Chicken bald back

[Margaret]

I know this may be a bit personal for the Nesting Box...

I have to have surgery soon on the above and really worried if I will be able to look after my girls after the surgery as my understanding is I will never be able to lift heavy things again.

Will take the girls down to Mumbles farm for 2 months for Gill to look after. So initially, post surgery I wont have to worry about them, but still really worried how I will manage after that, as lifting the Go up in and out of the WIR and staggering around the garden with it when I power wash it, and carrying Auboise up and down the garden when cleaning out the WIR. Any advice would be really welcome as really dont want to stop keeping hens as love them as does my family, but know Oh will help out short term but know he will no be prepared to actually take on the cleaning etc.

[bluekarin]

Oh gosh, that sounds quite an op, but it sounds like you have a plan in place to start with. Would a trolley help, to move things around? Something like this?

 

http://www.screwfix.com/p/sack-truck-250kg/38945?kpid=38945&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Storage%20and%20Ladders-_-Shopping%20-%20Storage%20and%20Ladders&gclid=Cj0KEQjw4J-6BRD3h_KIoqijwvkBEiQAfcPiBUt5hIRiNa96_eUkFhjKjwT_Z5bw7Flk8ZXVSBGJA8kaAjC_8P8HAQ

 

Do you have friendly neighbours, or other friends or family who could help out, on a rota system?

 

I wish you well with the op and the recovery. Do take it easy and do everything the drs tell you to, so you heal quickly. Trying to do something too soon, will only prolong things.

[soapdragon]

In my experience, Drs always give you the worst case scenario so I wouldn't panic just now! Just follow the advice they give in terms of recovery etc and see how things go. Will you have a post op recovery plan in place? Maybe worth discussing in greater detail with your GP/surgeon.

 

Hope all goes well; take care of yourself.

[patsylabrador]

Firstly - best wishes. It's pretty tough being a woman.

Secondly - I always give pretty rubbish advice which people generally ignore but I would say that chickens are quite tough and to put yourself first. They'll cope without their home being powerwashed - I've never done that.

Perhaps temporarily use a lighter bedding like woodchip. Again mine have never had aubiose. Just find shortcuts through your normal routine. I'm sure they'll be fine.

I think of them as wild birds who are having an easy life and although I look after them and care for them I keep it fairly minimal. It's worked for us, they're seven and I haven't needed a vet so far.

Take it easy and your ladies wil understand.

[Willow]

Good luck with the surgery and look after yourself afterwards. The less you do in the months after the better your recovery.

 

Re the chickens can't say it better than Jude. Yes your standards will have to drop for a while, the chickens will be fine.

[Alis girls]

Had a and bladder repair and you do need to be careful . Yes your girls will be OK. Mine cope with 2* accommodation which is b&b and evening meal with clean coop weekly. You should not be dragging a Go around. Wounds open up when u do too much too soon. I have seen in men and women. So take it easy. Your girls will cope without 5* accommodation for a while. And Patsy I have followed your adv in past so don't underestimate yourself.

[Olly]

Hope the op goes well. Of course in the long term you may need to move the coop, if I understand your post correctly you think you may never be able to lift heavy things again. I'm sure you can arrange things so that once in a while someone lifts it out for you so it can be cleaned fully.

 

When I dislocated my kneecap a couple of years ago, it was three months before I was mobile enough to venture into the walk-in run. During that period the only cleaning that got done was emptying the droppings tray. The hens were just fine - like Patsylabrador I think mine thrive on what I'd call 'benign neglect'. We like to see the henhouse looking clean but they really don't care.

[Margaret]

Thank you all so much for your lovely replies, will take all the advice, but so hard to just sit and look at the mess...but will do so, have a few weeks before op (hopefully) so will do major clean and go from there.

Think I may have to get a cleaner in alsoto keep upto my standards but can sort that out too. x