- Thread starter
- #21
Stargrazer
Chirping
So, after Ruby adopted me I felt bad she was all by herself. I checked the local feed store to see if anyone had a larger than chick size chicken they would sell. Well, I found a guy who had a few. So we went there a day later and he a pretty buff orpington that was in with his flock that was being picked on. We said we wanted her. He showed me how to trim her feathers and away we went.
That, turned out to be a huge mistake.
I named her Ginger and she immediately bonded with Ruby. Then she got sick. I had no idea what was wrong so I found a vet I could take her to that would look at chickens. Took her the next day. The doc said she had parasites real bad and was starving. I was sent home with medicine for her and Ruby. Doc said to treat them both.
To shorten the story a bit, this went on for several months, her getting sick, me taking her back to the vet, Ginger slowly improving. Then I found her covered in lice! Yuk!! Treated her and Ruby again. Got rid of those. Finally, I got tired of going to the same vet that just gave her more drugs will no resolution. After about $600 spent, I took her to my usual vet that had an Aviaran (sp?) Specialist. Ginger just wasn't getting better. He took one look at her and said you were sold a 5-6 year old chicken. He said he would not treat her and she had multiple problems, several age related. He did a couple tests to help me understand. Ginger did not come home. I put her to sleep. I was so upset! She had been such a cool chicken. So patient with me, all that time and medicine, and special diet I fed her. I had tried so hard. So had she.
Ruby was alone again.
A week or so later I found an ad for pullets for sale. Went that weekend and picked out two Barred rocks.
This time, I quarantined them (I didn't know this before with Ginger). Separate house, separate yard.
Not even 24 hours later and one was very sick. Oh crap!!! Here we go again.
Sooooo, back to the specialist we went. He said one was too far gone but I should try to save the other. I did so. Took the remaining one home, moved her inside and began giving her the medicine. She got sicker and sicker. Spent a solid 24 hours hand feeding her food then made another vet appointment. Discovered something just before taking her back. She would try to eat but completely missed the food. She'd miss it by 1/2". She was starving and I had kept her going by hand feeding her.
Took her in and the vet tried to feed her. Same thing. Missing the food. He suggested putting her to sleep, something was very wrong. He wanted to send her out for a Necropsy. I agreed. Sooooo, my second failure! I was completely heartbroken and felt like such a inept chicken keeper. I had learned so much in four months and still failed. Doc strongly suggested I start with chicks. Two weeks later I did just that. Got 6 babies with the intent to keep at least two and give away the others to a friend. This approach worked! As of yesterday I have two Dominique's and I KNOW they are healthy. I made damn sure of it. BTW, the necropsy showed that those pullets had a bad bacterial infection and he couldn't have treated them if had wanted to. The flock I got them from were diseased. I contacted the seller to let her know what had happened.
I don't take animals and their welfare lightly. It is our duty to be good stewards of all animals. I just wish I had not been so ignorant. Problem is, a great deal of this you can't read in books, you have to experience it.
I have learned a huge amount about chickens but I know there is so much more.
That picture is of Ginger. My sweet Buff! I miss her a lot. She never bit me once. Despite all the medicine and handling.
That, turned out to be a huge mistake.
I named her Ginger and she immediately bonded with Ruby. Then she got sick. I had no idea what was wrong so I found a vet I could take her to that would look at chickens. Took her the next day. The doc said she had parasites real bad and was starving. I was sent home with medicine for her and Ruby. Doc said to treat them both.
To shorten the story a bit, this went on for several months, her getting sick, me taking her back to the vet, Ginger slowly improving. Then I found her covered in lice! Yuk!! Treated her and Ruby again. Got rid of those. Finally, I got tired of going to the same vet that just gave her more drugs will no resolution. After about $600 spent, I took her to my usual vet that had an Aviaran (sp?) Specialist. Ginger just wasn't getting better. He took one look at her and said you were sold a 5-6 year old chicken. He said he would not treat her and she had multiple problems, several age related. He did a couple tests to help me understand. Ginger did not come home. I put her to sleep. I was so upset! She had been such a cool chicken. So patient with me, all that time and medicine, and special diet I fed her. I had tried so hard. So had she.
Ruby was alone again.
A week or so later I found an ad for pullets for sale. Went that weekend and picked out two Barred rocks.
This time, I quarantined them (I didn't know this before with Ginger). Separate house, separate yard.
Not even 24 hours later and one was very sick. Oh crap!!! Here we go again.
Sooooo, back to the specialist we went. He said one was too far gone but I should try to save the other. I did so. Took the remaining one home, moved her inside and began giving her the medicine. She got sicker and sicker. Spent a solid 24 hours hand feeding her food then made another vet appointment. Discovered something just before taking her back. She would try to eat but completely missed the food. She'd miss it by 1/2". She was starving and I had kept her going by hand feeding her.
Took her in and the vet tried to feed her. Same thing. Missing the food. He suggested putting her to sleep, something was very wrong. He wanted to send her out for a Necropsy. I agreed. Sooooo, my second failure! I was completely heartbroken and felt like such a inept chicken keeper. I had learned so much in four months and still failed. Doc strongly suggested I start with chicks. Two weeks later I did just that. Got 6 babies with the intent to keep at least two and give away the others to a friend. This approach worked! As of yesterday I have two Dominique's and I KNOW they are healthy. I made damn sure of it. BTW, the necropsy showed that those pullets had a bad bacterial infection and he couldn't have treated them if had wanted to. The flock I got them from were diseased. I contacted the seller to let her know what had happened.
I don't take animals and their welfare lightly. It is our duty to be good stewards of all animals. I just wish I had not been so ignorant. Problem is, a great deal of this you can't read in books, you have to experience it.
I have learned a huge amount about chickens but I know there is so much more.
That picture is of Ginger. My sweet Buff! I miss her a lot. She never bit me once. Despite all the medicine and handling.
So glad you stuck with it. How old are your babies now?
