Good morning all,
I have a flock of 5 hens; 2 Copper Marans (8 months), 1 Americauna (about 4 yrs) and 2 Golden Sebrights (about 5 years). The one I am concerned about is my Cagney the Golden Sebright. She kind of marches to her own drum but still hangs out with the flock. At night, instead of sleeping in the coop on the roost with the other hens, she sleeps in the netting above the coop. We are now cold here and a few days ago it was rainy and cold. The other girls were kept in their coop (barn stall) with fresh grass hay and fresh food and water. Cagney was out in the rain by her choice. I was able to convince her to go in with the others. The next day, she had flown out, like she usually does and I did not see her all day. When I went to lock everyone up at dusk, Cagney was in the coop with the flock, fluffed up and not looking good. Put her on the roost under the heater, and my old gal Dot knocked her off. Cagney stayed on the floor, looking pretty pitiful. I grab the box, grabbed some grass hay, grabbed Cagney (which is extraordinarily rare) with no problem and brought her inside. Her comb was pale and she was clearly weak. Sat by the fireplace with her in a towel and warmed her. Did not want to stress her by forcing beak open to get water so kept her warm, had some chick starter water with probiotics etc made up and in her lil box. Kept her inside, wrapped and warm. Next morning, comb was a little more pink and she was more alert. Made oatmeal and some scrambled eggs, watermelon and she ate! Repeat for two days! She is now up and alert eating several meals of her own food plus extra stuff (grapes, oatmeal, a little cottage cheese) and doing well, comb fully pink back to normal. Given her normal behavior (hates to be handled, rarely can catch her) her current behavior is a bit off. She has not tried to fly out of the box, but definitely is up looking over the box when I call (Yes, my chickens come when called). I have checked her and see no mites (she was a little vocal while I did this). Flock was wormed during the summer. Eyes clear, chest clear, beak nice. I think she may have just got wet chilled, cold? It is cold and we had a rain during the night last but the clouds are clearing. I am going to let my other chickens out today (they free range). What do you think about what has happened and given her current status, do you think I should let her rejoin the flock?
I have a flock of 5 hens; 2 Copper Marans (8 months), 1 Americauna (about 4 yrs) and 2 Golden Sebrights (about 5 years). The one I am concerned about is my Cagney the Golden Sebright. She kind of marches to her own drum but still hangs out with the flock. At night, instead of sleeping in the coop on the roost with the other hens, she sleeps in the netting above the coop. We are now cold here and a few days ago it was rainy and cold. The other girls were kept in their coop (barn stall) with fresh grass hay and fresh food and water. Cagney was out in the rain by her choice. I was able to convince her to go in with the others. The next day, she had flown out, like she usually does and I did not see her all day. When I went to lock everyone up at dusk, Cagney was in the coop with the flock, fluffed up and not looking good. Put her on the roost under the heater, and my old gal Dot knocked her off. Cagney stayed on the floor, looking pretty pitiful. I grab the box, grabbed some grass hay, grabbed Cagney (which is extraordinarily rare) with no problem and brought her inside. Her comb was pale and she was clearly weak. Sat by the fireplace with her in a towel and warmed her. Did not want to stress her by forcing beak open to get water so kept her warm, had some chick starter water with probiotics etc made up and in her lil box. Kept her inside, wrapped and warm. Next morning, comb was a little more pink and she was more alert. Made oatmeal and some scrambled eggs, watermelon and she ate! Repeat for two days! She is now up and alert eating several meals of her own food plus extra stuff (grapes, oatmeal, a little cottage cheese) and doing well, comb fully pink back to normal. Given her normal behavior (hates to be handled, rarely can catch her) her current behavior is a bit off. She has not tried to fly out of the box, but definitely is up looking over the box when I call (Yes, my chickens come when called). I have checked her and see no mites (she was a little vocal while I did this). Flock was wormed during the summer. Eyes clear, chest clear, beak nice. I think she may have just got wet chilled, cold? It is cold and we had a rain during the night last but the clouds are clearing. I am going to let my other chickens out today (they free range). What do you think about what has happened and given her current status, do you think I should let her rejoin the flock?
