goodinparts Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Today I made the trip home from Cambridge via Mini Meadows Farm - where I finally satisfied my longing for a salmon faverolles, Faith, and accidentally on purpose procured 2 little Pekins who had been living with her & who clearly needed to move into the vicarage. After a long chat with the lovely guy there we decided that they'd be fine in the , which I could set up specially to be manageable for the feathery footed and that faverolles are so gentle that I wouldn't need to worry about the mismatch in size... All was going splendidly but when my OH came home and I took him to meet the new girls, Hope, the lemon pekin was busy pecking Faith's foot - where a wound was bleeding. Waaah. Removed Faith and gave her a bath (she was looking a bit mucky altogether after a long muddy winter) and popped her back in the cat carrier to dry off....but it's bedtime now and the wound is still raw and visible (purple spray tomorrow, but I seem to have mislaid the horse 1st aid box where it was living so will have to buy some more) so I daren't put her back with the pekins. This probably means I'm about to have integration issues - which will be horrid as I don't have a 3rd proper coop/run so she'll have to manage with the cat basket and the broody coop..... Meanwhile, I think the hybrids may be picking on one of the Belgian bantams as she seemed reluctant to leave the cube earlier and is now roosting on the top of the ladder instead of cuddling up inside. Clearly my chicken life has been too smooth so far, so I'm due a bit of drama but did it HAVE to be on a Saturday night... Am I doing the right thing to keep Faith separate, even tho it may cause integration woes later? And what might be bothering the little Belgian girl, Patience? All hints, tips and strong drink gratefully received... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 ...Am I doing the right thing to keep Faith separate, even tho it may cause integration woes later? And what might be bothering the little Belgian girl, Patience? All hints, tips and strong drink gratefully received... Well, I've made you a cup of tea! Patience will be alright until you have time to assess the situation in the Cube. Maybe Monday clean the Cube in case mites are keeping her out, and give the birds a healthcheck? Also, you'll have a chance to see if there's any trouble within that flock. I've never kept bantams so haven't experienced mixed flocks, maybe others will have advice tomorrow, I just thought I'd post before bed. I think you've done the best thing for Faith overnight, an open wound would be asking for trouble. Congratulations on the new chickens, and best wishes that all goes smoothly henceforth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 How lovely getting your dream chicken. I would put some antiseptic on wound then something like flour or anything to cover the redness and put her back but keep an eye on things. You can wash it off when you get the purple spray. The others will be messing about because of new hens in the vicinity. It upsets them and they take it out on each other but don't worry they'll settle down again in time just make sure they still have perches to jump on or things to hide behind from the big girls. You'll get there just tell them girls to behave. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 I was going to say the same as Plum, if they have been together until now it is unlikely they wouldn't suddenly get on. Put them back in together and give them plenty of food and water stations to stop arguments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks, lovely people....I'm not too fussed about the Belgian bantams really - it was just one extra worry at the end of a looooong day & though Patience has spent some time in the nest box this morning she's out and about with Prudence now, doing happy bantamy things. It was, after all, their decision to move in with the hybrids, so I guess they are up to most things. Poor Faith, on the other hand, looks really sorry for herself today. I drove over to Countrywide to buy purple spray after church and she's now restored to the with Hope & Charity - but looks so miserable, flopped down on the ground, not excited by food (yesterday she ate corn from my hand) and shutting her eyes more than I like. Given that in the past 24 hours she has had to deal with leaving home, hurting her foot, having her first bath and spending the night in the cat basket, I'm going to try not to worry too much til tomorrow. That seems to be quite a lot of stress to place on one chicken. The Pekins aren't picking on her at all, which is something, but I'd just like to see her eat and drink something. Maybe time to open a tin of sweetcorn later on. Because I don't know her yet, I've no idea what is normal for her, of course. What I thought was happy placid faverolles when I handled her at Mini Meadows might have been poorly bird not feeling up to struggling. Otoh, when the hybrids arrived, Margot looked very much like this for a couple of days then laid her first egg and all was happy but.....oh dear....they are a worry, aren't they? I've put some life guard in the water and will offer her tuna later I think but any bright ideas would be much appreciated. Her poo is a bit runny, but I put that down to stress of the move...She was wormed a month ago, with flubenvet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Oh heck hope she picks up. Guess she has had a lot a lot of stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Two updates...Patience is fine! Laid her first egg - took most of the day about it but was excessively and loudly pleased with herself when once it was accomplished. Faith - I'm really not happy Though she showed interest when the hybrids came visiting and talked to her (quite politely) thro the mesh of the run, she remains very definitely sad and slumped. I won't be surprised if she doesn't make it, tbh. She just looks so miserable. But I think I'm going to leave her in there overnight as, given that she was living with the pekins anyway, if she's got some lurgy the chances are she'll have passed it on already, and she just looks as if moving her would be adding to her woes, poor love. I'll be so so sorry - she seems to be such a gentle soul and I've wanted a faverolles for so long but....well, prayers via St Francis are the order of the evening I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Oh no. So sad to hear about Faith. They really are lovely, gentle birds. Hope she picks up soon. Alli xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Have you checked her in case she has a softie, chest infection etc? Perhaps ring Minimeadows in case they have something going round and can shed a light on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 I'm going to leave her be tonight as I think checking her will be just too much extra stress...If she's still poorly tomorrow I will indeed ring Mini Meadows & do all the health checks I can. She had a very grubby bum when she arrived but they assured me it was more to do with post winter muck than poorlyness - and it did look alot more like mud than poo....but now, of course, I'm wondering. But they were so lovely and the whole set up was really good - so I'm not going to jump to negative conclusions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 My latest girl came from there only a few weeks ago and she was pretty muddy as well though can't say their set up looked muddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Odd, isn't it...but they did seem to be genuinely lovely people & the pekins are in the pink so I'm reserving judgement. Maybe they keep their growers somewhere less congenial til they want to sell them on? But didn't you find them lovely, Plum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 He was and came across as genuine chap. Got my buff orp bantam from them last year in a shed at the back and she was fine and my pekin from a run among the others. I didn't see any sick hen there but there was a sussex with a big red bald bottom but that could happen anywhere. Just think you are unlucky and could be anything really. No matter how well you keep your hens some will get sick from laying problems or if their immunity is lowered for some reason. Lots of people visit so they could bring something in on thier shoes or from wild birds. Who knows On the bright side all his hens are vaccinated so hopefully it's nothing too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Yes, that's the basis I'm going to work on. We had such a great conversation, & he was v enthusiastic about omleteers and wanted to know about aspects of vicaring and was altogether lovely......so we'll put it down to bad luck and I'll keep praying that poor lovely Faith makes it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
