mama. Accidents happen. Saronne xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 when she is a bit better how about visitting times 1 of her friends at a time (supervised of course) just to keep the contact up. I did one new injured girl to one, to 2 if that makes sense. (nice & slow) don't stress about it yet, just enjoy her one to one and recovery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Free ranging behind some netting wth the others is a good idea, hopefully you should be ok integrating her back with the rest We decded not to re-integrate Tawny as she has a beard which makes her visbility poor and the others are all fast flghty hens, she is very different so maybe thats why she was picked on. Tawny lives alone in an ark and free ranges with our table bird group; as she is a dual purpose breed we are hoping to integrate her with them permenantly long term Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 thanks everyone Nutmeg's come on in leaps and bounds today - literally. Her fav ourite perch is now a toss up between the TV stand and my leg She's woofed down her tea (growers pellets+water+tuna), drunk a whole bottle full of water and is as bright as a button - was worried that once the painkillers wore off she's start to become subdued, but didn't need to be concerned. Having a wander Makeshift perch by TV Finally, food! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 It's good to see her picking up. Hope she heals well, should do with living this life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 hope so A friend at work commented that she thinks our animals are treated better than most people, I say they deserve a bit of spoiling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Carolyn - what a brilliant chicken mummy & what a lucky chicken. She probably won't want to go back outside after being spoiled like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Glad she's feeling a bit better today Try not to rush putting her outside as its so cold, re-introductions should be ok once healed, just be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 You are a very lucky chooky and chooky mummy> I hope she is continuing to improve. these thinkgs happen unfortunately, and can in a matter of minutes, we lost one but because she was a crested columbine, they went for the crest... and say not more, i think it was pretty instantaneous. Keep up the good work, She looks like she is being cared for. Keep her warm, but not too much TV... especially cookery programs!! Please let us all know how she is doing. Chances are her feathers may not regrow... or with some of ours that had been badly trodden by cockrels befor we had them, it took them til after a big moult. Keep up her protein level too... tuna is really good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I love her set up keep up the good work and have some fun with her I would say DEF NO cooig programs you never know what awful things she might hear to traumatise her forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 19, 2009 Author Share Posted October 19, 2009 Thanks LJ she lvoes her tuna, am off to pick up some meal worms for her now too - she's quite a little character, keeps pinching the cats food while Oscar the huge black cat sits and looks pathetically at me as if to say "mum, theres a chicken in the house and its eating my food. What is wrong with this picture?!" Am goign to make her a little coat today out of fleece that we'll try her with once the wounds healed over - she's doing her best to preen and clean her remaining feathers as the wound gel makesn them stick together so wan't to try and stop her from pecking herself and doing more damage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 there's a pattern on the littlehen rescue website. her bott will itch too so she will want to "get at it". cat food is good for her too. offer the cat some mealworms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 19, 2009 Author Share Posted October 19, 2009 oh you star! Well, got home from work to find OH with the little one, outside with the other three babies all gathered around her as if to say "oh my, what HAPPENED?!" She's happily foragingwith them as we speak, so much for keeping her in till she was all better Apparently he couldn't bear to see her looking at the others out of the window so decided to stay with her to make sure there was no pecking - Pumpkin had a slight peck and was VERY quickly put back in her place by Nutmeg Poor pumpkin, think she was enjoying by second in command of the babies while Nutty was out of action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I wouldnt try a home made jacket, try a poultry saddle instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 If you go the poultry saddle route, get one that's a size too big for her to make sure it covers her rump! I got two this year for my RIR's because George had been paying them too much attention and was damaging their backs. They were still able to reach round to their preen gland, which is the bit you need covering I would have thought. Just do a search on ebay for Poultry Saddle and a whole load come up. Good luck with her recuperation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 OMG, somehow I've only just managed to see this thread. What a dreadful thing to happen and I am so glad to read that she's on the mend. Hoping it continues for the poor love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 19, 2009 Author Share Posted October 19, 2009 three poultry jackets now on the way Maggie and Jemima are looking a tad threadbare too so thought I might as well get them one each while I was at it Suspect we've found the main culprit of the attack - Peppercorn, our 13 month old Miss Pepperpot was found having a right go at Etty our Salmon faverolle through the run of the eglu this evening Blood was drawn on both sides, Pepper had a nasty cut to her wattles while Etty had a bloodied beak... time to try the bumper bits again methinks and pop Madam in the sin bin? Only problem is that Pepper is bottom of the current pecking order, so not sure how much help that would be, she seems to have a go at any new girls as they're ven lower than she is (they are msot definately NOT all integrated yet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SillyClucker Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 I've not tried this but I would if i had a bully chook like you appear to have. Take the bully out and put her in a box big enough for her to do minimal moving about. Put some food and water in the box with her. Close the box making sure there is enough ventilation. She should be in near dark conditions. Check on her and clear any droppings every now and again. Apparently, if its dark and quiet they just go to sleep a lot and do not get traumatised by the experience. Reintroduce her after a few day. The idea is that she will then not be in the same position in the pecking order and things will settle down. As said, not tried it but might be worth a try. I just hope your bully chook hasn't got a taste for this kind of behavior. Good luck with it all anyway and well done so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 How is your little one today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
