Solitary chicken - need advice

[CheekyPekins]

Hi All,

 

I've got two new hens, one of which - Honey the Sablepoot - has been keeping to herself for a little while (see my post "Lone Chicken").

 

I noticed earlier in the week that she's been standing on one leg a bit and then she started sneezing on Wednesday afternoon. This morning she was breathing quite heavily, sometimes with her beak open, so I took her to the vet (much to my neighbour's amusement! And I realise now I should have asked for advice on here before going to the vet...) and was prescribed Baytril and told to quarantine her. I've also noticed that the skin around her eyes is sometimes nicely red, sometimes very pale

 

Now... if I quarantine her, am I making things worse for her, as she's a loner anyway? As she's been sleeping in the same coop as the others, does it make sense to quarantine her now? I thought of possibly quarantining her with the hen I bought her with, if leaving her on her own is terrible plan...

 

Honey's in a cat basket on my lounge floor next to me as I type and seems quite happy, but I could really do with some advice. My vet is fab with cats and dogs but although she "does chickens", it was clear she's not particularly a chicken expert.

 

I'm off to squirt some Baytril down Honey's beak, on the basis that it can't do any harm, even if it doesn't help (there's a first time for everything..)

 

Thanks for any replies

[CheekyPekins]

And another thing - I can either quarantine her outside in a sectioned off bit of the WIR, I can get hold of a separate rabbit hutch to put her in outside or, as she's not well, do I leave her in the cat basket with food and water (as she is now) indoors in the warm?

 

She's a lovely little thing, so I want to do my best for her - but I'm coming to realise that I'm less clued-up on my hen beasties than I'd hoped!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think if she's only going to be in quarantine for a few days, it shouldn't do much harm. As she's poorly she's probably better off being kept quiet and warm (and it'll be easier to give her the meds if she's in the house!).

[CheekyPekins]

Thanks Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here - she seems happy enough in the house, so I'll keep her in for the moment.

 

I just broke the news to my hubby that there's a hen in the lounge and he took it surprisingly well - his only comment was "I can't believe you've got your panicky knickers on over a chicken..!" and then he asked whether he should buy some mealworms for her as a treat on the way home. I think he's getting as bad as I am!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

you've got your panicky knickers on

[Luvachicken]

you've got your panicky knickers on

 

That's soooo funny. I think I have some of those knickers too

 

One time when Queenie was poorly she stayed in our lounge and each evening she would sit on my lap having a cuddle watching the telly.

I hope your girlie starts feeling better soon.

[CheekyPekins]

Thanks luvachicken

 

Honey's just had a cuddle with hubby while I changed the newspaper in the cat basket - they were both quite happily watching Masterchef...! She's a lovely little thing, so I've got my fingers crossed

[mimi5]

Hi there Cheeky pekins Sorry to hear about your little one. I've had a few poorly pekins during my chicken keeping voyage of discovery and yes the cat basket senario sounds very familiar

 

Baytril can work wonders, so let's think happy wishes! Any update?

 

Oh and try to tempt her to keep eating, have you ever made a warm pellet porridge? My pekins get some every morning and love it!!

[CheekyPekins]

Thanks mimi5

 

She's still sneezy but seems a bit better - although I've got a horrible feeling it might just be me kidding myself

She's eaten a bit and has at least been drinking, which I took as a good sign. I'll give warm pellet mash a try - she's gone terribly thin over the last couple of days, I can feel her breastbone so I'm trying to get her to eat. Any more ideas to fatten her up would be greatly appreciated - I figure she needs her strength to fight this off.

 

I'll do warm pellet mash for breakfast and we'll see how it goes down

 

She's in the kitchen in the cat basket - she's been in the lounge with us most of the day as I figured she'd prefer a bit of company but she's in the kitchen in the dark for bed now.

[mimi5]

Ah glad to hear to her she's still hanging in there Keeping her inside means atleast she doesn't use up energy to keep warm! So keep up the good work Does she like mealworms?? Also quail mix is good for protein........I've sprinkled it on my pekins pellet porridge while they're in moult not that their spoiled or anything

 

Thinking happy thoughts X

[CheekyPekins]

Honey's still hanging in there - she seems a lot more interested in things today so it looks as though her stay in the cat basket may be over and she'll be back in the run tomorrow, separated from the others. I don't want to turf her out too soon but I don't want to keep her cooped up in a cat basket for too long either! I think I'll bring her back in tomorrow night, as it'll be chilly...