Jump to content
EmuCat

Depressed, mourning hen?

Recommended Posts

My chocolate pekin bantam, Myrtle, really seems to be depressed.

 

If you've read my previous post, you'll know that we lost Lady, her flock mate, about two weeks ago.

Lady got egg peritonitis, and declined in a matter of hours.

 

After Lady died, that evening, Myrtle went around, "weeping" and calling for her, until she finally gave up and went to bed. We had introduced the other two hens at this point, as she couldn't be on her own, but she basically ignored them while searching.

 

The next day, she was still "crying" and searching. She stayed away from the others, going into corners or under bushes.

 

Since then, Myrtle has been sad and quiet, and her already small appetite has shot down. She was out with Minnie in the front garden pen to quarantine them as they both got the same respiratory infection, but that was quickly gone after some antibiotic injections.

 

We've just introduced them back into the back garden after a week, as Myrtle isn't really eating, and her weight has decreased.

 

I have given her some pellets, mixed corn, cheese, spinach and mealworms- both last night and this morning. she has even lost weight overnight! I also gave her some "nutri-drops" in a vain attempt to energise her. She's now gone into the corner of the garden on her own, and is just...standing there.

 

She's not noticeably sick (nor is Minnie, who she's been with for a week), her poops is normal, she eats when giver treats one-to-one, she just seems...sad.

 

She seems intent on pining away into nothing! :(

 

Anything I can do? :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poor Mrytle :( She does sound sad.

 

I guess just keep up what you've been doing. Nutri-drops are very good, I think you can give them for 3 -5 days (check that please!) Try and tempt her with her favourite foods. I guess just continue monitoring her. Is she laying at the moment? Is she happier in the run or out of it? Does she mix with your other hens?

 

Chickens aren't very good at helping themselves I'm afraid! Do keep us posted. I have only pekins and they are usually feisty little characters :wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for your replies x

 

Myrtle hasn't laid an egg for over 2 months- since her and Lady's secret nest was found and they chased my mum up the garden after their eggs! Lady continued laying, but Myrtle stopped production since then. Her comb is still red, though maybe a little smaller.(hard to tell with a pekin comb!).

 

She's ok with the new girls- she's number 2 in the pecking order- after Big Bertha and before Pearl and Minnie. Pearl is a coral Nick and scared of her, Minnie is ok, especially after sharing quarters with her for a week!

 

They have free range of our garden, which is a good size for 4 hens. She either retreats into the flower bed, or jumps onto the patio furniture bench (she used to sit there with Lady and preen a lot of the time!)

 

She doesn't seem "lonely", she just doesn't seem to care too much about the other girls...just kind of "lost". :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

She's now had some "baby parrot food", made into mash and mixed with some honey. She ate a bit of it happily, then refused any more.

 

We then put her in the run and tried her with some cat food and spinach, but just she ate one chunk of cat food, then left it, turning around and going into the Eglu.

 

She pooped on me earlier, but there were clear undigested pieces of mealworms and seeds, and the poops was green (could be spinach-tinged).

 

She seems intent on starving to death :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh dear I'm afraid that doesn't sound good :(

 

I had a millefluer pekin Mandy who had very similar symptoms, but sadly despite the vets and my best efforts over a few weeks, she passed away. Green poo is a bad sign, I think it indicates internal infection. You could try the vet? But sometimes they just don't thrive and that's not a reflection on you. Hens are complex internally with the workings for egg laying.

 

Just do you best and give her chance. That's what I do, I used to get very upset, but I'm more philosophical about hen keeping now.

 

Best wishes and let us know how you go :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

She's a little better today- she hasn't got much thinner, and she happily scoffed food when we put her out. She has also been pecking around with the other girls a bit!

I'm just making sure she gets plenty of food at the moment- need to stop any weight loss! She's also been drinking fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Myrtle definitely seems to be on the mend- she's back to her old self and happily eating any food I offer her!

I've been a giving her a bowl of pellet, bird food (sunflower seeds and so on), meal worms, spinach, cheese and grit to pick from, and she has tucked in happily.

 

She's stopped losing weight and may have gained a little more breast flesh over the last two days.

I wanted to make sure she gains back the flesh and weight she lost, but is this ok or too fast? I don't want to overload her kidneys or anything with protein!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...