Hellcat Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Spent Thurs, Fri and Sat at the Bath and West show on the Omlet stand with gorgeous Simon and lovely Jan. She kindly bought us two POLs, one Gingernut, promptly christened Goldie by my son, and a speckeldy, christened Freckles by my daughter. Disaster struck in the form of lean mean Poach, who took an instant dislike to Goldie and pecked her poor head so much it began to bleed. Checked her on Saturday and it was not too bad so, as I was shattered from the show I thought 'I'll ge tthe gentian Violet out tomorrow.' When tomorrow (Sunday) came she was cowering in a corner and I got her out of the run sharpish and had a look. Back of head was a bloody mess but, when she bent her neck forward, I could see her spine and all the ligaments all the way from the back of her neck to her wing joints. The skin had gone completely. I can't believe a chicken could do that, I wonder if a rat got in last night (we have moved the run temporarily to finish the poultry paradise) and got to her. So, we put her in the new beautiful and as yet unchristened PURPLE cube, with some water and food, and headed out to the poultry auction we had planned to go to, frankly thinking that there was nothting we could do and at least she would die in peace and comfort. Got to the auction and bid and bought two beautiful lavendar Araucanas. Looked fine, checked them out as much as you can in the cage etc etc. Got home, put them in with the others, no problems, all eating, drinking and all poke off to bed, no worries. I go and check on Goldie, who is, amazingly, still alive, clucking, eating and drinking. So we put her in the cube roost on her own (luxury!) and think, she'll go in the night, nice and quiet like. Come down this morning and let the others out, and one of the araucanas (Cloud) is not looking too good. Half asleep and falling over. Get her out and spend the day franticly nursing her because she is running with lice and has chronic diahorrea. She died just before 3 this afternoon. I'm very sad. On the positive side, Goldie is still going strong, has been out in the run today and is pecking about and eating and drinking and even came running to get a handful of corn. NEVER BUY HENS FROM AN AUCTION!! I'm really cross, we have no comeback and I've had to re-treat all my other hens with red mite powder, as Hans says it will help sort out the lice if they've been contaminated. Our fault for not quarintining them, I suppose... Roll on tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Oh no Helen, what a nightmare! I read about a similar attack on a hen, I think on the Practical Poultry forum. Horrible, but just goes to show how they can peck away at a wound. I do hope she survives it though And sorry to hear about your araucanas - not a good weekend then. ((((Hugs)))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 Thanks Snowy, I seem to have spent the weekend crying for my chickens. I was sooo upset about Goldie, then to have Cloud die, between me giving her another pipette of water and going in the house to tell OH I was taking her to the vet, and going back out to get her. Such a beautiful girl, so sad. Fingers, toes and all other things crossed for Goldie. Its quite taken the shine off the lovely new cube, I can tell you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 What rotten luck. I've heard that auctions can be a bit dodgy, but that is atrocious. I hope Goldie continues to improve. All the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 What a nightmare weekend for you. I've never heard of chicken auctions before - who runs them? There must be someone you can complain to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 Its a local farm that supplies chickens. Anyone can put birds in and they are supposed to be certified as healthy. There is a 'sold as seen' caveat though. I hope nothig happens to Silver Cloud, though, as I think she may go down in history as the most expensive Araucana ever! OH bid on a beautiful Jersey Giant but baulked at topping £26 for her. Looking back... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Oh how horrible its been for you. Hope the rest of the week is infinitly better for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 What a horrible time you've had I think the phrase 'seeing red' must have come fron hen behaviour - they really do keep pecking if any hen has red or sore looking skin. I hope all your hens will settle down now - and that you can enjoy your new PURPLE! cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 How horrible, I hope things look up soon. At least you have a beautiful new cube, and Goldie is surviving poor little thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Poor you Helen, and your poor new hen too I am glad to hear that Goldie is recovering - chooks can be very vicious Although you have no come-back on the purchase, I would have though that the authority that runs the auction should know that one of their suppliers is supplying poor quality stock. At least you'll have the satisfaction of doing something about it, and they might even speak to the supplier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Hope Goldie is a little better today Helen I agree with Clare, surely someone should be informed about the condition of those hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lailapet Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 How's it going today Helen? Is Goldie still hanging on in there? What about Silver Cloud? Any sign of anything nasty there? I shed a couple of tears for Cloud too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 Goldie must be getting positive vibes from all of you because this morning she was waiting for the cube door to be opened, and all but fell down the steps in her eagerness to get out! She has scabbed over, so no more need to worry about the flies getting to her, I just hope they didnt get to her before... She really is looking better. Will keep you posted. The surviving araucana looks fit and well still and they all look very dusty from a rather excessive mite powder dusting yesterday. We are keeping Goldie separate still, and Poach (the vicious b@#ch) has been put in the sin bin again this morning. I will be getting in touch with the poultry place, as soon as my voice comes back and I can talk without fear of bursting in to tears over the whole thing. thanks for all your good wishes. Nice to let off steam sometimes. When all the chooks have settled down and are in Poultry Paradise permanently together I will post some pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Glad to hear that Goldie is so much better today Just a thought Helen, but is the remaining araucana infested with lice too? It would strike me as odd if she wasn't as well, but then if Cloud was very poorly anyway (i.e. unsaleable) then the lice would make a bee-line for her and it would all make sense. Parasites like lice and fleas seem to have an inate sense of when an animal is dying and home in on it. Perhaps the auction organisers ought to know in case Cloud had a communicable disease.... which they might have to report. Just guessing here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 I feel so sorry for you. I went to the Bath and West on Friday-were you the one wearing purple crocs? Anyway I hope Goldie gets well soon and that they'll eventually settle down and get on with each other. If you want some more chickens I'd advise you to look at the Omlet wiki's breeders list as there is a breeder I added on the other day in Chilthorne Domer and his phone number. He's really nice and all of my birds from there are really happy and healthy and nearly 2 and a quarter years old now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Oh Helen what a horrible time you have had I do hope things start to improve soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Glad to hear that goldie is looking better today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Sorry to hear your news - I hope Goldie makes a full recovery. AMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 I feel so sorry for you. I went to the Bath and West on Friday-were you the one wearing purple crocs? yup that was me - was I rude to you?!?!? I was certainly the one looking pink... under the big bush hat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 Goldie was dancing on the top of the cube today - so we now know they can get up there I have checked Silver Cloud and she looks clean at the moment, but I will be speaking to Revels soon about the state of poor Cloud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I feel so sorry for you. I went to the Bath and West on Friday-were you the one wearing purple crocs? yup that was me - was I rude to you?!?!? I was certainly the one looking pink... under the big bush hat. Were you rude to people then Helen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy C Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I am glad to hear Goldie is improving. Best of luck with the other girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I have checked Silver Cloud and she looks clean at the moment, but I will be speaking to Revels soon about the state of poor Cloud. Let us know how you get on Helen. Knowingly selling hens in that condition is appalling practice, and if they had no idea that the hen was poorly, then they shouldn't have been keeping them in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 6, 2007 Author Share Posted June 6, 2007 I feel so sorry for you. I went to the Bath and West on Friday-were you the one wearing purple crocs? yup that was me - was I rude to you?!?!? I was certainly the one looking pink... under the big bush hat. Were you rude to people then Helen? Its been said - although never at a show yet (first time for everyting... ) Actually, I think I remember Ubereglu - were you there with your dad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 Yes I was. He was the tall one, red t-shirt-I think? Grey beard and grey hair? You were very nice! Lesley, she wasn't rude to anyone. It was a shame they weren't allowed to bring down any chickens to go in the cube and eglu though-due to bird flu! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
