So last week 20 something DS was “in charge” while I was away. I get a call asking how many hens to we have in the main flock.... unrelated dialogue.... I got home after 11:30PM due to major accident in Dallas. Did not go out to check on chickens.
The next afternoon I heard a wierd hen noise coming through the open window of the coop and I’m inside it. I go out to discover a hen hiding under some cover. Alive but, very wounded. I sent a quick PM to a couple friend here .... got her stable in a “crate” for hospital mode. A couple days go by she is eating some, drinking some, get up and walks a little, laying in pipe shaving or the dirt for long periods. Pooping occasionally & very liquidy.
then discovered she had a really nasty poop covered butt, on the 3rd day of recovery also learned what happened to cause the wounds and feathers lost across her saddle. She had flown over the 5’ fence and one of our dogs thought she was a toy. Story from neighbors.
while trimming feathers away from vent I discovered she was covered in mites!
/shudders (suffice it to say I have extreme reaction to such small bugs, so I searched here on solutions) found a thread with the user sharing their own YouTube video. Great stuff. Then I watched, maybe another half dozen of so similar videos. 1 1/2 days later I can finally wash her outside. The rain had stopped.
Brought her in did the blow dryer on low. She seemed to really enjoy it. Took easily over 30 minutes - the hard part was under her wings because of the puncture wounds above and behind the wings this would be from an anatomical stand point something she would feel pain from if lifted or opened to far or to quickly. As it is, one did start to quiver after a period of time so I got into a pattern of dry here and there allowing the wings muscles to relax and that seemed to solve the quivering issue.
she’s been inside and no mites visible on her that I have seen - still.
So here we are today, Sunday, and we now have 2 full days of her pooping with a very liquidy green lumps and some white material.
for the last 3-4 days she has been getting a couple tbsp of yogurt at least once a day along with ground up soft meat, tiny pieces of kale & other greens she can easily pick up and swallow. She also has access to a bowl of crumbles, and mushed banana. She will eat nearly 80-95% of the special foods during a chunk of the day.
she has pooped 2-3x each day in the crate since the bath. I just finished searching the green poop and came back with basically she might not be eating enough. And... I just realized she hasn’t had access to grit in 4 days now. I will get her a small bowl of it post haste. Must finish this post 1st.
so here are a few pics:
From 4/8 the afternoon I found her (3 pics before I slathered triple antibiotic all over her exposed skin & into the punctures)
and her standing down below the nesting area
now for the late feeding after her bath
and now for today’s two poops
And now for her current weight (I don’t think she has lost much of any real weight in 8 days)
so there ya have all data and facts I can recall and share.
thoughts on the possible gleet- poop?
I will be giving her skin a fresh coating of triple antibiotic later tonight. It will be ~1.5 days since last slathering.
2) do I need to share an update close up on the skins healing?
3) I’m going to add some wheat germ I actually have in the fridge and use warm water to make a “mashed crumble” mixup tonight as well. Any other suggestions?
The next afternoon I heard a wierd hen noise coming through the open window of the coop and I’m inside it. I go out to discover a hen hiding under some cover. Alive but, very wounded. I sent a quick PM to a couple friend here .... got her stable in a “crate” for hospital mode. A couple days go by she is eating some, drinking some, get up and walks a little, laying in pipe shaving or the dirt for long periods. Pooping occasionally & very liquidy.
then discovered she had a really nasty poop covered butt, on the 3rd day of recovery also learned what happened to cause the wounds and feathers lost across her saddle. She had flown over the 5’ fence and one of our dogs thought she was a toy. Story from neighbors.
while trimming feathers away from vent I discovered she was covered in mites!
/shudders (suffice it to say I have extreme reaction to such small bugs, so I searched here on solutions) found a thread with the user sharing their own YouTube video. Great stuff. Then I watched, maybe another half dozen of so similar videos. 1 1/2 days later I can finally wash her outside. The rain had stopped.
Brought her in did the blow dryer on low. She seemed to really enjoy it. Took easily over 30 minutes - the hard part was under her wings because of the puncture wounds above and behind the wings this would be from an anatomical stand point something she would feel pain from if lifted or opened to far or to quickly. As it is, one did start to quiver after a period of time so I got into a pattern of dry here and there allowing the wings muscles to relax and that seemed to solve the quivering issue.
she’s been inside and no mites visible on her that I have seen - still.
So here we are today, Sunday, and we now have 2 full days of her pooping with a very liquidy green lumps and some white material.
for the last 3-4 days she has been getting a couple tbsp of yogurt at least once a day along with ground up soft meat, tiny pieces of kale & other greens she can easily pick up and swallow. She also has access to a bowl of crumbles, and mushed banana. She will eat nearly 80-95% of the special foods during a chunk of the day.
she has pooped 2-3x each day in the crate since the bath. I just finished searching the green poop and came back with basically she might not be eating enough. And... I just realized she hasn’t had access to grit in 4 days now. I will get her a small bowl of it post haste. Must finish this post 1st.
so here are a few pics:
From 4/8 the afternoon I found her (3 pics before I slathered triple antibiotic all over her exposed skin & into the punctures)
and her standing down below the nesting area
now for the late feeding after her bath
and now for today’s two poops
And now for her current weight (I don’t think she has lost much of any real weight in 8 days)
so there ya have all data and facts I can recall and share.
thoughts on the possible gleet- poop?
I will be giving her skin a fresh coating of triple antibiotic later tonight. It will be ~1.5 days since last slathering.
2) do I need to share an update close up on the skins healing?
3) I’m going to add some wheat germ I actually have in the fridge and use warm water to make a “mashed crumble” mixup tonight as well. Any other suggestions?
