Today just as we were leaving for our 2nd Christmas with my in-laws, I went to check the chickens and found bloody chickens. One of the girls' feet is pecked and her counterpart (Brahma) has a bloody beak. We separated the injured one by putting it in a dog carrier in the garage, cleaned it's feet in the bathtub and gave it fresh food bedding and a water bottle (hamster style). Will she figure out how to drink? What can be done about the injuries? We had to leave her for the afternoon/evening.
The above was written while still at the in-laws. We have returned. She is settled in and sleeping in the crate so I will just let her be until morning.
Some details in no particular order: She is 28 weeks old. It was snowing today and they don't leave the coop much when the snow is actually falling. Shares a coop with 7 pullets and a rooster. She is laying every other day or so with no supplemental lighting. When I washed her feet, I noted a hole in one foot, and what looked like a scrape or some bleeding injury on one toe. There was a lot of blood before cleaning and she was very calm during it all. She even stood next to the pet carrier while I went around to the coop to get some bedding - never moved and then let me put her into the box. I covered it with a blanket to trap in heat, and when I went out an hour later, I noticed that the heat of the parked car engine (two car garage - I haven't parked my car in it since I started building the coop
) had warmed the garage up considerably.
So that is what I know so far. Any input would be appreciated.
The above was written while still at the in-laws. We have returned. She is settled in and sleeping in the crate so I will just let her be until morning.
Some details in no particular order: She is 28 weeks old. It was snowing today and they don't leave the coop much when the snow is actually falling. Shares a coop with 7 pullets and a rooster. She is laying every other day or so with no supplemental lighting. When I washed her feet, I noted a hole in one foot, and what looked like a scrape or some bleeding injury on one toe. There was a lot of blood before cleaning and she was very calm during it all. She even stood next to the pet carrier while I went around to the coop to get some bedding - never moved and then let me put her into the box. I covered it with a blanket to trap in heat, and when I went out an hour later, I noticed that the heat of the parked car engine (two car garage - I haven't parked my car in it since I started building the coop
So that is what I know so far. Any input would be appreciated.
