IckenchayOverlay
In the Brooder
- Jun 9, 2021
- 7
- 15
- 21
I adopted a hen yesterday from a suburban owner. Nothing health-related was mentioned in the ad, but when I got there I found that she looks terrible.
I adopted her anyway, thinking I could give her a better home. The only thing the prior owner told me is that she had frostbite on her comb last winter and that she got picked on bad by another hen.
Her feathers are all gummy, possibly from stuff the prior owner was applying to her comb to deter bullying. But I don’t know why it would be all over her. She barely has any comb left, and her feathers are super ratty. Honestly, she looks and feels like a dirty mop head.
She doesn’t seem distressed, but it’s hard to get her to eat. She’ll pick at the carpet (I’m giving her free reign of my apartment until I take her down to my farm this afternoon; there’s nothing dangerous she could get into here), but she rejects most actual food.
I finally found something she would eat, and she started drinking. I know there’s an adjustment period, but I almost wonder if she has poor eyesight and just doesn’t know most of the time that there’s food in front of her.
I’ll take her to a vet as soon as I can, but in the meantime I want to know:
1) is it normal for a hen that’s been severely bullied to be in such poor condition?
2) what’s the best thing to clean her with, or should I just wait for the gunk to molt out?
3) what are the signs of poor eyesight?
4) is there anything I can do to improve her comb?
Thank you!
I adopted her anyway, thinking I could give her a better home. The only thing the prior owner told me is that she had frostbite on her comb last winter and that she got picked on bad by another hen.
Her feathers are all gummy, possibly from stuff the prior owner was applying to her comb to deter bullying. But I don’t know why it would be all over her. She barely has any comb left, and her feathers are super ratty. Honestly, she looks and feels like a dirty mop head.
She doesn’t seem distressed, but it’s hard to get her to eat. She’ll pick at the carpet (I’m giving her free reign of my apartment until I take her down to my farm this afternoon; there’s nothing dangerous she could get into here), but she rejects most actual food.
I finally found something she would eat, and she started drinking. I know there’s an adjustment period, but I almost wonder if she has poor eyesight and just doesn’t know most of the time that there’s food in front of her.
I’ll take her to a vet as soon as I can, but in the meantime I want to know:
1) is it normal for a hen that’s been severely bullied to be in such poor condition?
2) what’s the best thing to clean her with, or should I just wait for the gunk to molt out?
3) what are the signs of poor eyesight?
4) is there anything I can do to improve her comb?
Thank you!