Would love to see a pic of Joy!I know I told you about Joy already, but here is her story in a little more depth:
Joy is my 3 year old Speckled Sussex. She means the world to me, and I love her so so much! This July or August, I went out to the run very early in the morning to check on my pullets (who I had fully integrated in the day before) and saw what made my heart feel like it had fallen to the floor. Joy, my beautiful, strong, healthy, amazing, favorite girl, was sitting on a log with her tail dropped down, and egg yo/shell hanging from her vent. The days that week were HOT (and I suspect that was the cause of this) and I immediately rushed her to my screened in porch while I called every vet in town. She was hot, and clearly sick. Her mumbles frightened me. She sounded so very in pain. I wrapped her up in a wet towel to keep her cool, and turned on the fan. I offered her cool water to, but she wouldn’t take it. After 2 hours, I finally remembered how I had taken my canaries to an avian vet several years before. I called up this place, and although upon asking for her I was informed she had retired, the woman at the office gave me directions and told me about a CHICKEN vet I had never heard of! Joy and I were on our way soon. The place was held in a re-purposed barn, and had free-range chickens all over. Joy’s vet came in soon, and Joy took an immid liking to her stethoscope. Anything shiny isJoy’s pecking toy! although I was asked to wait in the hall while they X-Rayed her, I was blue to hear all of her Offended Squabbles and flappings while the vet techs held her down. They told me they had never met a chicken with such a personality. I was given the news as she sat in my lap: Joy definitely had EYP as i had suspected, and the “egg junk” was backed up through her body, and even blocking her airways causing a slight pneumonia. It turns out Joy had been sick a little longer than i had known- but unfortunately birds don’t show it until last minute. The vet sent me and Joy home with a pain killer and another medicine to feed her. I learned how to put the syringe down her throat (and I always had to make sure it was in her crop- that’s definitely the most stressful thing you can do) Joy isn’t want to eat her pellet food though, so despite continuing to look weaker I couldn’t fix it. Until I saw her eating the crumbs out of her food, and it hit me that maybe she Wasn’t strong enough for pellets. I put her feed in the food processor and sure enough, Joy took a feast- and soon after, she started drinking! That night, Joy slept in a cardboard box in the mud room. She passed her first poop in a day that night (on my tile of course- not in her box) and it was deffinirlt the size of a broodie’s! I kept giving her meds, and moved her to a crate (she was passing egg-junk filled poops, and I couldn’t give her free roam of the room because she would ruin the floors) where she was given a roost. I noticed her getting stronger, and especially stronger at meds Time. She flapped and squabbled and fussed when I held her down! She hated it! Soon, I started letting her go outside in the mornings (when it was cool) and I could tell how much Joy really loved life. It was the first day I let her go outside, I was deciding weather or it I needed to let her go, or keep her fighting, when she caught herself a frog in the garden! Not only that, but she was able to keep it away from the other hens in a run-around game of “keep away!” This proved to me that Joy could keep going- and she did! She grew stronger every day, until I was able to wean her off medications and finally, integrate her back into the flock. Joy has since been determined to do anything. She has so much personality and I really love her very much.
I certainly hope Margaret will have a story like this to tell to her a Grand-chicks! I pray and hope that she has many years ahead. Joy and I are sending our love. We’ve been there, and we want you to know that things will get better-no matter how it plays out ❤
It's so worth it when you can fight with them and win!
@Karen1277 Glad to hear Margaret was better today than yesterday! Any little bit you are able to bring her comfort and security, is #winning
Frida was the most aloof chicken in the yard before. Now she always comes over to hang out. Here's a picture of her in an epsom foot bath. I ran those for her for even after knowing she wasn't eggbound because she seemed to like soaking her feet.
And you have a very nice bathroom. I remember the days when I thought I'd never want a chicken in my house. Now, I open the front door and try to convince them to come in!
Now nicknamed the "bird bath." And yes, chicken energy is welcome in the house!
