RainForestBird
Songster
- Jul 12, 2016
- 289
- 287
- 152
I purchased my Olandsk Dwarf hen from a local breeder, the price was outlandish but I thought that I'd have a better chance with a 2 week old pullet than ordering from Greenfire, or some other breeder and trying to hatch my own.
When I got her, she didn't seem right. Her eye was drooping. When I called the breeder, she told me to give her electrolytes, but she did not offer a return even though it was the same day. The :"companion" chicken I was given, a rooster was doing much better than the Olandsk, so I don't believe it was a contagious disease. In fact he is still doing fine, a beautiful crossbreed who is very strong. I gave the pullet electrolytes and special drops for her eye that I got from my friend who is a natueopathic vet. The eye seemed to get a little better but was always droopy. She was starting to lay tiny eggs, none of them were fertile, I tried to incubate them. I have an Olandsk rooster.
Last week I realized she wasn't looking well again, she'd stopped laying 2 weeks ago. I picked her up and I was shocked to discover than she had lost a lot of weight. I watched her and she would start to eat and then stop. I separated her but by then she was having trouble walking and standing up straight. I kept her inside under a heat lamp and gave her an electrolyte vitamin mixture through a medicine dropper, being careful not to let her inhale it. I also gave her 30% protein chick mash. She stayed alive few another few days, but never really stood again, now she is obviously dying and won't eat at all. I am just giving her the electrolyte vitamin mixture to keep her hydrated.
She seems to have a neurological problem, not a virus, bacterial or fungal infection. I believe she was a product of inbreeding and I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem with Olandsk Dwarf chickens.
How can you import a handful of rare chickens from a foreign country and not expect to have genetic problems?
I thought that these chickens were supposed to be hardy. I have them in a typical two story hen house with areas to get dry and warm, I also have a grow light installed for warmth. I live in a very wet and cold climate. It doesn't seem to bother any of the other chickens, but I do take care to keep them warm especially during the freeze and snow-and especially during the very wet times.
When I got her, she didn't seem right. Her eye was drooping. When I called the breeder, she told me to give her electrolytes, but she did not offer a return even though it was the same day. The :"companion" chicken I was given, a rooster was doing much better than the Olandsk, so I don't believe it was a contagious disease. In fact he is still doing fine, a beautiful crossbreed who is very strong. I gave the pullet electrolytes and special drops for her eye that I got from my friend who is a natueopathic vet. The eye seemed to get a little better but was always droopy. She was starting to lay tiny eggs, none of them were fertile, I tried to incubate them. I have an Olandsk rooster.
Last week I realized she wasn't looking well again, she'd stopped laying 2 weeks ago. I picked her up and I was shocked to discover than she had lost a lot of weight. I watched her and she would start to eat and then stop. I separated her but by then she was having trouble walking and standing up straight. I kept her inside under a heat lamp and gave her an electrolyte vitamin mixture through a medicine dropper, being careful not to let her inhale it. I also gave her 30% protein chick mash. She stayed alive few another few days, but never really stood again, now she is obviously dying and won't eat at all. I am just giving her the electrolyte vitamin mixture to keep her hydrated.
She seems to have a neurological problem, not a virus, bacterial or fungal infection. I believe she was a product of inbreeding and I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem with Olandsk Dwarf chickens.
How can you import a handful of rare chickens from a foreign country and not expect to have genetic problems?
I thought that these chickens were supposed to be hardy. I have them in a typical two story hen house with areas to get dry and warm, I also have a grow light installed for warmth. I live in a very wet and cold climate. It doesn't seem to bother any of the other chickens, but I do take care to keep them warm especially during the freeze and snow-and especially during the very wet times.
my last girl who is a mix between a silkie and an olandsk is hanging on by a thread and it’s heartbreaking. I tried everything…electrolytes…vet rx…probiotics. Nothing helps. I am all about repopulating endangered species but something tells me that something isn’t right with this breed….which could be why they are endangered.
