Old Polish getting wet and dirty UPDATE, :-(

[Tootsie]

It is wonderful that your 14 year old walked around just fine, that isn't odd because he could see, but if he had the vision problems bordering on blindness like Moppet had I doubt he would have been able to get around much. I am VERY glad he didn't have these problems.

Miss Moppet already had severely impaired vision when I took her in a few years ago. I checked and I mentioned that with my opening post about her sight. A hawk would pick her off in a minute or the males would be all over her. I live on a mountain with mountain lions, well... bobcats and coyotes and bear, oh my!

On the hair tie thing, would it give a headache after awhile the way it does when I wear one too long

?

Another thing you can try is raising her water up higher so she does not have to bend over and put her head down in the bowl so far.

When she drinks she gets off the perch and stands at the water dish but I CAN TRY THAT. She is an old gal and didn't want to give her too many changes but I welcome your suggestions and thank you all.

How would I get all that dirt out without scrubbing her too hard, she is very fragile. If we have a nice warm day I would like to try.​

 

[kstaven]

Please keep this civil folks!

I would rather not have to shut down a good informational thread because people couldn't watch their wording and manners.

Kurtis

 

[mikarod]

She couldn't see out of one eye. Her comb flopped too far down and covered one of her eyes. Got around just fine.

No...the hair tie does not get too tight because they use string that "lifts" the hair rather than holds it back.

 

[Tootsie]

I have a GSLink hen that is blind in one eye and gets around pretty good seeing with the other eye however Miss Moppet has cataracts in both eyes and is very slow and doesn't see very well at all in either eye so I am taking special care of her and she hasn't gotten wet so far since her haircut.

This post is about help for Miss Moppet so if you want to discuss/debate the things you have been bringing up you could always start your own thread about them

. Thanks for your suggestions but since I trimmed the head I will wait and see if I also need to tie the hair.

That bear was in my backyard right where my chickens hang out so I wouldn't want Little Miss Moppet out on her own

.

If anyone has suggestions on getting/loosening the dried crusty food off let me know, I am hoping most of it will come out on it's own since it is getting very cold here. I thank you all for your help and appreciate your input.

 

[TubbyChicken]

What type of waterer do you use now? I don't know if it's an option because of her age (switching to something new may be too confusing) but could you try a rabbit waterer and placing her food higher off the ground so she's less able to "dip" herself in it?

Mine are very young, but the rabbit waterer made a huge difference in the dampness of their coop as well as the amount of crud their crests seemed to accumulate.

 

[Tootsie]

If you go back to page 1 or 2 I have photos showing her waterer, it is the silver one on the left. WHen she wants to drink she steps down off her perch and drinks.

So far it looks like she is staying dry (fingers crossed) but would like to wash the gunk off when I can. It is crusted in there. If you can't make out the waterer I will take another picture just of that.

Thank you

 

[Tootsie]

Miss Moppet Update: She stayed dry since I gave her a haircut.

Yesterday she didn't seem to be eating much. Tonight when I got home from work she was on her side, very weak. I took her upstairs and gave her some vitamins and baytril and a little water but she seemed very weak. I held her for about 15 minutes telling her I loved her. Then I put her in a crate in the kitchen cradled in a towel until I got my other animals done.

When I came back upstairs she had died. She was a wonderful bird and will be missed dearly. She could have been a lot older than 10 but I know she was at least ten.

Thanks for all you help and kind words.

 

[Redfeathers]

Aww...I'm so sorry. You did wonderfully taking care of her, she lived a long life...I'm glad you had a chance to say goodbye.

 

[ivan3]

It was good of you to care for her. Alas, no one or thing can make an end run around time. After reading all the posts it seems primarily unthrifitiness due to advanced age.

take care!

 

[Tootsie]

Thanks guys.