What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[TutuTallulah]

Hi all,

 

I am new to the boards so please bare with me!

 

I got 3 new hybrid hens on Saturday, all seemed fine. I bought them from a breeder - conditions were spotlessly clean, all hens looked healthy etc etc. He said they were POL 20-22 weeks old.

 

Bluebell - A blue hybrid is fine, no problems!

 

Daisy - Speckeldy, started coughing/sneezing and shaking her head when I got home. Initially thought it was the heat/stress of travelling but then sunday clear mucus started flying out of her mouth when she shook her head so now all 3 hens are on Denagard for ? respiratory infection.

 

Rosie - Red Ranger, is my real concern now. She was initially a little bullied by the other 2 but nothing major, just the very occaisional peck at the back of the head near food. However she is now standing still (or walking very slowly when encouaraged). Her head is down, her tail feathers are down and she is not eating. Her poo is a little watery but she doesn't have any messy feathers around her back end. Her crop is empty. I've tried tempting her with corn, cooked rice, grapes, cucumber etc but she just looks at it and makes no attempt to eat. As I have only had her since Saturday I have no idea if she has ever laid an egg before. She has no symptoms other than she is very 'depressed'. Could it be that she is going to lay her first egg or is it likely to be something more serious? She has had a little drink of the water containing the Denagard.

 

The Breeder has offered to replace all three hens, but I bought them as pets so I am reluctant to return them as I feel sure I know their fate if I did so.

 

Any advice offered is very much appreciated.

[Chucky Mama]

If you only got them on Saturday and they are already on antibiotics I assume that they saw a vet on Sunday or Monday. If this is the case there is probably little point is taking them back as they have been examined so recently. The antibiotics are broad spectrum and so should deal with most bacterial infections. It is not ususual for chickens to become slightly unwell after the stress of moving when defenses are a little down. It is a bit like how one gets a cold on the first day of a holiday She could be getting ready to lay an egg but could also be feeling very unwell. I would keep her cool and make sure that she has water available and continue to tempt her with food (porridge or weetabix may tempt her). Fluid is the most important thing.

[TutuTallulah]

Hi Chucky Mama,

 

Thank you very much for your reply.

 

Daisy was seen yesterday but I didn't take the other 2 as I didn't want to stress them unduly with another journey in the car and it was only Daisy that was showing symptoms. However, as all 3 hens came from the same place, travelled and are being housed together then I was advised to treat all 3 hens by putting the Denagard in the drinking water.

 

Therefore, at this point in time, Rosie (my red hen who is now my main concern) hasn't been seen yet.

 

The porridge / weetabix sounds a good idea - at the risk of sounding very dim - do I make it up with milk or water? (No laughing please!)

 

Any other suggestions of anything at all I can do to 'perk her pecker up' will be greatly welcomed x

[Chucky Mama]

It is best to make it up with water. Chickens aren't really designed to cope with dairy products. The chances are that the vet will prescribe antibiotics as there is not a huge amount more that they can do at this stage. I wouldn't bother her too much as getting her destressed is important and the more you do with her the worse she will be. It is warm here today so ensuring that she has fluid available is really important. If she takes a mash of weetabix or similar that will get a bit of fluid into her. Some chickens (mine) don't like mash to be too sloppy (don't like getting their beaks all messy )

[The Dogmother]

The main thing to consider is that if they turn out to have Mycoplasma (a chest infection), it can have long term effects on their egg laying tackle, meaning that they could produce malformed eggs, eggs with weak shells, or not lay at all.

 

Personally, in that case I'd return the hens for replacement before I got too attached to them. It's a tough call, but I've not known a hen get over myco and thrive

[Chucky Mama]

A very valid point. If you do return them I would be inclined to get a refund rather than replacements.

[TutuTallulah]

Thank you Claret and Chucky Mama.

 

I do appreciate your advice - my head tells me to return them but my heart says something else!

 

As a family we have a policy of 'an animal is for life'. I have a Bassett Hound who has medication costing me almost £200 per month. The vet is amazed I pay it as he says a breeder would have had her put to sleep, but she lives a full and active life as long as she has her medication. I bought her, so it's up to me to look after her.

 

Having said that, I will not see any animal suffer. If my hens were in distress or pain then I would not allow it to continue. If with medication they get over this but their egg laying is compomised, then hey, I'll chalk it up to experience but the hens will get to stay.

 

I know you both have given sound advice - If only I could be more objective!

[The Dogmother]

I agree that it's hard, and I've taken on handicapped hens myself before. As I said, it's your call

 

I hope that they come through it; try giving them some Poultry Nutridrops - they are brilliant and a real 'pick-up'

[TutuTallulah]

Thank you,

 

I have just ordered some Nutridrops - I presume I give them neat using the dropper?

[The Dogmother]

That's right, they're darned good. Redwing is another champion of them.

 

Do let us know how you get on.

[TutuTallulah]

Thought I would give everyone an update on my 3 new additions...

 

Bluebelle: Continues to be fine and is Top Hen! She is laying 5 out of 6 days (she has Saturday off!). Small eggs at the moment.

 

Daisy: Her coughing/sneezing cleared up really quickly with the Denagard antibiotics - she showed improvement by the next day but we continued the course for the full 5 days as advised. She is now fit and healthy and comes running whenever she sees me to see if I have any tasty treats. No eggs yet.

 

Rosie: She was my main concern and thank you for all the advice given. She has gradually started coming around and is now up and about in the covered run with the other 2 girls when I let them out in the morning instead of still being in the hen house in a corner. The Poultry Nutri-drops seem to have worked a treat and Weetabix definitely helped get her appetite back! No eggs yet

 

So - all going well for now!

 

Thanks to everyone x