New chickens

[Ally77]

Hi, we decided that after 10 weeks or more of being alone (roosting in the rabbit playhouse, sleeping on the kitchen mat) that Mrs Pepperpot needed a new flock. We brought two POL chickens on Friday. As you expect Mrs Pepperpot soon let them know she is in charge (she is 2+years). Anyway other than the normal behaviour of new chickens I'm worried about one of the new ones, Daisy.
Daisy has laid in the nest so that was great, I know very little about where she is from (something I now regret) however I was told she has been vaccinated and wormed. I believe she was kept in close quarters as she's been de deaked anyway, today she out and about pecking eat her pellets etc but she is drinking alot she spent over 10mins drinking ate some food walked about the run and went back in for more water. I'm not sure if chicken pee or whether she has water for poop, no colour smell just water ... Her crop was filled with water. But she seems fine comb is nice and red etc
I've put apple cider vinegar in their water and a herbal powder in their food to help with the stress of moving the other 2 are not drinking like she is .. can anyone think of why, should I separate her just incase she is Ill or would that cause more stress? Any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would make sure to offer a fresh source of water without vinegar. What does her crop feel like?

You could try to gently massage her crop to see if you can dislodge a potential block. Sometimes they start drinking lots of water in an attempt to unblock their crop. Be careful in case her crop is full of water so she doesn't aspirate it if it comes up which can be deadly.

If her crop feels fine and just full of food I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[aart]

I would make sure to offer a fresh source of water without vinegar.

Ditto Dat!^^^

I've put apple cider vinegar in their water and a herbal powder in their food to help with the stress of moving the other 2 are not drinking like she is .. can anyone think of why, should I separate her just in case she is Ill or would that cause more stress?

What exactly is this stuff? Good plain feed is probably best.

The other birds might not be drinking because of the ACV.....make sure there is fresh plain water available too.

Chickens do not pee liquid, the white part of the poops are the urates ('urine').
If it is hot where you live they can drink a lot of water and it goes right thru them to shed heat from the body, thus watery poops might not be of concern.

Instead of massaging her crop, which can be risky if full of water, first isolate her to see if the crop is emptying on it's own.
I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.


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[Mrs. K]

If she is active, bright eyed, and drinking, I think she may have been thirsty. Traveling often dehydrates animals. Chickens hate change, and she may have been unsure of your water system until she figured it out. If she is laying, that is another good sign. However, she may skip laying for a few days due to the move.

I would not separate her unless she is lethargic, sunken eyed, not walking around, and not eating.

Mrs K