Henslaved Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) My last remaining hen Greta crouched for the first time since 9 months ago. Hopefully this is a sign that she is coming back into lay Just hope her egg laying tackle is still up to the job. Unlike my late Ruby 'God bless her sweet little soul'. After a really heavy moult, Gretas' comb is nice and red and her legs have a nice yellow colour. Should I expect an egg anytime soon? Also caught her for want of a better word 'mothering' the guinea fowl today. The guinea fowl were stood with me, sheltering from the rain and Greta was 'pretending' to pick bits of 'invisible' god knows what from their feathers. A bit like a mum picks bits of invisible fluff from their kids clothes. Does anyone know what I mean? Edited April 8, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Well, eight days later and still no . She's still crouching though and she sits in the nest box once a day re-arranging the shredded newspaper. Hope her egg laying tackle is in working order . I have been checking her abdomen every day as I am paranoid about her getting peritonitis like Ruby did . Don't think I could face losing my last hen so soon after Ruby Wonder what the guinea fowl will think if/when she announces to the world that she has just laid an egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Unfortunately I think Greta has peritonitis I feared this would happen . The reason I am posting, is that her crop is always empty in the morning and is still empty by the time I let her out to FR. She is not doing the hunched up thing yet but she is definately not herself. She is point blank refusing to eat the layers pellets which I am thinking she may be doing this for a reason as she will guzzle grapes and mealworms and continue to scratch around looking for bugs. So, I have been making her up some chopped grapes sprinkled with sunflower hearts, a few porridge oats and a little honey and water and for pudding she has live mealworms and the occasional bit of tuna. I am only able to give her this when I am home from work as the guinea fowl would almost certainly eat it before she did. Can you give a hen too many grapes? Can you give a hen too many mealworms? Is there anything else I can give her except layers pellets? I just want to keep something in her tummy so she does not waste away . But when she starts to look miserable I will do the necessary and have her PTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I'm sorry to hear that Greta is not well. In the circumstances, I would probably do the same as you, and try to feed her up, but it may be worth a trip to the vet to confirm your diagnosis. I think the mealworms should be ok, and I imagine that her poo will tell you if she is having too many grapes IYKWIM! My poorly chooks have always devoured weetabix, made into a mush with warm water. Also tinned tuna, and others have suggested cat food (not chicken). Good luck - I hope you are wrong about peritonitis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Looks like I spoke too soon . I have just been to check on her and now she is doing the hunched up thing with her tail down . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Oh dear, it doesn't sound at all good She may have been coming back into lay and the egg may have ruptured inside her. I am sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Is that the same as peritonitis Chucky Mama, she is getting on a bit at 3yrs. Her abdomen has been a little swollen for about a week now and it's a bit squishy I am just going to let her out to do a bit of FR and see how she acts. Sometimes she will put on a show though for the benefit of the guineas (as she is still top chook). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I hope she does recover but it doesn't sound good. I'm sorry and will keep my fingers crossed. Maybe she would like some chick crumb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Is that the same as peritonitis Chucky Mama, she is getting on a bit at 3yrs. Yes it is, she may potter around for a little while but ultimately she will get worse and it tends to be quite quick after their tails go down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 I know , this is the third hen that I've had that 's had peritonitis . Well she is out FR at the moment she has had a few grapes and lots of meal worms and is now stood under a bush preening with her tail up, but still seems a little subdued Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 really sorry to hear it - I guess all you can do for the moment is make her as comfortable and loved as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 how's Greta? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 1, 2011 Author Share Posted April 1, 2011 Thanks for asking . Well she is still with us, but she seems to go up and downhill. One minute she is ok pottering around and looking for bugs and keeping the guineas in their place and the next she is sat down on the floor looking sorry for herself . She has eaten a few grapes this afternoon and lots of mealworms. But later on this evening she wouldn't touch either . I've also spotted her sitting in the dust bath, not doing anything just sitting there. Her abdomen is still the size of a large orange and squishy. It's so fustrating as one minute she seems ok and can't eat enough mealworms and the next she is not interested. She even crouched for me today bless her . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 Just an update on Greta. She still won't eat the layers pellets, but she will eat grapes, live mealworms and sunflower hearts and still continues to forage for bugs when out FR , and for the past couple of days she has gone to bed with a very full crop . But........................................................ She has been in the wars with the guineas . I think they must realise that she is not 100% and Tom has been trying for top spot in the pecking order and has succeded. I came home from work yesterday to find Greta out FR on her own ( my OH had let her out as she was fighting with the guineas). On closer inspection she had blood all around her comb, head and wattles . She had quite a nasty gash at the base of her comb, and a couple of small wounds on the rest of her comb and wattles, but all is now clean and healing nicely (the gash will take a little longer). I tried to get a cheap second hand rabbit hutch yesterday to put her in, but unfortunately it wouldn't fit in the back of the car so I am having to keep them separate by keeping Greta in the roosting area and the guineas are now kept outside in the run. Only Greta is allowed to FR on her own now as she freezes when the guineas are out FR and hides under a bush . So I have made a decision to find a new home for the guineas, which means Greta will be on her own for a while . Sorry for the long post, but it's been a stressful couple of days as I have never had to deal with bullying before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Poor Greta, guess they know she's under the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 Went to check on little Greta this morning and this was on the floor This was inside Does this mean she hasn't got perotinitis , and do I qualify for the small egg leader board Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I'd call it good news!!!! Maybe she doesn't have peritonitis after all! I'd hang fire on moving on the guineas for the moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 No expert but I'm crossing my fingers for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 I'd call it good news!!!! Maybe she doesn't have peritonitis after all! I'd hang fire on moving on the guineas for the moment! I would like to call it good news too, but I think I maybe just kidding myself as I saw her sat hunched again under her favourite bush . But the next time I saw her she was pootling around and scratching for bugs . I also just checked her abdomen and it doesn't feel squishy any more it feels a bit firmer . As for the guineas, it's too late for them, as someone is coming to pick them up tomorrow. Am so confused now about what to do for the best for Greta No expert but I'm crossing my fingers for you Thanks fluffy chick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I think she'll be fine! As for friends, Dr. Gongladosh prescribes more hens ex-batts perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 Well Greta is still with us, but is still showing the same symptoms with an added (what I can only describe as) what sounds like a sore throat . The guineas have gone to their new home , and Greta is looking rather lonely. So I am trying to persuade OH to go and look ( ) at a prospective new friend for her. Just one for now and see how they get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Yes, maybe something small and fluffy that will be nice to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Rose is a real cutie by the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
