Unsecure chicken perches

[Calamity Jane]

Some time ago i posted about my neighbour's chickens that kept getting into my garden, and how they were going to be away on holiday and leaving the chickens in the care of a young lad.....

Well, they have been away for a week now, and as of today two of the chickens have got loose again. They free ranged in my garden all day and then one of them managed to get back home to go to bed. However the other one was stuck and, as there was no-one next door, I have put it in my old dog crate in my dining room. I have left a note on their door telling them. My problem is that the hen is rattling (fluid sounding) when she breathes out, do you know what this could be and should I do anything about it tonight, or should I leave it until they collect it. Which could be ............. ?

[miller30]

Hi it could be a couple of things she could have a respitory problem coming or my old hen had fluid retention from sterile egg peritonitus so she sounded rattley when she breathed i personally wouldnt do anything tonight as its not your chicken i wouldnt be very happy if my neighbours birds kept coming into my garden especially if one was rattley not sounding horrible but i wouldnt want it mixing with my birds can you not block where their coming through on your side as it sounds like your not gonna get far with your neighbours also i dont suppose you can get in their garden to put it to bed not that its your job leanne

[Calamity Jane]

Thanks for replying Leanne, I have put it to bed in my dining room for tonight. No-one has come to reclaim her despite my posting a letter next door (no-one is home). I cant stop them coming in to my garden because they come over the fence (6ft) from their make-shift run. They dont have much of a life really and I feel really sorry for them, cant do much about that though.

She is asleep and snoring loudly, or rattling more like it. I willl not let her have any contact with girls.

I just wondered if there was anything I could do for her - but I will just wait and see if someone collects her tomorrow.

[jackian]

I remember you having this problem before, why do people have chickens / pets if they don't give a damn!!!

I would not want to give it back if it was me and if they are away for a while who is going to make sure the poor girl is treated properly

I'm glad my girls can't get over our 6 ft fence there are dogs the other side.You have made me think about that one although their wings have been clipped. I have put up some that extendiing lattice fencing up ,it was from a £1 shop and adds about a foot or more to the height and does not look unsightly..

Good luck.

[WitchHazel]

Hope you get this girl sorted out. Whoever is looking after the chickens isn't doing a great job are they?

You could pop her over the fence this morning?

 

It might be a good idea for you to put some trellis on the top of the fence. You could also ask your neighbour (when they return) to clip a wing on each girl to prevent further escapes.

 

Do you have any citricidal? If so, you could put some of that in the rattly girl's drinking water (Its a miniscule amount, just a couple of drops per litre).

[Calamity Jane]

Because it had gone dark last night I couldnt really see what I was doing. Anyway, no-one claimed her so I investigated next door and found I was able to get into their back garden and pop the poor little thing back in with her chums this morning. It was a bit of a shock to see the conditions they are being kept in. To my horror I found they had no water, so I have put a container in there for them, there was a bit of a bun fight to get to it !! It absolutely stinks in there. Poo everywhere

I shall be keeping an eye on them from now on. I think I will have to have a careful word with my neighbours when they return. It may be that they did not realise the responsibility they were undertaking (?) If they do not want to look after them properly perhaps they would let me rehome them for them.

ps

she had stopped rattling this am (good sign?) and the others all seemed to be healthy, if not a bit sad.

[surfer_chicken]

That's terrible It's a good job she did hop over the fence so you went round and got them some water!

Hopefully it's not like that normally. We learnt the hard way that we could not leave my brother in charge of simple chicken tasks (he's 13) as he would leave the poor things without food and water all day (as you can imagine I was fairly annoyed ) and I think if we left him with them for a week it would be in the same state

 

Glad to hear she's stopped rattling

[chookingham]

This seems like a recurring problem, so is it time for a call to the RSPCA?

[The Dogmother]

I'm sure that a gentle chat with the neighbours will put it right; they may have no idea that the lad isn't looking after them properly. On the other hand, they may be overwhelmed with the care needed and be glad of an offer to help/re-home them.

[Chortle Chook]

Do let us know how things progress. I feel quite anxious about these poor chickens but you are being very kind to them.

[chestnutmare]

Oh dear, poor chickens. And it's not easy talking to youe neighbours about this is it especially as you feel for the poor chickens, and they're your neighbours and you want to keep things sweet. I would be careful but tell them they had no water and try to monitor things if you can, call the RSPCA if they are needed (although I'm not sure how useful they will be).

[Calamity Jane]

I have had the worst night ever. Cant stop crying. At about 3am I was woken up by loud banging noises from next door. The fox has finally finished off their lovely hens. It was awful, they were screaming. unbelievable. Those stupid, stupid people. I hate them. The plastic pea netting couldnt keep the chickens in - how the hell did they think it would keep a fox out ??????????? I wish I had stolen them whilst they were on holiday now.

I hope the fox left a mess and they are sick clearing it up !!!!!!!!!!!

[Egluntyne]

That's a real shame. Let's hope they learn a lesson from it if the decide to keep chickens again.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What a shame . Those poor chickens didn't have a chance, did they . It's not your fault, so please don't beat yourself up over it.

 

Let's hope they decide chicken-keeping isn't for them (which it clearly isn't) .

[chestnutmare]

Oh dear don't blame yourself, you did more for them than the idiotic owners did. I hope they are sick cleaning up the mess too and that a lesson is learnt.

[The Dogmother]

I'm so sorry to hear that, let's hope it has taught them a lesson, shame that the hens had to die in the process though.

[Alis girls]

feel sorry for them and you. Some people are the pits - water is a neccessity for all beings - have you seen them yet?

[Alis girls]

By them I meant the hens not the neighbours.

[Chortle Chook]

Poor you. What a horrid thing to have heard! I only hope your neighbours are not stupid enough to go and get some more. I live on a very main road near some people who insist on keeping cats. Each year one gets squitched and they just go and get another. Even the vets here have had words with them about it. Makes me mad

[Cheeky Chooky]

So sad...and how awful for you to have had to hear it Hope you're ok.

[Calamity Jane]

Thank you for your kind thoughts. I am going to put it all behind me now, it has all been a bit too upsetting.

Today I am going to spoil my girls and spend time with some happy hens! Going to give them a thorough spring clean and move the eglu and run on to the patio near the house for the winter. Its nice because then I dont have to trudge to the top of the garden on the grass and also I get to watch them from inside !

[Cheeky Chooky]

Awww I'm sure your girls will help you feel better

[The Warrens]

ive just moved my new eglu go that i picked up today onto the patio next to my patio door, so i can see them when im in the kitchen/diner and also for the same reason for not having to go to the bottom of the garden everyday in winter

[memphisto]

I am so so so sorry to hear of the fate of your neighbour chickens, how horrible for you, for them, heartbreaking.

 

I hope you can find some solace in your girls, and remember you did what you could for their chickens, it is in no way your fault they couldn't be bothered with them