ShawnInPaso
Chirping
- Aug 2, 2018
- 11
- 48
- 56
About 18 months ago we adopted some roosters and hens from a neighbor that was moving away. I built a nice "tri-plex" coop and set of runs for them and all seemed well. My wife would do most of the care and feeding, while I maintained the coops and runs. Of the few hens we had, some passed away leaving us with one Bantam, which we named Frenchie-fry. Then, about a week or so ago we rescued another hen so Frenchie could have some company.
About two months my wife became ill (doing better now) and I assumed the care and feeding of the roosters and little Frenchie and the new rescued hen. Frenchie had a nice hen house and large protected yard (previously all to herself), adjacent to the roosters run. Every morning, afternoon and evening I would be out tending to the birds and particularly enjoy spending time with Frenchie as she was so personable. She would wait for me at the gate to her yard, anxiously awaiting my company and treats I would bring along. Now I am an old big burly guy, and never expected to bond with a little Bantam, but that's what happened in the past couple of months.
Then this past Wednesday I noticed Frenchie wasn't waiting for me as usual. She had become lethargic and wasn't eating. Later that night while in her coop I could see some blood on the feather near her vent. Not knowing what the issue could be, I looked on the forum and found it could be from prolapse. The next day I took her to the local vet. They held her there the entire day, but confirmed it was prolapse and a lab test on the next day indicated she had gotten coccidiosis. The vet said I had one of two choices to treat the coccidiosis, either put Corid in her water or directly give her an oral treatment, once a day for seven days. As the vet didn't have Corid, I went the oral treatment.
When Frenchie came home she seemed a little better. I gave her the oral treatment, being careful to be sure she swallowed very small amounts when given. The next day she was getting better and I gave her the second dose of the oral treatment. Soon after she went into her coop and laid in her nesting box and stayed there through the night. This morning just after daylight I went to check on her and found her deceased in her nesting box.
To say I feel terrible is an understatement. I am grieving the loss of my little friend, Frenchie-fry.
I believe Frienchie's demise was could have been avoided if I was more knowledgeable about the care and feeding of chickens. In no particular order, here are the issues that led to her passing.
- the introduction of another hen which may have carried the coccidiosis
- while visually okay, the run, food, and water should have been kept cleaner and better maintained to prevent coccidiosis
- The vet shouldn't have kept her all day, probably stressed her out considerably.
- If I could turn back the clock, I would have chosen the Corid treatment in the water (even if delayed) rather than the oral application. I feel strongly that the oral treatment was probably the biggest cause of her demise (i.e. she was doing better until the 2nd treatment).
- my failure to learn about these topics prior to having a sick hen
Sadly, I don't even have a photo of her to share,
Rest In Peace little Frenchie-fry.
About two months my wife became ill (doing better now) and I assumed the care and feeding of the roosters and little Frenchie and the new rescued hen. Frenchie had a nice hen house and large protected yard (previously all to herself), adjacent to the roosters run. Every morning, afternoon and evening I would be out tending to the birds and particularly enjoy spending time with Frenchie as she was so personable. She would wait for me at the gate to her yard, anxiously awaiting my company and treats I would bring along. Now I am an old big burly guy, and never expected to bond with a little Bantam, but that's what happened in the past couple of months.
Then this past Wednesday I noticed Frenchie wasn't waiting for me as usual. She had become lethargic and wasn't eating. Later that night while in her coop I could see some blood on the feather near her vent. Not knowing what the issue could be, I looked on the forum and found it could be from prolapse. The next day I took her to the local vet. They held her there the entire day, but confirmed it was prolapse and a lab test on the next day indicated she had gotten coccidiosis. The vet said I had one of two choices to treat the coccidiosis, either put Corid in her water or directly give her an oral treatment, once a day for seven days. As the vet didn't have Corid, I went the oral treatment.
When Frenchie came home she seemed a little better. I gave her the oral treatment, being careful to be sure she swallowed very small amounts when given. The next day she was getting better and I gave her the second dose of the oral treatment. Soon after she went into her coop and laid in her nesting box and stayed there through the night. This morning just after daylight I went to check on her and found her deceased in her nesting box.
To say I feel terrible is an understatement. I am grieving the loss of my little friend, Frenchie-fry.
I believe Frienchie's demise was could have been avoided if I was more knowledgeable about the care and feeding of chickens. In no particular order, here are the issues that led to her passing.
- the introduction of another hen which may have carried the coccidiosis
- while visually okay, the run, food, and water should have been kept cleaner and better maintained to prevent coccidiosis
- The vet shouldn't have kept her all day, probably stressed her out considerably.
- If I could turn back the clock, I would have chosen the Corid treatment in the water (even if delayed) rather than the oral application. I feel strongly that the oral treatment was probably the biggest cause of her demise (i.e. she was doing better until the 2nd treatment).
- my failure to learn about these topics prior to having a sick hen
Sadly, I don't even have a photo of her to share,
Rest In Peace little Frenchie-fry.
