Old hen

[cinnamoncockatiel]

I recently adopted a hen who is 7 years old. Hatched May 2013.

She is a Welsummer.

She is healthy but,

she has lightly swollen legs and,

none of her feathers under her butt or belly are preened because she can´t reach there anymore.

Also she has dry comb, waddles, and feet and lots of feather dandruff. I applied VetRX to the comb, waddles, and feet.

She is not heavy and she is slightly light.

She does not scratch a lot because of her legs.

Also her eyes are a little droopy. Age?

Any tips for old hens? I can also answer any questions about her.

Thank you!

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, she is old. VERY old. Probably not going to last much longer. Good food, high protein and protection from the other birds. I would think she would be a difficult bird to add to a vigorous flock, and she might bring in disease.

Why did you take her?

 

[Callender Girl]

I don't have any tips, but I bet I KNOW why you adopted her: she needed a good home. I am a sucker for critters that need to live out their lives in the best possible circumstances. Good for you!

 

[cinnamoncockatiel]

Well, she is old. VERY old. Probably not going to last much longer. Good food, high protein and protection from the other birds. I would think she would be a difficult bird to add to a vigorous flock, and she might bring in disease.

Why did you take her?

She is old. She eats the best organic grower feed. My young flock is being EGG~cepting. One of my Easter Eggers and her are eating together, and the Seramas are fine with her. I am using the see but no touch method to introduce her. She is healthy.

A friend has had her and another chicken for a long time. One hen died last April and the hen has lived alone in a small space by herself since. The friend is also going to another country and wanted the hen to have a flock. I also love helping older hens.

 

[cinnamoncockatiel]

I don't have any tips, but I bet I KNOW why you adopted her: she needed a good home. I am a sucker for critters that need to live out their lives in the best possible circumstances. Good for you!

Thank you! I love giving an old hen a home.

 

[Sleek28]

Thank you! I love giving an old hen a home.

Any chance we can get some pics?

 

[PioneerChicks]

My 6-7 year old hen also has droopy eyelids, I think it is natural for aging chickens like wrinkles are for humans. One recent discovery by me is that Dana (my old hen) craves extra protein, so I have been giving her as much dry cat food as she wants every day (after she eats her meal). Other than that, I have no more advice except to read this article: How to Handle the Ageing Process of Chickens

Good luck and have a great day!

 

[cinnamoncockatiel]

Any chance we can get some pics?

Yes, tomorrow.

 

[cinnamoncockatiel]

My 6-7 year old hen also has droopy eyelids, I think it is natural for aging chickens like wrinkles are for humans. One recent discovery by me is that Dana (my old hen) craves extra protein, so I have been giving her as much dry cat food as she wants every day (after she eats her meal). Other than that, I have no more advice except to read this article: How to Handle the Ageing Process of Chickens

Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you! She eats mealworms and scratch for EGG~stra protein also. I will read the article also.

 

[azygous]

Good for you for giving her a home. I've taken in two of these types, myself over the years. But seven isn't really old. I have two eight-year old Welsummers still laying regularly, although they're on winter break currently.

With good care and a little pampering, hens can live twice that long. I have a twelve-year old Brahma that's showing no signs of quitting living the good life, though she hasn't laid in six years. Another hen, an eleven-year old Wyandotte laid a perfect egg last spring. I have a ten-year old Wyandotten hen currently raising three pullets.