new hens are gonna need a LOT of TLC... UPDATE: LICE!

[technodoll]

Wow thanks for all the kind words and encouragement... makes me feel extra certain that we did the right thing

I will for sure post "progress pics" and updated stories on how the girls are faring in their new home.

Suet feeders: the flock LOVES suet, I use about a cake a week for 14 of the girls... I actually learned from here on BYC that it was ok to feed it as a treat during the cold winter months

 

[naturegrrl]

You did a wonderful, wonderful thing, inviting those poor little girls into your home(stead)! It sounds like you've got a perfect plan for nursing them back into fine, beautiful shape, especially in conjunction with a few of the other suggestions posted in this thread (vitamins, dusting for mites). My girls love oatmeal and rice, and for an extra protein-y treat I buy the little cans of mealworms at the pet store - oh, boy, do they love those! Best of luck with your new little girls, and I look forward to hearing (and seeing) their story unfold!

 

[lngrid]

I don't know anything about chickens. Would you need to be careful to heat their coop since your sweet new girls are missing feathers?

 

[Guinea Goonie]

You are going to have some nice looking birds in about a month. They look like they are just all molting.

Check for mites and lice, But i think with a little game bird feed, some nice poultry grain and fresh, clean water you will be delighted with your hens.

 

[BorderKelpie]

Good job, what lucky little girls they are to have found you. lol
Best wishes for quick recoveries for all of them.

 

[chookchick]

You are very kind hearted, and those girls will in time look much better I am sure. Keep us posted... But you MUST QUARANTINE! I am especially nervous about the "eye crusties". I will get a link about quarantine. Keep them away from your flock, and practice heavy bio-security practices. I have heard way to many horror stories about chickens being introduced, even healthy looking ones.

Here's info on quarantine and introductions--
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

When you are ready to integrate, I would take one of your existing flock and add her to the newbies first, so if anything bad happens, at least the rest of your flock is still safe. Good luck! My first flock was a rescue mission also...

ETA--make sure they are getting a high protein starter to help grow those feathers back, the scrambled egg will help also. I would also get some Corid to have on hand, and keep an eye on their poo to make sure it looks normal.

 

[technodoll]

Again, thank you everyone!

I checked the babies for lice & mites and they are clean (easy to do when half naked...), the breeder never lets any of his birds go outside either - sad, I know. I am never going there again, lesson learned after a 3-hour round trip and $80 for 4 birds that need a LOT of help

My coop is half-insulated and I have a heat lamp going on in the section I penned off for the babies - I went to check on the flock around 6:30pm and my two 13 week-old silkies hogged the prime space right under the lamp but the 4 new girls were huddled in a heap nearby, which was what I was hoping -

hope little naked Faith makes it

In any case, the new girls come from a huge unheated coop, I guess they would have been as cold, if not more, tonight...

Thick frost on the ground, it's 21F right now + humidity. Sigh.

Oh and since I only have one chicken coop that is insulated and relatively predator-proof, there is no way I could quarantine anyone. I really hate to be strapped like this and pray nothing happens to my flock... I'd never forgive myself. 3rd new bird integration since July, knock on wood all has been fine until now...

I can't wait to see them get back in shape and grow into healthy happy pets!

It all starts tomorrow with a breakfast of warm oatmeal and chopped scrambled egg drizzled with coconut oil, diatomaceous earth, flax seed and a bit of yogurt! Hope they will eat it, so far my silkies (whom I have had for 5 weeks now) will only eat their starter crumbles and nothing else! FUSSIES!

 

[technodoll]

Well, the new girls survived the freezing cold night as the coop was pretty toasty this morning!

DH said we needed to bring the two EE's in the house for a bit, until they grew in some feathers and got better.

I

him.

Good thing, too, since Sunshine the EE isn't doing so well: bubbles in the eyes, one of them almost swollen shut with crusties and gunk. She seems fine otherwise, just tired. Little Faith, who looks like a baby vulture, seems fine but I brought both of them inside anyways and set them up in the bathroom, in a big wire dog crate. They have wood shavings and are on a heated floor.

I tried cleaning Sunshine's eyes with warm water and a paper towel but the crusties are stuck on like glue.

Any suggestions on how to clean her eyes, please?

I don't want to pull any delicate skin and hurt her!

Both EE's are getting at least 5, possibly 10 days of antibiotics (the same mild ones my other hen Antoinette got for her sneezing and nasal discharge, she's 100% back to her normal self BTW!) in the hopes to clean out their systems of anything they may be carrying, and build their immune system.

I gave them a mix of "power mush" in addition to their breakfast but they haven't touched it yet.

They just seem so tired... I guess they lived a lot of stress the past two days

Also, of the two blue cochins the biggest, fluffiest one just hunkers down into a little ball and sleeps, while the other one runs around normally. I examined them both and they seem fine. Could she be just tired??

GAAAWD what did I get myself into!!

Pics to follow....

 

[KinderKorner]

First I am very happy you took these girls in. It was a very sweet thing to do.

But second. It was a bad idea to put them in with your flock. I seen the pictures and my jaw dropped. They all look sick. It could be something simple like cocci. But with eye crusties, puffed up, no feathers, small. That indicates sickness.

I really wish the best for your birds. But I hope you haven't made a mistake and hurt the rest of your flock.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I agree!

Although it is too late now, quarantine is a MUST when you bring new birds in....especially when they have obvious health issues going on.