hopingforchickens Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Yesterday I separated Cornflake from the others, turns out she has sour crop and is very under weight. She seems a little better today but the others are really picking on her and she is just submitting and its breaking my heart, so I have seperated her again. She is in a large guinea run on the grass next to the WIR. I think she needs to gain some strength before I throw her to the lions! So my next question is should I take out one or both of the bullies for a day whilst Cornflakes is settling back in or just let her get on with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Just leave Cornflake in the run alongside until she is fully recovered. If they can see her she will not be targeted as a foreigner. Chickens will kill and eat a sickling, especially if they are short of run space. That's just what they do unfortunately so you did exactly the right thing in taking her out Hopingforchickens. There is no time limit to her reintroduction, so long as she stays in sight of the others you can keep her apart until she is fully recovered and back to strength. Problems arise when they are so sick they have to come inside. We had an Orpington attack her sister and she'd only been apart 24 hours, but had another Orpington recognise her sister after two weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thanks for the confirmation, she is right up against the WIR. She seemed quite spritely this morning but now she is huddled up in the sunshine sleeping. I'm hoping I caught the sour crop early enough, as to be honest it hadn't even crossed my mind so she has been under the weather for around a week. I tipped her upside down again this morning and only a tiny bit came out, nowhere near as much as yesterday. I'm guessing I shouldn't tip her through the day as she will be digesting what she has consumed today...? But I'm happy for someone to tell me I'm wrong on that one!!! She ate a fair bit this morning and drank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed she just needs some time to recuperate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 You are taking a big risk tipping her Hopingforchickens, as they can and do so often suffocate on the crop contents due to them breathing in. You should be giving her water only, so that there is nothing in there to keep the sour crop going. Massage her crop regularly to move the fluid through her system and keep it mixed with any solids in the crop. 24 -48 hours should be sufficient, by which time the crop has cooled and she can go back onto pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Ok thanks, will bear that in mind, was aware of the suffocation thing, am only doing it in small bursts with a chance to breathe in betweenx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
