The Omega Rocks: The Last & Ultimate Barred Plymouth Rock Flock

[speckledhen]

I just got off the phone with Peter Brown. He suggested that we should likely keep her on the antibiotic for awhile longer. Of course, he doesn't know as much as he would if he got his hands on her to examine her, could be some bacterial infection or something she ate on range, but that is my best option, to continue the injections for a longer period. She did act some better later in the day, as I mentioned. If she'll keep eating so she doesn't go downhill more, it would certainly help. Will let you know how she is doing as I go along. Think some positive thoughts for Miss Tallulah!

 

[speckledhen]

This morning, she doesn't look great. We did continue the penicillin, of course. I took her some finely chopped chuck roast again, with some diced, fresh tomato. I guess time will tell.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So very sorry. You do more than I would Cynthia. I have never had luck fixing an unwell chicken long term. So sad, both for Tally, and for you. I know how much these chickens mean to you.

 

[speckledhen]

So very sorry. You do more than I would Cynthia. I have never had luck fixing an unwell chicken long term. So sad, both for Tally, and for you. I know how much these chickens mean to you.

I figure it doesn't hurt to try in special cases. If this was an older hen, I wouldn't go this route because it has never worked in egg related problems, but you know how much I invested in time and $$ for these. And I really don't know for sure what's happening to her. The odds are, from my experience, that it won't do any good if it truly is a reproductive thing.

 

[speckledhen]

Tallulah is about the same. She wasn't looking great yesterday. Today, she is barely touching food at all, won't even look at the food I bring her, though she was scratching around in the hospital cage to find stuff on the floor. That, at least, shows a modicum of energy. It may be my imagination, but it seems like her comb is slightly swollen/bumpy in places in addition to being very pale and jaundiced-looking. It's weird, similar to a hen I had ages ago, one of Atlas's sisters, who died of what appeared to be Spotty Liver disease. Peter Brown said he thought it was bacterial so that would track with the condition. She is on the penicillin again, has had three days' worth after the first three days and stopping for a couple.

Add Hazel to the new layers list along with Hannah and Ethel. That means only Tally is left to lay and I'm not sure she'll even live much less lay an egg.

 

[speckledhen]

Video of Tally today (bonus Bash footage). She seems to have a bit more energy and is grooming herself, seems to at least pick at food now. She is also talking as you can see in the video. Isn't she pretty?

 

[speckledhen]

Tallulah is more energetic this morning. She was even eating, both the concoction I brought her and the mix of 14 grain scratch and layer pellets. She's pretty feisty as well, or that's the way the day started. It was a marked change from yesterday. You know as well as I do that the up and down in recovery is pretty normal, but I hope this is her upswing and she'll keep gaining traction. I really need my 4th girl! The boys are behaving. Well, other than Nathaniel always wanting to untie my shoe laces. He has a thing about my laces, LOL.

 

[speckledhen]

End of day and Tallulah has her appetite back. She's energetic and doing all the right chicken things. I have done 4 days of antibiotic (after the first three and stopped) and will continue a full course of it. She's a different girl. And she is in with Bash because, though he isn't fond of the BR girls, he can't catch her nor get up on the roost to sit by her or harass her.n

 

[1muttsfan]

Yay!

And I bet he's probably happy for the company even if he doesn't quite act that way

 

[speckledhen]

Yay!

And I bet he's probably happy for the company even if he doesn't quite act that way

She'll grow on him, LOL. Neither should be alone while she gains some weight back. Bash is so funny. He loves the EE hens, same as old Isaac did. What is it about the bearded ladies anyway?

I want that sweet, pretty girl to be back with her peeps. She's talking and grooming and scratching around and eating like she's finally hungry. Has to be a good sign!