On Saturday we had to evacuate our 35 5-week old and 8 adult chickens from the path of the Waldo Canyon fire Northwest of Colorado Springs. Sunday we had to evacuate again from the location we had evacuated to.
To say the least, this has been stressful for all of us. We have now settled in the garage and dog-run of my sister-in-law in Evergreen, about 3 hours drive by the back roads since the major highway was closed because of the fire.
Miraculously, they are all alive but I'm worried about 3 of the adults. Our black Jersey Giant was already being isolated and on antibiotics for a nasty case of sour crop and I had noticed that my two Welsummers were losing feathers around their head, perhaps some tail feathers as well. I don't know what else I can do for the Jersey Giant in these hap-hazard conditions and honestly don't know what normal moult looks like because this is my first full year with these adult chickens. I can't see any parasites on the Welsummers but they seem more stressed than the other adult chickens, one in particular panting and I believe searching frantically for a safe place to lay, not happy with any of the options I've given her.
I know this is a very rambling request for help, but we're all pretty freaked out here. The young ones seem surprisingly OK. They spend a lot of time lying around, but although it is pretty hot here, they don't seem to be panting or overly stressed.
To say the least, this has been stressful for all of us. We have now settled in the garage and dog-run of my sister-in-law in Evergreen, about 3 hours drive by the back roads since the major highway was closed because of the fire.
Miraculously, they are all alive but I'm worried about 3 of the adults. Our black Jersey Giant was already being isolated and on antibiotics for a nasty case of sour crop and I had noticed that my two Welsummers were losing feathers around their head, perhaps some tail feathers as well. I don't know what else I can do for the Jersey Giant in these hap-hazard conditions and honestly don't know what normal moult looks like because this is my first full year with these adult chickens. I can't see any parasites on the Welsummers but they seem more stressed than the other adult chickens, one in particular panting and I believe searching frantically for a safe place to lay, not happy with any of the options I've given her.
I know this is a very rambling request for help, but we're all pretty freaked out here. The young ones seem surprisingly OK. They spend a lot of time lying around, but although it is pretty hot here, they don't seem to be panting or overly stressed.
