Conjunctivitis and not responding to antibiotic

[dawg53]

Any luck shaking a container? My birds come running from around the house when they hear me rattle the bag of dried meal worms. It works.

 

[azygous]

This morning I will be doing errands in town and I will give an update later this afternoon. I can hardly wait to do the experiments.

 

[azygous]

Errands finished, and I offered Lucy some scratch and some dry feed on an aluminum pie plate. I rattled it and shook it. No reaction.

I got a friendly hen to come in and give Lucy a demonstration. The beak hitting the pie tin was plenty noisy, and while it drove the flock nuts that were all pressed up against the fence watching for some scratch to fall their way, Lucy wasn't the least bit interested.

Maybe she simply wants to quit eating and die. I close to giving up.

 

[dawg53]

I'm sorry it didnt work out for Lucy. If she wasnt sick, there's no doubt she would be going nuts for the treats like the others. You have a tough decision to make.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so very sorry about the situation you are facing. Big hug. We’re here for you.

 

[azygous]

Well, Lucy will get a few more days to get with the program. Then I will probably honor her death wish.

She doesn't know it, but after euthanizing, Lucy is going to get opened up to see what the heck has been going on.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can she hear?

I'm sorry that nothing is working Carol

I agree that giving her a few more days is a good idea, sometimes they will adapt to new things. I also agree with you that long term tube feeding, etc. is no way to live-either for you or her.

If/when you make the decision to put her down, let us know what you find.

 

[azygous]

Thanks. I am pretty sure Lucy can hear okay.

Tonight, Lucy came rushing out of her enclosure and ran into the coop. She found a perch and settled down. I thought if that's what she wants, okay. But peace was short lived. I was on the opposite side of the run when all shorts of chaos let loose. Screeching, squawking, and thumping and crashing noises.

I went around to the run entrance just in time to see Lucy outrunning the mob in hot pursuit. She was headed right for me and it was like catching a grounder on the infield. Lucy is now safe in her crate in the garage. It's obvious the flock doesn't want her in her condition.

I didn't feed her tonight or give her water. I want to see how much hunger might motivate her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks. I am pretty sure Lucy can hear okay.

Tonight, Lucy came rushing out of her enclosure and ran into the coop. She found a perch and settled down. I thought if that's what she wants, okay. But peace was short lived. I was on the opposite side of the run when all shorts of chaos let loose. Screeching, squawking, and thumping and crashing noises.

I went around to the run entrance just in time to see Lucy outrunning the mob in hot pursuit. She was headed right for me and it was like catching a grounder on the infield. Lucy is now safe in her crate in the garage. It's obvious the flock doesn't want her in her condition.

I didn't feed her tonight or give her water. I want to see how much hunger might motivate her.

I can't help but get a little tickled by your description - catching a grounder

It does sound like she wants back with the flock, so hopefully she will get it together. I do know that chickens can adapt, but they have to be motivated.
I think it is a good idea to see if hunger will be that motivator.

 

[Kathy Golla]