Questions for those of you with "special needs" chickens

[spotsplus]

I have had a lot of "handicapped" birds, mostly finches but some chickens. I have two blind ones now and have had a few with leg problems. If they get along with younger birds I put the handipcapped bird with them. If there is someplace to give them a seperate area with a friend I'll move them there. I don't keep them alone. Chickens need a buddy. My blind Wyandotte, Shirly, I built her a chicken condo. She has plenty of room and perches are all kept low and feeder is strong enough to stay upright when she goes to locate it with her feet. Same with waterer but I had to use an upright waterer so she wasn't always standing in it so she knows where it usually is and will walk that way with her head held back and chest out so her chest will bump it. That's how she finds water. I've had finches and one chicken with deformed feet. I would make them ramps because them coudn't walk well. Feed and waterers stayed down instead of hanging them but were up on a small platform with a ramp so they were up out of the bedding.

I've also had some that just couldn't live without pain due to thier problem so in kindness I quietly and with care, ended their suffering.

Tammie

Shirly's chicken condo

 

[Happy Chooks]

Nella, I think she's just protecting herself. Chickens peck on the weakest one. Unless she's being hurt or can't find food/water, I'd leave her be and just give her extra attention and treats.

 

[iluvcks]

Hi. This is my first day on. I've been trying to find the right forum for my problem. I hope you guys can help me. This is a two part question. I got my original flock the first of June. So by the time they were outside in the coop it was August. I live in Michigan. I am wondering how soon I can get more babies. I want to order them now but is that just to early? Next question. We aquired two chickens from some people that had most of their flock killed by a dog. They didn't want to deal with the chickens for just two. Anyway my kids named the Ameracunas Lola and Gabby. Lola was braver and after 3 days was accepted into the flock. Gabby never left the coop. On the 8th day I went out to ck on them and found feathers everywhere. They had her cornered and she had a huge bald spot on her back and one wing. They had pecked a DEEP hole the size of a quarter in her back. I brought her in. She is now all healed, but the feathers have not grown back yet. She won't even go in the coop. She does go outside during the day but in the last couple months they have reopened her back at least three times. She is an inside chicken. She loves us and is always in the same room with us. She comes when she's called. Even naps on my bed with me and the dogs and cats. But I guess she should go back outside. Do you think that I should introduce her to the new babies right away or gradually? Or like when they are a couple weeks old? Also do you think it would be wise to introduce her to the rest of the flock when we put the babies out? Any help would be so appreciated. My husband and kids are sick of always cleaning up chicken poo. I don't mind so much. I think of it as a parrot that doesn't destroy my house.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'd wait until her feathers regrow. Otherwise, it's just a big magnet for the other chickens to peck at. If it's damaged beyond feather growth, maybe you could put a saddle on her? I don't know, this is my 1st time integrating too.

As far as integrating, it's best if they can see her for a while, but not be able to attack her. Do you have a dog crate or some way to block off an area of the coop for her?

Oh, and

 

[NellaBean]

I was thinking a saddle too. But you could also just use a diaper and let her stay in the house if that is where she seems happy.

 

[iluvcks]

Thanks everyone. I had never heard of a chicken saddle before. I am going to get one for her. At least that way she can still go outside with the other girls. She does love going out, she's just afraid of them. When they get to close she runs accross the yard and yells at the door for in. In the spring we are going to add on to the existing coop. We want to make it so the new babies and I'm hoping Gabby will be seperate with their own run. Yet still together with the group. So do you think I should introduce Gabby to the newborns when I get them or wait?She is lowest in the pecking order so my hope would be a mother instict would kick in. I don't even know if putting her back in the coop is the right thing to do. She doesn't even consider going back. She always comes to the door when she wants in. She lays her egg in a dog bowl. Its really so cute to see her and the cats sharing the water bowl. I just want her life to be happy. Thank you PS Gabby is my avatar. Shes sitting on the buffet. She lays her egg in her food dish

 

[spotsplus]

Welcome Iluvchks !
I think the saddle will work well for her. Diapers do work well for house birds

Good luck!
Tammie

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
If you are going to try to put her with the chicks, wait until they are a few weeks old and give her the ability to see them but not peck them. Then after a couple weeks that way you could "try" to put them together, but watch really closely.

I can tell you that with my integration of my 4 babies in with my 5 adults, my RIR (lowest on the pecking order) is my biggest bully. I guess she's figured she's been low chicken on the totem pole long enough, and now it's her turn to give some abuse. I've caught her up on the roosts twice pecking the crud out of my roosters. I had to "peck" her (with my hand) to get her to stop. My lead hens would peck, but now it's been 2 weeks and they are leaving the babies alone for the most part. But my RIR won't give up.

 

[iluvcks]

new2chooks, thats awful about your RIR. That is my worst fear with Gabby. I hope she isent mean to the babies. But I will try that. They stay in a box in the living room untill they are old enough to go outside. I do that so all the animals are used to each other but safe. thanks alot

 

[NellaBean]

I know this is an old thread, but wanted to update that my half blind chicken is doing a lot better. She seemed to be an outcast who hung out at the fringe of the crowd. Well now she seems to be part of the flock. She started laying, has her very own saddle to wear around and has even given up hiding under the table and is roosting with the flock like a normal bird. She seems completely normal other than a bit skittish because of no vision on one side. I have a much darker saddle on her so I can tell her apart from the other idential leghorn mixes (3 of them left) from far away, but she is really doing just fine. Caught her picking on some younger newbies the other day. Sad as it is, I do enjoy seeing the special needs birds pick on the lower birds.....makes me feel like they are really feeling "normal". Nothing major, just usual pecking order stuff. I had actually been considering culling her as she just seemed miserable..........but she is happy as can be now. 2 of her sisters are sharing broody duties and she and her other sister are well integrated into the main flock and doing fine.