On Sunday morning I got a frantic call from my friend.. the eighth out of her original nine chickens had been killed by a fox. She was so upset that she decided she simply could not keep one lone chicken and asked if I would take it. Of course. ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=432320 <<the drama of how the first 7 died)
The poor thing had been bitten on the shoulder. The wound wasn't terrible and I was able to clean it up and put neosporin on it. I have some baytril on hand in case it starts to look inflamed.
This bird was the submissive one of the last two birds. They had been very good friends and according to my friend, this one always just followed the other one around and got terribly upset if the other one was picked up to be pet.
Now.. in the categories of "what sweet birdies my own chickies are" and "fastest flock integration ever" - I already of this bird in the coop and run. (The 9 chicks my friend started out with were brooded in my garage, the last two had just been visiting for a three week stay only a month ago, all birds have been tested by the state vet.) A couple of my girls gave the new one a light peck just to say "I'm ahead of you in the order of things" and she didn't peck back. I had her sleep in a cage in the garage the first night and kept her in isolation for 24 hours to watch her wound, but last night I put her on the roost with the others and today she is in the run with them and they couldn't care less.
However- this poor birdie has just the saddest eyes ever. She will just stand in one place, as if she's waiting for one of the cool kids to inviter her to their lunch table. She pecked at some grass when I let them out into the yard this morning, and drank some kefir (drinkable yogurt), but has otherwise not eaten much.
What kind of psychotherapy can I give this poor bird? She is a Dominique- is this just her personality? According to my friend, she had just started laying eggs three days before the attack. I'm assuming it will take her a while to get back into production.
The poor thing had been bitten on the shoulder. The wound wasn't terrible and I was able to clean it up and put neosporin on it. I have some baytril on hand in case it starts to look inflamed.
This bird was the submissive one of the last two birds. They had been very good friends and according to my friend, this one always just followed the other one around and got terribly upset if the other one was picked up to be pet.
Now.. in the categories of "what sweet birdies my own chickies are" and "fastest flock integration ever" - I already of this bird in the coop and run. (The 9 chicks my friend started out with were brooded in my garage, the last two had just been visiting for a three week stay only a month ago, all birds have been tested by the state vet.) A couple of my girls gave the new one a light peck just to say "I'm ahead of you in the order of things" and she didn't peck back. I had her sleep in a cage in the garage the first night and kept her in isolation for 24 hours to watch her wound, but last night I put her on the roost with the others and today she is in the run with them and they couldn't care less.
However- this poor birdie has just the saddest eyes ever. She will just stand in one place, as if she's waiting for one of the cool kids to inviter her to their lunch table. She pecked at some grass when I let them out into the yard this morning, and drank some kefir (drinkable yogurt), but has otherwise not eaten much.
What kind of psychotherapy can I give this poor bird? She is a Dominique- is this just her personality? According to my friend, she had just started laying eggs three days before the attack. I'm assuming it will take her a while to get back into production.
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