bexbex Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Last week Wendy started to moult. She was broody before this so didn't surprise me. She is now complately bald and it's -10 degrees outside. She looks so fed up. I now suspect they're pecking each other too. Her feathers moulted ok and new ones are coming through (she looks like a hedgehog) but the ones on her bum are today bleeding and look pecked at. Martha now has bald spots, random ones so I know she isn't moulting. I've been giving them mash with porridge in a morning and loads of corn to warm them up but poor Wendy doesn't seem to be coping and Im worried about her. I have an old dog crate and I really want to bring her in to give her feathers time to recover but I'm worried the other 2 won't accept her back after and being inside will stress her more then being outside. There are 3 of them in a big coop so it's hard for them to snuggle up together. I've filled the inside with loads of straw to try and make it as cozy as I can. Does anyone have any advice. She's in worse condition at the minute then an ex-batt! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexbex Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 I've brought her in for now. She's sat on my knee now.. She's so cold bless her. We have an appointment at the vets this afternoon for some antibiotics as she sounds a bit snotty. Dread to think what that will cost me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGLGirls Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Hi, my hen Lemon went like this just before the first cold snap (we live in the NE and have had snow since 25th Nov!!). Lemon was proper poorly, balding from moulting, heavy breathing, nearly always sleeping, couldnt be bothered to FR and I was really concerned for her. It was a Sunday and no normal vets open but I took to an emergency appt and they gave her Baytril (darent tell OH how much that cost me). We brought her in out of the cold, and is snug as a bug in the downstairs loo, she also needed a course of antibiotics by syringe for the following week. Her feathers are now grown back, but the hard part now is putting her back outside, she goes out to FR with the others for a little while each day, but until the thaw comes she'll be staying put. Even considering bringing in the other 2 until it warms a little - theyve been so cold for so long. Its -11 today. Sorry for rambling but I guess my advice would be to do as you have done, bring her in and get her to the vets. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexbex Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 Thanks so much for the reply. She looks so fed up but I'm not giving up on her as she's still eating and drinking. She'll probably end up inside now till it warms up and I'll have to cross my fingers that the other too will let her come back. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexbex Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 I'm in S.Yorkshire btw so we've had it bad too lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGLGirls Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Lemon is actually top chook, and she fits straight back in with the girls when she goes outside for her short stints. Exactly as you say I was concerned also about her fitting back in, but she has had a couple of sessions when the freeze lifted a little where she has been out in the run for 4 hrs with the others, and she is absolutely fine. Even free ranging they get down to their usual pecking about for whatever they can find, and dust bathing together. I've not seen any challenges to the top spot in her absence. Dont worry. One tip if the vets give you the antibitoics by syringe, I was unfort working away in Poland that week, and had to leave the OH to administer the medication - typical man did exactly what the vet told him and he headlocked the poor girl under his arm to get the syringe into her beak/crop. Poor little thing got all stressed. When I got home I just crumbed a small amount of bread and let the solution soak in - she quite happily ate it all up. Not sure if you are supposed to, but she's smashing now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexbex Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 We've just been to the vets. He gave her 2 injections, 1 antibiotic and one I think was a multi vitamin. He said other then being bald she is in good condition and as her eyes and nose are clear he doesn't think it is anything to worry about just yet. I have to keep her inside until her new feather come through so she is upstairs in the dog crate looking very annoyed. She made a right noise in the vets! All the vet nurses and reception staff came in for a look! haha Martha is still outside as she isn't as bad as Wendy, she just has a bald spot on her back so hopefully she'll be fine. Glad yours are ok after their treatment Great idea about the bread x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Bex bex could you pop in a card board box or 2 with straw it (sort of cat carrier size for 1 or bigger for 2) like a nest box?? They might get in to snuggle up. if not it will at least reduce the area of cold air in the coop. Mine will sit right on top of a snugglesafe like a tea cosy. you might want to consider one or 2 of these. well done for getting her seen and bringing her in,,, many do seem to struggle whilst others seem to not bother with the cold!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Having taken my moulting and poorly Pansy to the vets yesterday, my vet said not to underestimate the amount of stress a major moult causes, and that combined with the ridiculously cold temperatures is enough to make any chook feel poorly, and he suggested that in many cases it's the nursing which makes them better rather than the medicine! So I'm sure we will both have very pampered girls for the next couple of weeks..certainly Pansy has enjoyed the vet's suggestion of adding wild bird food with suet to her mash today (ie left the mash and ate the rest!) My OH says the eggs are back up to £18 a throw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
