new hen in bad shape

[heather112588]

While i was at work yesterday, my father (ever on the lookout for free craigslist stuff) brought home a free roo and hen.
You could say that we saved them because they are in bad shape to say the least- the owner kept them in a basement their whole lives (5 months) so they have never been outside or around other birds.

The roo will be in a stewpot soon so i'm not as worried about him and hes mean so Gilda (my head roo) kicked his butt (i should feel bad but alas i dont take well to mean birds so go gilda). Moving on...

The hen particularly (a silver duckwing old english bantham) is in terrible shape and worries me...her feet are badly deformed (cant jump high, walks crooked) and she only has 30% of the feathers that she should have. This girl could be so beautiful and is so friendly but she really brings tears to my eyes. Why do people do that to animals? I hope there is a specail place in hell for people like that ! Anyway, I separated her from my other birds which were tearing her apart even more...but I want to nurse her back to health.
I kid you not- i tryed giving her lettace and strawberries this morning and she poofed up like she was scared and wouldnt touch them...she eventually took a bite once i showed her she could eat the strawberry. Right now, she in a baby chick pen next to the big guys and i'm trying to slowly introduce her to different normal chicken treats and just general outdoor stuff. I also gave her vitamins in her water....What else can i do to improve her health?

 

[schellie69]

1st any new birds brought in need to be kept away from your flock for at least 30 days to make sure that they are healthy. She needs a high protein diet feathers are pure protein so get a something like game bird feed mix with scrambled eggs and yogurt any thing that has protein to help her with the feathers. Not sure about the feet since she is 5 months old should have been treated as a chick see if a good diet helps any.

 

[paul65]

I had a roo about 3 years ago that my brother said some people did not want and threw in the dumpster, well he got it out of dumpster and gave it to me it had a
crooked leg all i did was feed it good feed an the leg fix its self.

 

[heather112588]

Quote:
unbelievable, in a dumpster?!? I am really scared to see what happens to all the chicks people buy to put in easter baskets but have no intention of caring for!

- and Its not her leg, its her toes that are deformed badly (both of her feet look like this - imagine a chickens foot - the far toe is in the right place, middle is curled sideways @ 90 degree angle and other far toe is bent under)

 

[dandydoodle]

What could cause, their toes to do this. Were they cramped in something?

 

[chicmom]

The thing with the toes could have happened from poor incubation....Or it could be genetic......Does not necessarily mean she was abused......It is tragic though....Poor thing.

 

[heather112588]

They were in crates in a basement their wholes lives... my dad had to stop himself from going off on the guy, he just wanted to get them out with as little trouble as possible... im just mad people treat animals like that

 

[kickinchicken]

I agree with a game bird diet and as much protein as possible. Adding Poly Vi Sol, an infant liquid vitamin, is also helpful. I also think you need to add a dish of crushed oyster shells. She is close to egg laying age and the extra calcium would be great for her bone development.
Also, perhaps a nice bath and a good dusting of Sevin dust to kill any mites she might have. This could also be why her feathers are gone.

If you give her a bath, be sure to dry her THOROUGHLY. Especially this time of year. Whenever I bathe my hens, they stay inside overnight, even after they've been blown dry. It gives me an excuse to cuddle with a chicken for the evening in front of the TV.....

I really need to get some bantam chicken diapers!

 

[True Grit]

My hens feet have some curly toes like you mention. She has always had them and she does just fine, walks a little funny. If you give the Poly Vi-Sol give the kind without iron. My chickens are always scared of a new treat usually, until I give it two or three times. It helps if I sprinkle any new treat with mealworms. Good for your dad for rescuing her.