[valantinas]

Hi
I keep 8 hens on my allotment, 4 black rock and 4 brown point of lay hens.  1 of the brown hens over the last few days has lost quite a lot of weight and lost a few feathers.  She is of her food a little and just wants to stand on her own.  Temperature in the shed has got down to -5 but no draughts and all seems nice and cosey.  Any idea what the problem is and more importantly the cure!  I'm thinking of taking her home for a couple of nights and keep her in the kitchen and take her back in the mornings until she get better.  Would this help?

Thanks

[hairyhetty]

whenever any of mine have stood alone and seemed sleepy, they have ended up dying, though never spread to the others. i would isolate it to give it tlc and protect others. hope its ok though.

[hairyhetty]

how is it today?

[valantinas]

Hi

Brought her home last night and made sure she had some hot mash and pasta.  She had a good meal and settled in the kitchen without any problem.  The wife gave her some cod liver oil and a paracetamol and now in the morning is like a new bird...apart from a lack of brown feathers in places.  Th :farmer:ink she should be OK now, just have to keep a extra eye on her.

Thanks for asking!

Pete

[hairyhetty]

if shes eating it sounds good. maybe she needs worming, or maybe she had a scare with a cat or fox. hence missing feathers. a local kitten used to chase ours and they wud be upset for days. dont know but fingers crossed.

[morri2]

We had an ex-batt like this, in fact we've had three or four!! Like Hairyhetty says, they often die, but we had one which we separated off from the others (we did this with them all incidently, even the ones that didn't make it), put her in the sheep trailer with plenty of warm hay - made sure she had plenty to eat and drink, we even  gave her water by syringe into her beak to make sure she didn't dehydrate.  She survived, went back to laying and became a very tame hen, we called her 'sick chick'.  So persevere with her, it took a week or two before our sick chick was ready to go back with the others.  However - beware because the others might not want her back and she might be bullied when reintroducing.

[valantinas]

Hi
No Cat or foxes as well enclosed run and shed where they live. In fact when I took her back this morning she was doing a bit of pecking.  I think she knew she had been away, where as the others wouldn't have missed her for 1 night as taken in the dark.  I think she was just re-establishing her place in the pecking order.  Also think she chose the wrong time to malt!!

Pete

[Bright Raven]

Hi, just an idea for your medicine cupboard.
Sick chicks sometimes respond quite well to a few drops of Abidec - a children's liquid vitamin formula.
Pop a couple of drops in the drinker. Also Cider Apple Vinegar which can help with general health and moulting.

[princesspiggy]

is she still going strong?

[valantinas]

Still going strong!!  Think she will be OK. 

Thanks.

[princesspiggy]

had a bit of drama with one of mine this week. she jumped over low fence into field, but didnt return at night so accidently got locked out in snow. in morn she was completely bedraggeled, feathers matted and skin showing, receiving unwanted attention from our ram ( ) put her back with other hens but she just lay down so they started pecking her. took her inside to warm garage overnight and by morning she was fluffy and good as new and fine now, but did think she was a gona at first. she put wind up the rabbits in the garage though, ha, must resemble killer hawk! 

[moorlander]

Hi there  sorry about your ailing hen.
Has she been wormed? Might account for weight loss etc.
I guess you've checked for mites, lice etc?
I have sometimes tried something I think is called Nutri-drops (pretty expensive in a tiny bottle) on down-at-heel hens and have had some success. It is a rapid pick-me-up. That sort of thing, together with TLC is about as much as you can do unless you want to call in teh vet.

Every good wish to you and your hen this Christmas

Paul