Solitary chicken - need advice

[chuckmum6]

I have a very healthy (otherwise), very large Buff Sussex, Ethel, who has a heart condition. She must be three now and has lived with her condition without incident until today, this is mainly because her existence is stress free. However today, she needed a bit of anti peck spraying on her, her sister has just started plucking feathers from her neck and I wanted to nip it in the bud. I caught Ethel very easily, before she had a chance to get into a flap, however her face had turned very purple and she was panting, I sprayed her and she collapsed in my arms and looked dead, all of this took 30 seconds max. I put her on the ground where she came round and in less than a minute she was up pecking corn!

Now I accept that she has a problem, but feel there is little I can do about it, as a trip to the vet would certainly be fatal. Most of the time it doesn't cause her any issues, it is just when she needs me to be hands on with her, I am going to make a blackout bag for her next time - this may help or then could stress her further! I do seem to be the only cause of her attacks even though she will eat out of my hand, it is the whole pick up thing that tips her heart into over drive, something that I do only when necessary. Poor girl.

[Chickabee]

Oh you poor thing, that's awful. Don't take her to the vets, she's obviously very happy most of the time. I don't pick my girls up unless I have to. I do love them I'm just happier watching their funny antics. A hood might help I suppose. I had to get some mud balls off of my littlies toes recently. I covered their heads, it did seem to make them much calmer. Best wishes to you both

[Egluntyne]

At three she has reached a ripe old age. I doubt that there is much a vet can do for her. Her 'sister' might be having a go at her because she has sensed a deterioration in her. They tend to pick on less robust hens who always manage to conceal their weakness until they are fairly poorly. It is a survival and pecking order thingy.

[Chickabee]

3 isn't a bad age for any hen. I know lots live longer, but she sounds special. She'd probably fret if you separated her. I guess she needs to live out her life as comfy as she can Give her sister a good talking to !

[chuckmum6]

My flock have a complex pecking order, no one hen is top chick, all are lower than others and higher in the order than other ones! Ethel is close to the upper ranks, her sister plucked her neck last year, hence my intervening at the first sign. I have had very strong words with Florence, but I don't think she is bulling her, although I know hens do definitely hid illness. She is a very heavy hen and I expect that one day her heart will give out, but as yet she runs, hops up and down the ladders to lay and does all the normal chickeny things. I do hold my other girls, but Ethel will certainly be exempt from this, except in exceptional circumstances.