Bloody Vent...Four Days Later...What Else Can I do?

[boskelli1571]

I agree! Even if I didn't care for them, I hate to see anything suffer!

So, I decided to let her out with the other chickens today - I only have four others now. That was a mistake. Petunia, who I guess is the new head hen, went right after her when she saw her. Got on top of her with her claws like a hawk. I had a book because I planned to sit outside with them to intervene in case anything like this happened and had to use it to pry Petunia off of her. Poor Marigold was hiding in the corner of the house, so I brought her back into her little cage. I'll have to let her have some solo free time tomorrow and then figure out how the heck I'm going to introduce her back into the flock.

Ooops! Well, when introduction time comes, I suggest that you put Petunia in 'time out' for a couple of days. That will change the pecking order and by the time you let her out, Marigold should be safe(r).

 

[SeaSea47]

Ooops! Well, when introduction time comes, I suggest that you put Petunia in 'time out' for a couple of days. That will change the pecking order and by the time you let her out, Marigold should be safe(r).

That sounds like a good idea. I'm hoping to move Marigold back outside by the weekend, and I'll also keep her in her cage next to theirs for a few days so they can get reacquainted. Then if free time goes well with the other three, I'll leave Petunia in the cage for a couple of days. She's feisty and will hate that!

Marigold did get some solo free time today for a little over an hour and enjoyed it. She actually just came in and is trying to figure out how to open the door so she can go back out. I sent a bodyguard out with her just in case.

 

[boskelli1571]

That sounds like a good idea. I'm hoping to move Marigold back outside by the weekend, and I'll also keep her in her cage next to theirs for a few days so they can get reacquainted. Then if free time goes well with the other three, I'll leave Petunia in the cage for a couple of days. She's feisty and will hate that!

Marigold did get some solo free time today for a little over an hour and enjoyed it. She actually just came in and is trying to figure out how to open the door so she can go back out. I sent a bodyguard out with her just in case.

Hahaha! If your 'bodyguard' is as vicious as mine, they are scared of the chickens.....

. Marigold will be happy to be back with the girls I'm sure..

 

[SeaSea47]

Hahaha! If your 'bodyguard' is as vicious as mine, they are scared of the chickens.....

. Marigold will be happy to be back with the girls I'm sure..

My little Australian Shepherd mix is scared of the chickens, too! My 13-year-old bird dog who died last summer and who was blind, deaf, and partially paralyzed wasn't, though. Go figure! Marigold tried to get into the coop today, and then spent about an hour scratching the ground around it. I'm not sure if she was taunting Petunia or what, but I think I'm going to be moving her back outside tomorrow or Friday with a barrier, just so they can be around each other more and sometime next week, I'll see how they do together. I am going to miss having her on the porch, though. I've been sitting out here with my laptop working every day, and she's become a great companion. I'll die if Petunia ends up killing her.

 

[boskelli1571]

My little Australian Shepherd mix is scared of the chickens, too! My 13-year-old bird dog who died last summer and who was blind, deaf, and partially paralyzed wasn't, though. Go figure! Marigold tried to get into the coop today, and then spent about an hour scratching the ground around it. I'm not sure if she was taunting Petunia or what, but I think I'm going to be moving her back outside tomorrow or Friday with a barrier, just so they can be around each other more and sometime next week, I'll see how they do together. I am going to miss having her on the porch, though. I've been sitting out here with my laptop working every day, and she's become a great companion. I'll die if Petunia ends up killing her.

Just make sure they can't touch each other and then re-arrange the pecking order when /marigold goes back in the coop.

 

[SeaSea47]

Just make sure they can't touch each other and then re-arrange the pecking order when /marigold goes back in the coop.

Do you have any ideas on how long that will take? My plan is:

1. Move Marigold's small cage next to the coop for a few days, so they can all see each other 24/7 but not touch.
2. Let them all have free time together after that and monitor closely to break up any attacks like what happened the other day.
3. If Petunia is still fighting/the others are not, let Marigold go back inside the coop one night and put Petunia in the timeout cage for a few days.

I have a feeling Petunia will still try to attack. She's gotten rowdier since the other day and is now pecking my two little wyandottes who are always pretty laid back. Luckily, they know to back off. Petunia has always been a handful!

 

[boskelli1571]

Do you have any ideas on how long that will take? My plan is:

1. Move Marigold's small cage next to the coop for a few days, so they can all see each other 24/7 but not touch.
2. Let them all have free time together after that and monitor closely to break up any attacks like what happened the other day.
3. If Petunia is still fighting/the others are not, let Marigold go back inside the coop one night and put Petunia in the timeout cage for a few days.

I have a feeling Petunia will still try to attack. She's gotten rowdier since the other day and is now pecking my two little wyandottes who are always pretty laid back. Luckily, they know to back off. Petunia has always been a handful!

That sounds about right. If Petunia needs to be put in time out, I would leave her there for a couple of days...then re-evaluate.

 

[bald Rooster]

My Australian shepherd Loves to help me round up the chickens,he circles them just like any flock.
Sadly though if a chicken flies out of the horse pasture(if I leave them free ranging) he will take it upon himself to chase them back and he ends up cornering them and nipping them hard enough to hurt them badly. He has never killed one.
He is very smart, and if I was a better dog trainer I could probably teach him to guard them instead of biting them!
This Isn't the only reason I can not let my chickens free range.

So until I work out my other problem it really isn't a big deal I guess. But I would still like to be able to trust him.

 

[micstrachan]

I know you wanted to close the thread... but I love knowing other people out there care for their chickens as much as I do! Here are a few tricks I've learned over the last nine days nursing my girl back to health from egg yolk peritonitis. Pretty sure she was on the brink of death when I took her into the avian vet. Here's the list:
• If your chicken won't drink, place drops of water on her beak and you can at least get a tiny bit of fluid in.
• Meal worms work wonders for enticing a chicken to eat. Gradually increase them in size. We eventually got to super worms. Keep introducing her favorites. Scrambled egg and sprouted grains are great. If she won't eat crumble, she may change her tune if you get it damp.
• Crushing an antibiotic pill and force feeding in baby bird hand feeding mash is doable... wrap her in a towel. Using your finger is easier than a syringe.
• Slowly add her back to the flock as she builds her strength. I removed my bully so she could reestablish herself with the other girls. For some reason, the bully seems injured after a day in the mini coop. She is walking gingerly and sitting a lot. Hoping she just needs a good night's rest.
• Take action on a hen that seems a little off as soon as you notice. Don't wait it out. Chickens are very skilled at hiding symptoms until they are in dire straights.
• A bathroom makes an excellent infirmary. Eventually your girl will want to roost on the counter, so cover it with a towel.
• If you are as passionate as I and hospitalize your chicken for a day, visit her often so she knows you haven't abandoned her. I don't know if it made a difference, but it was important to me.
• Be prepared for your family to think you are crazy for taking such extreme measures to save your beloved chicken.

 

[SeaSea47]

That sounds about right. If Petunia needs to be put in time out, I would leave her there for a couple of days...then re-evaluate.

Well, Marigold is back outside - in a separate cage - today. I knew it was time, because yesterday, during free time, she would not leave the coop and kept trying to get inside. The minute I got her cage next to the big coop, she started puffing up at Petunia. The two moved like a mirror through the hardware mesh for like 10 minutes. Petunia finally went over and laid down in the sun. Marigold finally backed off a while later. Before, when Petunia attacked her, she just sat cowered down and let her. So, I at least feel better knowing that if they do fight, she is well enough to stand up for herself now. I'm going to keep them together like this, probably for most of the week, and then Friday when my dad can come help me supervise, let them all out for free time together. I think I need to get some of that Blue Kote spray, too, because Marigold's still got a bald butt! Marigold has always been the most aggressive and bossy, so maybe she is ready to reclaim her throne?