What is the easiest way to introduce new chickens to an existing flock?

[Dolly]

I've just got back from an emergency dash to the vets and I feel it's all my fault

 

Having yet another feather pecker problem, I moved Holly into her own eglu a while ago, next to the main WIR to give the others a break and try and get their feathers to grow back. But with darker, colder nights, they've had less FR together and I wanted Holly back in with the others for warmth at night as well as company. Even when they FR, she would pluck out their feathers at every opportunity, so this morning I fitted a beak bit to her. Immediately afterwards she fell over and couldn't stand, her legs were stuck out behind her and she was rolling about whenever she tried to move. I was distraught, hence the dash to the vets and they said sadly she'd probably had a stroke.

So I had to kiss my poor Holly one last time and say goodbye before they took her away. I couldn't even bring her home as the ground is so hard we wouldn't have been able to bury her.

I am devastated and in tears and it's all my fault, I thought I was doing the right thing for everyone but it wasn''t.

 

Night night my little girl, I'm so sorry.

[poachedegg]

Really sorry to hear about Holly - dont beat yourself up, you had the best intentions for all your girls xx

[chick wiggle]

Im so sorry to hear about Holly, please try not to beat yourself up about it, you were, after all, trying to do your best by your girl {{hugs}}

RIP Holly

[Olly]

I'm very sorry to hear this. I am not clear that your action in fitting the bumper bit caused her to have a stroke however; lots of people have fitted them, and I've not heard of this happening before. It's possible that the stress of having it fitted may have triggered an underlying problem, but then so could any sort of interaction for her benefit - even picking her up for a health check might have caused it. Please don't blame yourself, hens do have strokes and there's no obvious cause, and my guess would be that this was an unfortunate coincidence.

 

It's not always easy to find the best course of action, but if she was a persistent pecker then you had to do something to prevent your other hens being harmed. So sorry to hear this.

[Bramble]

Oh dear, it's so sad, but I'm sure it's just a series of very unfortunate coincidences, absolutely nothing to blame yourself for whatsever, though I know all too well that it's very easy for us to say that and less so for you to accept it - you did what was right, you couldn't do anymore. Sending hugs.

[WitchHazel]

Sorry for your loss.

 

Don't blame yourself, it's unlikely that fitting the bumper bit was the direct cause. If there was an underlying problem it would have surfaced at some point anyway.

 

<> to you

[chicken bark]

It sounds as though you are a very caring chicken mummy and what happened was something no one could have foreseen. It was not your fault. Very sad to lose a hen.

[BocBoc]

You did the right thing and I think we would have all done the same. It's not your fault, just one of those things so please don't beat yourself up about it.

 

RIP little one x

[Plum]

So sorry, how awful for you. I really don't understand what happened, I've never heard of any hen having this kind of problem from having one fitted and lots of people on the forum have used them. Just remember you were doing the best for her and all of them. So sad. xx

[Roobaloo]

I know it's hard but please do not blame yourself. You could never have forseen this, no one could have...you were doing the right thing, as most people on here would agree!! As already mentioned, there will have been other factors that caused it...and it could've happened at any time.

 

You clearly love your hens and you were doing everything to make their lives better...You did everything right, sadly the outcome coudn't reflect that.

 

...at least you were there to say goodbye, and to give her a dignified end.

 

Rest in Peace, Holly.

 

xx

[Guest]

I echo what everyone else has said xxx

[Powerlady]

It wasn't your fault..just one of those things that we cannot predict.

[chickyhazel]

It really was not your fault. Holly needed to be back in the others to keep warm during the cold nights we have had and needed something to prevent her from attacking the others. You did everything you could to make all your chickens happy and are clearly a very caring chicken mummy. I very much doubt it was the bumper bit that caused her stroke - I expect it was an underlying problem that could have surfaced anytime.

[Chucky1]

Dolly, I'm sorry for your loss. Poor little thing.

 

But as others have said you didn't do anything wrong.

 

Hope you feel better soon

[Dolly]

Thank you all so much for your kind words, it really helps, especially as I know you understand how I feel.

As I couldn't bring Holly home to bury her, I've written a few words in the memorial section which, whilst it made me cry again, has made me feel like I have some sort of closure and given her a proper send off.

Thanks again.

[Plum]

Lovely send off. x

[Leicester_H]

As above - please don't blame yourself - really unfortunate coincidence.

H