Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Tipper]

Hoping some of you more experienced chicken owners will be able to offer some advice...

 

Yesterday a dog attacked my 3 pekin bantams. 1 was killed outright, 1 escaped up to the top of the fence (phew) and the owner removed the dog from the 3rd. I took the injured gold partridge to the vets who stapled the wound, gave antibiotics. She said to give it the night and if still going in the morning come and collect a further set of antibiotics. We could only find one wound at the time.

 

I left her in the Eglu with the remaining pekin over night, wasn't sure if i should seperate or if this would add to the distress. They seem quite confused about their missing member - the healthy one keeps returning to the run, not FR.

 

Anyway this morning injured Cheryl is out in the run having dragged herself. She does not appear to be able to walk properly so i am thinking she has maybe a crush injury to her legs, or maybe the wound on her back has affected something deeper.

 

In my heart i think the kindest thing is to let her go, i can't bear to see her this way. Or as i am a novice keeper perhaps i am being too dramatic...

 

If she does go i would need to get 2 more chickens. My healthy Lavender Pekin is fairly laid back...would she accept this.

 

Its a very sad situation all round.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, I'm sorry your first post is such a sad one .

 

I'm not much of an expert in these things but I know one of my new girls last year was limping really badly but a day or so later, she was fine. I've read other similar posts of apparent leg injuries which clear up very quickly - presumably they are just sprains or strains.

 

On the other hand, your poor girl has other injuries so it's more likely to be a consequence of that. I'm wondering if you're at the vets now but if not, I would maybe wait and see how she is in a day or so if her other injuries appear to be OK.

 

Keep us posted .

[The Dogmother]

I'm sorry to hear about your sad experience.

 

Keep her warm, dose her up on Arnica pillules (healing) and Aconite for shock. I suspect that a good vet would have detected any bad damage when they examined her, it may just be bruising. Chooks are their own worst enemies in this sort of situation as they go into shock very easily and will stop eating and drinking. Make sure that she is warm, and syringe feed her if necessary. Nutri-drops are excellent for any ailing birds.

 

Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

[beach chick]

just to add to the above, keep her in close quarters - cardboard box or cat carrier - so she doesnt overdo it and worsen any injury. fingers crossed.

[Tipper]

Thanks for your replies, i really appreciate any advice.

 

I have picked up the antibiotics and a heat pad. She seems quite bright eyed and alert its just the walking thats worrying me but her legs look OK.

 

Have seperated her from my Lavender Pekin as was intermittently pecking at Cheryl as she was taking up the nest space and she wanted to lay! Have put some newspaper and Auboise in the bottom of a wired crate with some water and food and put her in the kid's playhouse for some rest.

 

Now my remaining Lavender is clucking around in and out the Eglu as she is on her own...will she be okay on her own or should i get her a friend just in case? They are only about 10-11 mths old.

 

Thank you, fingers crossed for Cheryl.

x

[beach chick]

she could well be a bit shocked and/or bruised, and it sounds as if you are doing everything you can. is she in her crate close to the other one? if so I think that's good, they can still see/smell each other etc.

personally I wouldnt investigate new friends until you know what's going to happen with Cheryl - if it all works out, in 4 or 5 days she can be back out with your other girl, and then you can add more with a proper phased introduction. if you rush into it now, and Cheryl gets better you will have to reintegrate her with the new ones as well and that could make it more difficult.

[Tipper]

Oh i had put her away in the playhouse as wanted her to be sheltered and dry. Have covered the crate but obviously it wont fit in the run & the playhouse is up on the patio. The lavender is FR but doesn't generally come up that far. My poor Lavender, Jessy is looking very bewildered as to why she is the only one around poor thing.

 

I have put some purple spray on the wound as well to put Jessy off pecking Cheryl. She hasn't been particularly aggressive about it but had a couple of pecks. They were cuddled up together but don't know if thats ok. Jessy was getting humpy as Cheryl was in the nest box and she wanted to be in there, hence i seperated them.

 

So for now do you think keep them seperated? At night too? Hold off on new friends and see how she is with the medicine and rest after a few days?

 

Thanks, never thought i would be that upset about some chickens but i'm totally devastated, the 3 of them were so happy in their little tribe!

x

[Tipper]

Took Cheryl to the vets just now as wasn't happy with the way she was moving her legs. The vet agreed it wasn't normal, which was a shame as she was very alert and the wound on her back was looking good. However, the bite must have hit a nerve and did too much damage.

 

Decided was best to end it immediately.

 

So now only one chicken, will have to get her some friends i suppose asap.

 

Thanks all

[Jools]

Sorry to hear that, but you know you've done the right thing.

[mollyripkim]

That's suc a shame, I,m so sorry you lost her as well.

[majuka]

I'm so sorry for your loss.x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm so sorry to hear that .

[beach chick]

that's very sad, but you did everything you could do. hope you can get some new girls soon and the intros go well.

[cathybc]

sorry to hear your news x

[chicken bark]

Really sorry. You did the best thing.

 

It may be worth securing your garden more so a dog can't get in again.

[Tipper]

The dog was my parents, he slipped out the back door when they were coming in. Not sure quite what happened as i wasn't around. Worst thing is i have a Jack russell terrier who lays in the Eglu with the chickens no problem!

[The Dogmother]

Such a shame, but please do get your remaining hen some friends as soon as you can - they will pine away otherwise.

[Tipper]

Thank you, we are still so sad but do have 2 new hens - a new gold partridge pekin bantam and a frizzle . Plopped them all in the run together and day 2 they all slept in the Eglu together and have been fine! Was dreading the whole introduction thing but it couldn't have gone better

[oneyolktoanother]

so sorry

[The Dogmother]

Thank you, we are still so sad but do have 2 new hens - a new gold partridge pekin bantam and a frizzle . Plopped them all in the run together and day 2 they all slept in the Eglu together and have been fine! Was dreading the whole introduction thing but it couldn't have gone better

 

Glad to hear it... introducing new hens to a solitary girl isn't usually too much of a problem.

[oneyolktoanother]

Thank you, we are still so sad but do have 2 new hens - a new gold partridge pekin bantam and a frizzle . Plopped them all in the run together and day 2 they all slept in the Eglu together and have been fine! Was dreading the whole introduction thing but it couldn't have gone better

 

glad everything is going well