foxychickjo Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 After the devastation of a couple of weeks ago when Mr Fox got 8 of my 9 girls, I now have 6 exbats and a walk in run. No more Mr Fox!!! The exbats aren't laying at all but a lot of them have severe feather loss so I'm not worried about them. I picked up 2 bluebells and 2 Sussex stars for company yesterday and to show them how it's done and they are currently right at the bottom of the pecking order. I noticed today that Nora, 1 of the blue bells has a watery left eye. I'm not sure if she's been caught by a quick peck or it's something else? Her nostrils seems clear, just a watery left eye. Has anyone got any ideas and/or advice? Thanks in advance. I've spoken to the guy I got them from and he said to bathe it and keep and eye on it. If her nose is runny then she has a cold and to take her back and he'll give her antibiotics. I'm going to go for the citrodel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Did you just pitch them in together without an introduction period? It is best to let the ex-batts have a period of rest and recovery and a chance to build up some muscle before mingling them with more robust hens. Also a period of quarantine can be useful, to ensure that there are no illnesses passed on. Have a look at these articles. **Click** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxychickjo Posted March 28, 2010 Author Share Posted March 28, 2010 Hi thanks for your response. The remaining ex bat after Mr Fox was rescued on the 13th Feb. The others were all rescued on the 27th Feb but we didn't get them until the 19th March. The exbats all got on fine and are strong and sprouting lots of new feathers. The newbies we got yesterday, we did just put them in with the ex bats and they are currently proving that they rule the roost with the newbies firmly at the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Egluntyne is right to suggest that an isolation period is useful, any of my birds that goes off my property is isolated on return as are newbies, if your newbie has anything she may well have affected the others by now I'd separate her out and treat her as recommended by the seller to see if that helps Also isolate the others if you possibly can Another option was that she has caught a stray peck from one of the others causing the eye to water It pays to be cautious when introducing new chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxychickjo Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 Thanks for your advice ladies. Her eye looks less watery today and all of the things that you suggested was exactly what we did when we got the exbatts. Now that they are all in together, I might just have to leave it like that? If I have to remove Nora for a few days, won't she get bullied when I put her back in? The only way I can isolate her is by putting her into an enclosed kitten run. I could then put this into the main WIR but I haven't really got any other seperate sleeping accomodation apart from the main cube unless I put a box full of straw in there for her. After successful integration last time of 3 oldies to 6 ex batts, I'm now feeling a bit of a novice. Hugs please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
