MarthaTheChicken2021
In the Brooder
- Jun 15, 2021
- 5
- 15
- 29
Martha came to us May 10th so just over a month old now. With 26 chicks in total we didn't know one from the other.
Around the beginning of June one of the white ones looked injured ( Martha) we removed her from the rest and watched her closely. She seemed to not really want to walk and at first we though her wing might have been injured as well. My husband checked her over but nothing seemed off or out of place so we kept her separate and gave her extra vitamins and care. We didn't really expect her to make it.
She looked tired and unsteady
about 4 or 5 days later she started to walk a few steps but she limped and would only take about 4 steps before laying down. Then she would walk a little bit better, without limping but she looked like she was walking on her own feet, stumbling then again would lay down.
I am looking back at video I took and on June 3rd was when she looked pretty sad and not walking much, June 7th she has a small limp and trips a bit over her feet.
June 13th she got out of her pen and took a stroll around before settling next to the big pen where the rest are. I figure she wanted in with them but was worried that the fat ones would run her My husband was kind enough to put a camera out in their pen so I could watch her and rescue her if needed. She did fine and no one bothered her. In the morning we let them out to run, all the chickens ran out buy Martha stayed behind so I moved her to her tree and while all the others roam she never goes far. She will take 4-6 steps and lay down.
Last night I put her back in her own space to give her a chance to eat and drink away from the other. I watched her on the camera and for 4 mins she just paced back and forth trying to figure how to jump out. I moved her back into the main pen again and she stayed with the rest all night. Again this morning all the others ran out and she stayed behind alone most of the day. I moved her out to the grass and at some point she headed back into the pen where she spend most of the day, tonight I moved her once again to the grass and she has moved some but it's only every I would say max 6 steps before laying down for an hour or more.
I guess I am wondering what I can/should do with her? In a few weeks they will move to the coop so it won't be as easy to keep an eye on her if she is to be kept with the rest.
Thank you for reading
Maybe someone has experienced something similar or has advice to offer to give Martha the best life. She is a meat chicken I know but I don't believe her destiny is our table!!
Around the beginning of June one of the white ones looked injured ( Martha) we removed her from the rest and watched her closely. She seemed to not really want to walk and at first we though her wing might have been injured as well. My husband checked her over but nothing seemed off or out of place so we kept her separate and gave her extra vitamins and care. We didn't really expect her to make it.
She looked tired and unsteady
about 4 or 5 days later she started to walk a few steps but she limped and would only take about 4 steps before laying down. Then she would walk a little bit better, without limping but she looked like she was walking on her own feet, stumbling then again would lay down.I am looking back at video I took and on June 3rd was when she looked pretty sad and not walking much, June 7th she has a small limp and trips a bit over her feet.
June 13th she got out of her pen and took a stroll around before settling next to the big pen where the rest are. I figure she wanted in with them but was worried that the fat ones would run her My husband was kind enough to put a camera out in their pen so I could watch her and rescue her if needed. She did fine and no one bothered her. In the morning we let them out to run, all the chickens ran out buy Martha stayed behind so I moved her to her tree and while all the others roam she never goes far. She will take 4-6 steps and lay down.
Last night I put her back in her own space to give her a chance to eat and drink away from the other. I watched her on the camera and for 4 mins she just paced back and forth trying to figure how to jump out. I moved her back into the main pen again and she stayed with the rest all night. Again this morning all the others ran out and she stayed behind alone most of the day. I moved her out to the grass and at some point she headed back into the pen where she spend most of the day, tonight I moved her once again to the grass and she has moved some but it's only every I would say max 6 steps before laying down for an hour or more.
I guess I am wondering what I can/should do with her? In a few weeks they will move to the coop so it won't be as easy to keep an eye on her if she is to be kept with the rest.
Thank you for reading
Maybe someone has experienced something similar or has advice to offer to give Martha the best life. She is a meat chicken I know but I don't believe her destiny is our table!!
