- Thread starter
- #11
Final update.
Honey has laid her first egg!
But as she laid it over the side of her perch it fell to the floor and smashed, here is a photo of her second egg, then. Lovely! (The green egg is from an olive egger, Pecan).
Honey continues to gain weight slowly although she eats very well. The feathering down the side of her shanks is coming is strong and full, and her legs and feet get a dipping in canola oil every 5-10 days to rid her of heavy scaly mite infestation. She has taken her third and last course of de-worming using Valbazen (I based my treatment upon Dawg53's guidance on an effective way to worm, found here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/574430/are-these-worms ).
Honey looks for her treat (meal worm, peanut butter, seed and suet mix) in the left pocket of my coat each time I go into the shed to visit her. She sits on my lap and preens contently, and she recently had the opportunity for a mid-winter dust bath in the garden soil in-between snow falls. Otherwise, she gets an occasional diatomaceous earth (DE) rub-in under wings, along backbone, behind the head, and under her vent. (She completed two Sevin applications earlier to rid her of lice and it worked well.) Lastly, I keep the shed and her crate very clean at all times, and wash out the water and food dish regularly.
Honey shares the shed with Pecan, an olive-egger I got about 2.5 weeks ago. The two "visit" during the day in their shed where they remain isolated from the main flock. Over time they have established their pecking order, with Honey declaring herself the boss (she's come a long way!). As they will have been observed for illnesses for about a month, will have been de-wormed, and have now gained enough weight to manage the pecking order rituals, I will introduce them slowly--via an X-pen enclosure--to the flock.
I'd like to thank everyone who gave me advice and encouragement on how to bring my Honey to full health. I could not have done it without your encouragement and knowledge. It is very gratifying to see a chicken who was nearly starved to death spring back with such vigor! Thank you all!
Honey has laid her first egg!
Honey continues to gain weight slowly although she eats very well. The feathering down the side of her shanks is coming is strong and full, and her legs and feet get a dipping in canola oil every 5-10 days to rid her of heavy scaly mite infestation. She has taken her third and last course of de-worming using Valbazen (I based my treatment upon Dawg53's guidance on an effective way to worm, found here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/574430/are-these-worms ).
Honey looks for her treat (meal worm, peanut butter, seed and suet mix) in the left pocket of my coat each time I go into the shed to visit her. She sits on my lap and preens contently, and she recently had the opportunity for a mid-winter dust bath in the garden soil in-between snow falls. Otherwise, she gets an occasional diatomaceous earth (DE) rub-in under wings, along backbone, behind the head, and under her vent. (She completed two Sevin applications earlier to rid her of lice and it worked well.) Lastly, I keep the shed and her crate very clean at all times, and wash out the water and food dish regularly.
Honey shares the shed with Pecan, an olive-egger I got about 2.5 weeks ago. The two "visit" during the day in their shed where they remain isolated from the main flock. Over time they have established their pecking order, with Honey declaring herself the boss (she's come a long way!). As they will have been observed for illnesses for about a month, will have been de-wormed, and have now gained enough weight to manage the pecking order rituals, I will introduce them slowly--via an X-pen enclosure--to the flock.
I'd like to thank everyone who gave me advice and encouragement on how to bring my Honey to full health. I could not have done it without your encouragement and knowledge. It is very gratifying to see a chicken who was nearly starved to death spring back with such vigor! Thank you all!
