Another sick hen..same symptoms

[vantain]

I wouldn’t know about reintegration in a flock of three, but since she’s only been away since Monday/Tuesday, they might just take her back in and she might not have troubles with the temperature. I had a hen a few weeks ago who got ripped open down the side, and she was in my basement for about two weeks. I cleaned her up, applied triple antibiotic ointment, and bandaged her skin flap back on. I gave her food, water and a nest, and left her on a tarp for easy poop clean up. On the second week, she began walking better and laying eggs again. At the end of the second week, I decided there wasn’t anything else I could do for her— my parents didn’t want a chicken in the basement and the chicken was probably Lonely, so I moved her outside to the chicks enclosure (now integrated) with food and water. She stayed in the chick run for a total of five minutes, then broke out and joined all the chickens. Other than a scuffle with the guineas (who want to scuffle with everybody) she just walked over and retook her place. I’ve got a dozen free ranged chickens, so maybe they just didn’t notice??? Anyways watch when you let her back out, because the rest might not even mind her return (they might even miss her!)

I'm not as concerned about the integration part, it's more the temperature extreme between inside and outside. She just got her crop cleared for the first time this morning, after 4 days of not clearing it. She has been inside now since Tuesday. It's 75 degrees in the room in the basement where I have her. Outside right now, it's 39, but supposed to plunge down to about 12 tonight. I don't heat my coop. Friday's high is forecast to be in the teens, getting down to single digits at night. That's a pretty big temperature change for her after two days inside, and I'm not sure she is healthy enough yet to handle it. Or is she? I'd like to see her clear her crop for one more day I think, unless others can convince me she's fine and let her back out with the others. I am planning on letting her go out there for about an hour to mingle with her friends for a bit, just to have some time with them.

 

[casportpony]

Or is she? I'd like to see her clear her crop for one more day I think, unless others can convince me she's fine and let her back out with the others.

Go slow, you have been through a lot this week and would be upset with yourself if you put her out too soon.

 

[Henry&Friends]

I'm not as concerned about the integration part, it's more the temperature extreme between inside and outside. She just got her crop cleared for the first time this morning, after 4 days of not clearing it. She has been inside now since Tuesday. It's 75 degrees in the room in the basement where I have her. Outside right now, it's 39, but supposed to plunge down to about 12 tonight. I don't heat my coop. Friday's high is forecast to be in the teens, getting down to single digits at night. That's a pretty big temperature change for her after two days inside, and I'm not sure she is healthy enough yet to handle it. Or is she? I'd like to see her clear her crop for one more day I think, unless others can convince me she's fine and let her back out with the others. I am planning on letting her go out there for about an hour to mingle with her friends for a bit, just to have some time with them.

if she has only cleared her crop today, I would keep her inside for a few more days to make sure she’s alright. Can you stick a heat lamp in the coop for a few days when you put her out? When I need to use a heat lamp, I keep the door a little open so hens (and chicks) can come in and warm up, then leave at their discretion. Alternatively, the last few days you’ll have her in, you can turn down the heat a bit at a time.

 

[vantain]

if she has only cleared her crop today, I would keep her inside for a few more days to make sure she’s alright. Can you stick a heat lamp in the coop for a few days when you put her out? When I need to use a heat lamp, I keep the door a little open so hens (and chicks) can come in and warm up, then leave at their discretion. Alternatively, the last few days you’ll have her in, you can turn down the heat a bit at a time.

I'll probably go this route, though I don't like the idea of putting a heat lamp in the coop at all.

She's outside now with her friends, having a blast with them. No drama whatsoever. They are just all scratching together, and now she's in the dirt bath! She's the one on the top left. Ha ha..guess the clean indoors was too much for her.

 

[Henry&Friends]

I'll probably go this route, though I don't like the idea of putting a heat lamp in the coop at all.

She's outside now with her friends, having a blast with them. No drama whatsoever. They are just all scratching together, and now she's in the dirt bath! She's the one on the top left. Ha ha..guess the clean indoors was too much for her.
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I totally get you not wanting to use a heat lamp, i honesty didn’t want to be using one either. I just secured it, then secured it with extra wire, then secured it with a nut and bolt. The most important part is to keep it out of reach— as far from the roost as possible, and as high as you can get it. This is so a bird doesn’t fly into it and knock it down (my concern was my guineas, but it could be any bird to do it) the lamp would only need to be out until it warms up a bit or your bird accumulates, which should only take a few days.

Glad to hear they’re having a party! As soon as my bird could walk around, she made extra sure to go around the whole basement and poop everywhere, so I guess it was too clean for her standards...

 

[aart]

She has been inside now since Tuesday. It's 75 degrees in the room in the basement where I have her.

Can you make it cooler down there(shutting heat vents and/or opening windows), or have another place that yo can make between the 2 extremes?

 

[vantain]

Can you make it cooler down there(shutting heat vents and/or opening windows), or have another place that yo can make between the 2 extremes?

The room I have her in is not heated. I have a small space heater on in there for her. I can turn that off, and it will likely drop to around 60 in there. Other than that, no, I don't have anywhere else I can do this.

 

[aart]

I have a small space heater on in there for her. I can turn that off, and it will likely drop to around 60 in there.

I'd do that, after she is fully digesting again.
Then have her spend days in the run...not sure if your schedule allows for much chicken juggling....then just play it by eye.

 

[vantain]

I'd do that, after she is fully digesting again.
Then have her spend days in the run...not sure if your schedule allows for much chicken juggling....then just play it by eye.

I have the luxury, with my job, of working from home. So, I can do the juggling. Right now, she is still out in the run having a great time. She's been out there for 2 1/2 hours. It's currently 40f. I will bring her inside just before roosting time, which will be in about an hour. The daytime highs here are supposed to be in the 20s till at least next Tuesday, then we drop to single digits. I see -16f in the forecast for a week from now, but can only hope that that doesn't actually happen. But, it's Minnesota..it will probably be colder than that. Ugh.....I hate winter so much.

 

[vantain]

Her crop was clear again this morning, and she had pooped quite a lot. It all looked very normal.