A Bielefelder Thread !

[Red Banks]

I have a little Biel pullet. I found her sleeping in the oregano, head down, one eye is closed, no other signs of any kind although I would say she has not eaten anything her crop feels empty. No sores like Avian pox. Any ideas?

Okay this is a new question. I believe the pullet has lost her eye. It looks as though her eye is gone, certainly not a healthy eye. I am sure she is in pain. How can I help her? And when she recovers will she be okay with one eye?

 

[bluejean55girl]

Okay this is a new question.  I believe the pullet has lost her eye.  It looks as though her eye is gone, certainly not a healthy eye.  I am sure she is in pain.  How can I help her?  And when she recovers will she be okay with one eye?

yes, she will learn to adapt to having only one eye. I know it's advised to use antibiotic without pain meds. Someone else can chime in on what to do for her now. I'm sorry this happened to her.

 

[Red Banks]

Quote: Thank you, I have put her in a pen by herself. As always I panic and worry about contagious diseases but I think this is best for her anyway. I looked at the rest of the flock, about 50 under the age of 8 weeks and they are all running around doing healthy chicken things. This is definitely an injury. The Biels get pushed around sometimes.... believe it or not by the little Ameraucanas.

 

[bluejean55girl]

Thank you, I have put her in a pen by herself.  As always I panic and worry about contagious diseases but I think this is best for her anyway.  I looked at the rest of the flock, about 50 under the age of 8 weeks and they are all running around doing healthy chicken things.  This is definitely an injury.  The Biels get pushed around sometimes.... believe it or not by the little Ameraucanas.  

you were able to quickly rule that out. With birds it's always good to be aware of the possibility of being something nasty. At five weeks of age I seen my smallest female SFH being dominant over a 5 week old male Biel just yesterday. This is a reminder that they will probably need separation sooner than later. Let us know how she does. Hugs

 

[Sylvester017]

Thank you, I have put her in a pen by herself. As always I panic and worry about contagious diseases but I think this is best for her anyway. I looked at the rest of the flock, about 50 under the age of 8 weeks and they are all running around doing healthy chicken things. This is definitely an injury. The Biels get pushed around sometimes.... believe it or not by the little Ameraucanas.

Ameraucanas or EEs are spooky, kooky, jittery, jumpy, wary, alert by nature and my klutzy Ameraucana knocked a Silky off a nesting perch so hard I had to take the Silkie to the vet. Other times the Ameraucana is so anxious to get out of the box after laying her egg her big klutzy foot will crack her egg. Ameraucanas are so skittish and jittery by nature but don't really mean any intentional harm. Sweet birds but too klutzy to have around my Silkies.

 

[Red Banks]

Quote: They aren't lap chickens that is for sure but...... Wheatens are a different story. So sweet..... always want to be with you. Blacks are the worst. I did have a blue hen that I lost to a hawk, she was wonderful..... followed me everywhere chatting the whole time. Me, the cats and the blue hen walking around the yard having these chicken talks. They are the noisiest hens I have when they lay an egg. I have heard so many good things about Silkies.

 

[Saris]

Thank you, I have put her in a pen by herself. As always I panic and worry about contagious diseases but I think this is best for her anyway. I looked at the rest of the flock, about 50 under the age of 8 weeks and they are all running around doing healthy chicken things. This is definitely an injury. The Biels get pushed around sometimes.... believe it or not by the little Ameraucanas.

My blue Ameraucana will chase my Bieles around the yard. She's a brat.

 

[CliffB]

Thank you, I have put her in a pen by herself. As always I panic and worry about contagious diseases but I think this is best for her anyway. I looked at the rest of the flock, about 50 under the age of 8 weeks and they are all running around doing healthy chicken things. This is definitely an injury. The Biels get pushed around sometimes.... believe it or not by the little Ameraucanas.

My little cochin is currently broody after recovering from losing an eye a few months ago to an unknown attack. She recovered, laid a few eggs then went broody. She is doing fantastic and all of the birds accepted her right back into the flock.

 

[DesertChic]

It will definitely take them a few days to adjust if they're accustomed to roaming free, but they WILL adjust. And yes, they're likely to be a bit more rambunctious if they can see the girls than if they can't but given the breeds you mentioned I doubt there will be any serious problems.

One funny about my "frat house": I decided to give by six bachelors some fresh kale as a treat. For several minutes they all stood over the kale, picking it up and putting it down while clucking loudly to invite the girls to join them for a treat, but all of the girls were free-ranging on the other side of the yard. I kinda felt sorry for those guys. After a while they actually started offering the kale to one another. I could just hear this comical conversation going through my head, "Please, you go first. No, no...you! No, really, I insist." LOL!

Update: One of my frat house boys, the Dorking-mix, literally flew out of the cage this morning as soon as I cracked the door open. I've noticed the past couple days that he wasn't leaving the roost when we put fresh food and water in and I think it's because the more assertive roosters wouldn't allow him to feed and drink. I guess he had enough, because today he made his move. He was exceptionally friendly and docile with me, especially after I carried him to one of the feed dishes and protected him from the other free-roaming roosters until he'd filled his crop. The poor guy must've been starving! Tonight he housed himself in his old pen with my EE flock. I'm allowing him to remain "free" until the doctor releases me to do more than type on a computer and I can again start culling the extra roosters.

I just wanted to share this so that others will know to watch for excessive bullying on one bird when all the boys are housed together. This is actually my third experience now with such a scenario, so it's too many times to be coincidental.

 

[Red Banks]

Quote: Thanks DesertChic..... forewarned is forearmed!