Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Leicester_H]

Hi

As a LAST resort (after much feather plucking and finally significant blood drawn) I (with Snowy's help) fitted Lily with a BB last Monday. She struggled and it took longer than last time and she was clearly a bit truamatised by the process.

On Tuesday, she seemed OK.

But by Thursday she was acting oddly - when I let them out to free range, she was reluctant to go onto the grass ? Eventaully, she did, but just sort of stood there.

Today, she wouldn't come out of the run.

Usually, if I go out to them, they all run to the end of the run and 'go mad' but she is now mostly sitting on top of one of our home made perches.

She is eating and drinking and laying eggs (was wormed about a month ago).

She did eat some corn I put on run floor.

The bumper bit looks correctly fitted - doesn't seem to be pressing on the 'skin flap'.

Does it look correctly fitted to you ?

(excuse the mess - she had just eaten some cooked potato!)

 

She seems so subdued (its now nearly a week) - I would hate for her to be in pain.

 

I know they sulk, but a week seems a long time ? Any ideas ?? H

[Egluntyne]

Looks OK to me. She is probably sulking because she is no longer able to wreak havoc.

 

I have found that if they are not fitted correctly, the hen can hoik them out pretty quickly.

[Leicester_H]

Thanks Egluntyne - thats what I was assuming - but I was starting to get worried.

Many thanks for reassurance and quick reply, H

[Dolly]

Hi Hazel

Sorry to hear about your troubles but I know exactly how you feel, we had 2 girls who did the same and ended up fitting bumper bits. They definitely 'sulk' for a few days ie. are quiet and sometimes withdrawn but once they get the hang of it, they forget the bit is on and it's business as usual.

Good luck!

[Leicester_H]

Hi

Thanks for replies.

She's STILL sulking and looking sorry for herself - 7 days now - is this a record ??

H

[Patricia W]

It could be a coincidence - she might really be ill. Worth a vet's visit?

[Leicester_H]

Worth a vet's visit?

What do others think ??

She is eating, drinking, laying. She was wormed about a month ago.

(not sure I could grab her at the mo, anyway - not sure if I want to traumatise her any more ??)

H

[Chucky Mama]

Hazel, I have no idea about bumper bits. How easy is it for you to take off and put back on again? If it is easy enough, I would take it off for a day or 2 and see how things go. If not and she is eating and drinking, laying and parasite free I would leave her.

[Dolly]

Seven days does seem quite a long time for bumper bit sulking in my personal experience. Ours were over this stage in about 2-3 days. Perhaps as others have suggested, remove it and see how she is in case it's something else and if a visit to the vet is needed?

[Leicester_H]

She was a bit better this afternoon.

I tempted her out with some corn - she scratched around a bit.

She seems lively enough - when she wants !(ie when corn is involved)

She laid an egg (again) today, is eating & drinking.

 

Its quite hard to put the BB onto Lily - I wouldn't want to take it off, only to have to put it back on (it really was the last resort). Given no other symptoms, it would be quite a coincidence if she had developed an illness at exactly the same time as the BB was fitted.

 

I have looked carefully at the BB again and it isn't pressing on the skin flap - and seems to be fitted properly.

So I think I'll leave it a few days and see if she continues to 'improve'

 

Thanks all,

H