Found Hen- Vet Care Needed?

[FotosByFlee]

My co-worker found a hen wandering her neighborhood in Oakland. I'm the "pet person" so she passed her off to me. I attempted to locate a nearby house that she may have come from, but it seems she is just orphaned (although very friendly).

I've been talking about raising urban chickens for years and I am considering keeping her. I know enough to be able to feed and house her appropriately, but I can't tell if she needs medical treatment (it which case I'll probably surrender her to a shelter for better care).

She is missing many feathers on her back and tail area. She is alert, friendly, and cluck-y. She drinks lots of water and eats enthusiastically. She's pretty grungy, but I blame that on days of roaming the city streets.

Do you suggest any veterinary treatment? Since I'm such a newbie, please avoid chicken terms without definitions...thanks!

 

[Feanor]

Hey, thank you for taking in this poor girl! I would say don't bother with vet care as long as she is eating, drinking, and acting normal. Since you don't have an existing flock you don't have to worry about her bringing any unwanted chicken illnesses home. Her feather loss may be due to being regularly mounted by her old rooster or a bite from a dog pulling out a fluff of feathers. If you decide to keep her (hint hint nudge nudge DO IT!

) just keep an eye on her and don't add any more chickens for a good 30 days (a quarantine period) to make sure she doesn't have any illnesses.

From the pics she doesn't show any sign of infection and her feathers are growing back--good sign--, so keep an eye on her bare spot (look for discoloration, blue/green--signature signs of infection) as long as her skin is a healthy pale-pinkish red she's fine

BTW Welcome to the world of chicken farming =)

 

[TeamChaos]

Aww, what a lucky girl to have found you! Yes, the feather loss looks like too much attention from a rooster! I think she looks good- my only concern would be mites, as she can get those from wild birds. You can look at her feather shafts w/ a good light or you can bathe her just to be safe. What are you going to name her?

 

[Nsampsel]

I would also mix some Sevin Dust with wood ash or fine sand & let her "dust bathe" (roll in the dirt & flip it all over herself) in it (a kitty litter pan works well for this). It will take care of body mites & leg mites both. I also just took in a BUNCH of birds who actually looked worse than this on missing feathers. The guy I got them from had WAY too many chickens stuffed into WAY too little space & they were all "feather picking" (pulling out each other's feathers). I have chickens who are TOTALLY NAKED from tail to mid back & some on the neck as well. The 1st batch I got from him showed feathers growing back in in less than a week. I just picked up the 2nd batch yesterday. Make sure she gets plenty of protein to help regrow those feathers. I use Purina Flock Raiser for a little higher protein content than layer crumbles. Also give her yogurt & table scraps containing meat or fish (canned tuna or salmon is good, she will even eat CHICKEN!!! Cannibals!!!)

 

[chardob]

Congratulations on becoming a chicken companion! She will repay your kindness 1000-fold.

 

[JanetLR]

Congrats on your new friend, from one newbie chicken owner to another! My husband found our very first chicken about 2 and a half weeks ago on the freeway! Its been a bit nervewracking trying to get everything set up the right way, but we've built her an enclosure, and we got her a friend a couple of days ago, and things are looking up...enjoy her

 

[liz9910]

I would totally keep her, chickens are very interesting to have around.

Elizabeth

 

[boochaces]

i would say no vet care needed at this time, just some TLC!!!!!!
aww, please keep her!!! she is lucky she found you.

 

[Feanor]

I would say she is a Rhode Island Red by the looks of her, if you were interested in knowing what breed she is. I have a few myself, so I may be inclined to see her as a RIR even if she may be New Hampshire Red or some variety of production red (a mixed breed red hen from crosses designed to make better layers)

 

[Nsampsel]

I would say she is a Rhode Island Red by the looks of her, if you were interested in knowing what breed she is. I have a few myself, so I may be inclined to see her as a RIR even if she may be New Hampshire Red or some variety of production red (a mixed breed red hen from crosses designed to make better layers)

I have Red Stars & RIRs. She looks more RIR to me.