- May 12, 2016
- 13
- 27
- 94
Hi fellow chicken lovers,
I've come to ask for some advice as a last resort, since I myself am not sure what to do anymore. I'm a very knowledgeable chicken owner, but this little problem has me stumped. So I'm hoping someone out here may give me some advice.
Recently, my chicken called Charlie who is around 4/5 years old had started to lose weight and her energy. She could still climb onto the perch where the other chickens were, but it was as if she was struggling to get up. And each day, she began to lose strength to the point she could no longer keep herself steady, let alone walk. So I quickly seperated her and took care of her inside my house. At first she didn't want to eat, had lost a lot of weight and I was expecting the worse. But suddenly, after force feeding her for quite some time, Charlie made progress and ate on her own. I was delighted to see some improvement. But she still couldn't stand up and walk. And I was wondering if she ever would. Before her sickness, she was one of the most friendliest, liveliest chickens. She would be the only on scavenging for bugs when it was raining, and would often come up to the door and sing until she was fed. She had established 3rd in command and got along well with the other chickens. However, after 2 long months of taking care of her, putting her inside to sleep, taking her outside in a quarentined area so she could eat and drink without other chickens bothering her, I realised Charlie was getting stronger and heavier. And she finally began to walk, on her own! Sure, they were tiny steps, but the progress was amazing! She was defiantly fighting for her will to live. But here's where the problem kicks in. Charlie is a Isa Brown, and she had two friends, who are also Isa Browns, that she was very close with, Ginger and Rosey. Ginger is very tame and kind, but Rosey is not. It seems she has it in for Charlie. As I put Charlie down and tried to reintroduce her back into the chicken family that I had to remove her from, Rosey was not afraid to start attacking her and asserting her dominance. However, instead of running or trying to walk away, Charlie didn't move. Instead, when I would walk away and keep a close eye on her, she would come to me and want nothing to do with the chickens. I feel she has grown attached to me since I had been her primary carer, but now this has become a problem. I can't leave Charlie unattended or else Rosey will not hold back. It's as if Charlie has forgotten to be a chicken. So, does anyone have any advice for me in order to reintroduce Charlie back into the squad? And also, is there any way I can retrain her to be a chicken again? Because I really think she has forgotten. Any advice will be most appreciated.
Thank you.
I've come to ask for some advice as a last resort, since I myself am not sure what to do anymore. I'm a very knowledgeable chicken owner, but this little problem has me stumped. So I'm hoping someone out here may give me some advice.
Recently, my chicken called Charlie who is around 4/5 years old had started to lose weight and her energy. She could still climb onto the perch where the other chickens were, but it was as if she was struggling to get up. And each day, she began to lose strength to the point she could no longer keep herself steady, let alone walk. So I quickly seperated her and took care of her inside my house. At first she didn't want to eat, had lost a lot of weight and I was expecting the worse. But suddenly, after force feeding her for quite some time, Charlie made progress and ate on her own. I was delighted to see some improvement. But she still couldn't stand up and walk. And I was wondering if she ever would. Before her sickness, she was one of the most friendliest, liveliest chickens. She would be the only on scavenging for bugs when it was raining, and would often come up to the door and sing until she was fed. She had established 3rd in command and got along well with the other chickens. However, after 2 long months of taking care of her, putting her inside to sleep, taking her outside in a quarentined area so she could eat and drink without other chickens bothering her, I realised Charlie was getting stronger and heavier. And she finally began to walk, on her own! Sure, they were tiny steps, but the progress was amazing! She was defiantly fighting for her will to live. But here's where the problem kicks in. Charlie is a Isa Brown, and she had two friends, who are also Isa Browns, that she was very close with, Ginger and Rosey. Ginger is very tame and kind, but Rosey is not. It seems she has it in for Charlie. As I put Charlie down and tried to reintroduce her back into the chicken family that I had to remove her from, Rosey was not afraid to start attacking her and asserting her dominance. However, instead of running or trying to walk away, Charlie didn't move. Instead, when I would walk away and keep a close eye on her, she would come to me and want nothing to do with the chickens. I feel she has grown attached to me since I had been her primary carer, but now this has become a problem. I can't leave Charlie unattended or else Rosey will not hold back. It's as if Charlie has forgotten to be a chicken. So, does anyone have any advice for me in order to reintroduce Charlie back into the squad? And also, is there any way I can retrain her to be a chicken again? Because I really think she has forgotten. Any advice will be most appreciated.
Thank you.