Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[err_rachael]

made a new topic so it's easier for any new people to find

so maz seems to have made a full recovery we have made sure that she hasn't laid for over a week now but keeping her in the shed with the windows blacked out with bin bags. after someone's suggestion she has been free ranging around the garden under my supervision. i saw maj go for her bum once under supervision. i've been a bit anxious because we t ried putting them back together and maj pecked at her bum making it bleed again.

 

today is the day to put them back together because i'll be around to keep an eye on them also the purple spray and anti pecking spray arrived yesterday. applied the purple spray yesterday and will apply the anti pecking spray today. will this spray do the trick and should i really not worry?

 

i was just wondering if any more experienced omleteers had any ideas about how to re-introduce them? not sure if i'm making a fuss and should just do it and leave them in the eglu together overnight as normal.

 

ooh- also. how often do we need to keep applying the anti pecking spray and purple spray? it doesn't say on the bottles.

 

thanks again

Edited September 15, 2010 by Guest

[staceychristie]

Not sure about prolapse, but we've reintroduced girls after been poorly. I'd pop the purple spray on every couple of days. IT STAINS!!! So wear old clothes and gloves (I didn't , and looked like i'd opened one of those security boxes they use for cash vans). It has antiseptic properties. The peck spray I'd use once a day.

You are right to be wary about leaving them alone.... they can turn on a 'new' hen. Just keep you eye on them. We used a high power waterpistol (for the distance) and squirt everytime they go to attack. It does work.

 

Good luck.

 

Stacey

[Egluntyne]

I would treat her as if she was a new chicken and follow the advice **here**.

[err_rachael]

oops double post!

Edited September 13, 2010 by Guest

[err_rachael]

thanks i think i've done the 'free ranging under supervision stage'. yesterday i decided to put them in the WIR together, watched them for about an hour and then checked every hour. maz has the anti peck spray and purple spray on now and maj actually hopped over her to avoid her. but they do seem to be doing okay, they had a dustbath together which was lovely to watch. at night i put maj back in the shed because i'm paranoid and the plan is to let her do the same thing and be in the WIR with maz and see how it goes.

 

i'm wondering whether to bite the bullet and let them sleep together tonight if today goes okay too? but that would inevitably put pressure on maj to lay an egg. she's had quite a while of not laying. i just dont want another prolapse and then to be back at square one really.

 

thanks again

[err_rachael]

I'm so confused. Let them sleep together last night and I checked on them this morning before I popped out. Maz was pecking around in the WIR and Maj was in the eglu but came out to see me. When I came back went to check on them again and the same thing happened. Bit worried about Maj straining herself to lay an egg. Then Maz went for her vent area (despite me putting purple spray and anti pecking spray on yesterday) really shocked at first but then I could see what Maz went for because she got it. The membrane for an egg was hanging from her rear and they began to fight over it. Maj's rear still looks sore and featherless and pulsating in time with her breathing.

 

Maj is back in the shed until we can think of something to do. We only have a WIR and eglu so this is our only means of seperation. My mum's boyfriend wants to keep her in the shed again for a week with the binbags on so she doesn't lay, then in the second week take the binbags off and see if she lays because this would be a sign that things are okay.

I want to just take her to the vet again, I feel like we are trying everything: she's been on antibiotics, had a wormer treatment, warm baths, sudeocrem on the vent, haemmorid cream on the vent (which worked on her mini prolapse to some degree), has been sprayed with purple spray and anti peck cream, has been in the shed with the windows darkened for time to recooperate, has been on corn and weetabix, has the apple cider stuff in her water.

 

Just so confused

 

edited to add- taking her to the vet's today now. appt booked for half 4

[err_rachael]

well, took her to the vet yesterday. her vent was given the okay and apparently it's normal looking now after all that worry about it pulsating. i think it just looked odd because she is pretty featherless back there now. the vet still thought she was suffering with a cold, so gave her another dosage (this time injection which i have to repeat tomorrow of anti-biotic). on the way to the vet's she began opening and closing her beak. kind of panting. i think she was just nervous because after we saw the vet, on the way home she took her mind off it by nibbling a carrot stick.

 

the vet told us to keep her seperate from maz because she is getting pretty featherless now. i didnt realise it was around the front at the underside (sorry forgotten name for it now). she seemed to think that anti pecking sprays dont do much and she'll be fine if she sees her sister during the day for a bit. so i went to the petshop today and bought one of those ark runs and we nailed an old hedgehog home to it after giving it a good dust out. it's going to be very tricky to clean out because there is no way of opening the home, i'll have to clean it through the entrance. she hasn't actually been inside yet. im hoping she does when it starts to get dark. i'll go and have a look. so much fuss and i bet she misses the eglu tonight. the home is wooden so lots of cleaning, i disinfected it today. tomorrow i'll puff out some of that diatom around it.

 

just wanted to update really i know the vet said that theyre better off seperated and seeing eachother for a bit each day but i cant help but worry they will be lonely. it is just until her bum is a bit more covered up with feathers so maj doesnt keep having a go at it.

[Plum]

Sorry to hear you're still having a rough time with her. Will be good they can see each other now though.