Chicken boarders

[MargotT]

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere but i can’t get the forum search function to work today.

 

Over the last two days my Gingernut Ranger, Jerry, has been producing very watery diahorea. In fact it looks exactly like water containing undigested layers pellets. Apart from this she appears absolutely fine, racing round the garden and eating/drinking normally.

 

On top of her pellets she had some corn and greens she’s stolen from my veg patch but nothing else. She was last wormed with Flubenvet in November. She last laid a softie a week ago but no other eggs since early December.

 

Not sure if this has anything to do with it but there have been some changes to her environment over the last week – I’ve extended the run and switched to aubiose rather than woodchip. Also, Jerry’s been pecking the feathers of my other hen so I’ve been spraying Margot with ukadex.

 

Any suggestions as to what this could be?

[Plum]

Not sure about diarhorea but I do find they are more watery if they have had greens. If she is really well otherwise I would doubt it was an infection.

 

May be worth cutting out the veg for a day and giving some probiotic yogurt and seeing if she firms up. Bokashi is supposed to be good but apart from Wiggly worms I don't know where you get it.

[Egluntyne]

Whenever mine are squittery, I keep them on pellets and water, not treats, and add a handful of bokashi bran, as Plum suggests , to the pellets. That generally clears things up quite quickly.

[MargotT]

Thanks both, just ordered some bokashi bran. Hopefully that will get her sorted.

[MargotT]

Unfortunately this tale doesn't have a happy ending.

 

Jerry turned out to have septic peritonitis; she'd never been a good layer and occasionally produced softies despite having extra calcium in her diet. She started bleeding profusely from the vent last Friday and an x-ray she revealed she was egg bound. Despite antibiotics and attempts to reduce the inflammation she didn't pass the egg and when my vet operated to remove it the peritonitis was horrendous and the egg was actually outside of the uterus. The kindest thing was to put to sleep.

 

It's no exaggeration to say I’m absolutely heartbroken but I have to put sentimentality aside for the sake of my lone surviving hen, Margot, who needs company. So, on Saturday I’m picking up two new hens from Southmeads. From the advice on the forum it seems to make sence to keep three together - i have a Eglu classic with the run extension so that should be enough space for three hens.

 

Any advice on integrating the newbies to a lone, grumpy girl greatly appreciated.

[Plum]

I'm so sorry. It's very painful to lose one but agree she needs company.

 

Not introduced one but there are others recently who have done it. Hope it all goes well.

[MedusA]

I'm so sorry to hear about Jerry, but you did totally the right things. RIP little hen.

 

I do hope your new girls will give you loads of pleasure. I find introductions are best done slowly. It's a good idea to keep them totally separate for a couple of weeks in quarantine (just in case they are bringing any nasties that your other hen isn't immune to). I'd then let them free-range together for a while before moving them in permanently.

 

I'm sure I've seen a Sticky about introductions somewhere on the forum

 

Edited to add - here it is http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25886

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear that things didn't turn out well.

[MargotT]

Thanks all – pleased to report I have two new girls (Barbara and Tomasina) and have managed to introduce them with next to no fuss. Just had two noisy days from Margot and now they seem to be the best of friends; sunbathing and free-ranging together.

 

I think it helps that in their eyes none of them are bottom of the pecking order; Eli the cat is.

[Egluntyne]

Poor Eli. Good to hear that the new hens have settled in.