Okay, I'm the worst chicken owner EVER!!! PLEASE HELP

[shannonb]

My buff orp has been sitting on her eggs since around the 11th of this month. Last week she had broken one of the ones that were not fertilized....I thought I had gotten it cleaned up well enough, but I was afraid I'd break her broodiness if I moved her and cleaned it really good.....well I now could shoot myself. What was I thinking - SHE comes first the unborn chicks second. Today we left early in the morning and came back (it had gotten really warm out) and it was stinking in there badly.....I decided to remove her and give her a quick bath because I was sure she had rotten egg on her.....boy was that an understatement. SHe has lost all her feathers on her tummy and there were maggots underneath the nest...not on her, but where the egg had seeped through the hay. I replaced that kennel (her nest is a dog kennel) with a fresh one and bleached the old one. Gave her new hay- rinsed off the eggs....and put them back in the new kennel. She went outside and ate and drank - is acting completely normal - noone is picking on her - she is still lead chicken....and is now back on the nest. I pretty much got the stink out of the coup and had laid down some DE after I scooped out the old shavings around her kennel and put fresh down. Can I bathe her tomorrow with some iodine shampoo or anything......she has a sore on her tummy but it is scabbed over. I feel so terrible that I didn't catch this sooner. How do I fix what I've done? Please tell me what to do, I can't believe I didn't catch this sooner and I feel absolutely awful.
Thank you.

 

[shuizar209]

Oh man I am so sorry... I am not quite sure what to do about this situation... but hopefully someone more knowledgeable will answer soon!!!!

 

[Alley]

Oh... I'm sorry. I know how badly you must feel about this but I think she's going to be okay. If she has a scab, you could put some neosporin on it. Keep the area clean and dry and I would just watch her for a few days... Make sure she's eating and drinking. good luck and hopefully someone with more chicken experience will answer your questions.

 

[ve]

It is normal broody hen to lost feathers on "tummy".This is so she can warm eggs beter

 

[shannonb]

Thanks,

does anyone know if I can use shampoo on her, this morning it still stinks in there but not nearly as bad....I know it's her, because I there was no way to get the smell off her with just plain water. I don't care if it causes her to go off the eggs anymore....I just want her to get to be a normal chicken again. I don't think I'll ever let one set again. . This is too much...last week when I saw her get off and poop outside, I swear she hadn't lost her feathers yet.

Should I leave the chicken coup big door open today with the fan going?

The little door is open all day everyday so they can go in and out to their run....the 3 other hens get out anyway....I always come home to them running around in my yard and have to put them back in before I can let my dogs out. The rooster is the problem, he is hard to catch.....but maybe he'll just go in at dusk.

Oh, I'm still feeling awful, I couldn't sleep at all last night. This is going to be a long day at work. My poor girl.

Are you sure it's normal for them to loose tummy feathers? How long before she grows them back?

 

[shannonb]

also shoudl I replace the hay everyday from now on to make sure everythig is okay. I said a couple of days ago that it has been three weeks since she has been setting and I looked at my calendar last night and I see I noticed she was setting at aroound the 11th....so that leaves her about a week to go. Should I just give up on the eggs and close her off from the "nest" (I feel bad doing that being so close, but will if someone tells me that is the best thing for her).

Should I go buy a new little tractor for her? That way I can remove everything from that coup and bleach it?

I'll do anything.

 

[Judy]

They don't lose tummy feathers, they pull them out. Yes it's normal.

You can bathe her in water with a bit of mild soap in it if you wish. Keep a close check on the wound to be sure there are no maggots in it, and it is drying up and healing. Let us know if you are having any problem with it.

We have all made mistakes with our birds, I promise you. I also promise you that you are FAR from the worst chicken owner ever! Forgive yourself and go on; you have already learned from the mistake, and that's all you can do.

 

[Uppity Peon]

I think you are doing great. Don't be so hard on yourself. She was probably snacking on those maggots! lol

But just watch that sore spot and checking those eggs.

 

[19sarah90]

Sounds like you're a great chicken owner! As soon as you saw there was a problem, you got right to it! Sounds like the momma and the clutch will be fine... Keep up the good work!

 

[shannonb1]

Thank you everyone......I guess I'm feeling bad because I should have replaced the kennel and not worried about her going back to laying. She comes first, but hopefully I fixed it. I will HAVE to bath her after she hatches them, because she STINKS BADLY. I had to take 3 showers and I could still smell it. Nasty nasty nasty.

Thank you all very much.....

Was it okay to put the DE down under the kennel and under the shavings?

This is my first time dealing with DE. It's supposed to help with smells right?