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Barnyard Buddies:  Help! Blind Chicken Question! Update!  |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 10 2012 : 4:05:37 PM
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I'll try to make a long story short - got 8 chicks. One was a runt, thought it wouldn't make it. Almost 4 months later she is still with us, but smaller than the rest, and only partial sight in one eye. The other chickens have left her alone except for one recently. Twice now while she is out in the run one of the others pecks at her - hard enough that she lets out a loud squawk, but no blood or bare skin The other chicken will follow her around the pen pecking at her. If I go out and put her back in the coop, the other chicken leaves her alone. The other chickens mostly just ignore her.
My husband and I are going away for 3 days to a beekeeping conference. People are coming to put the chickens in the coop at night and check water, but no one will be here in the afternoon to break it up like we have been.
As I see it, my options are:
1) Separate the blind chicken from the rest while we are away.
2) Separate the chicken picking on her from the rest while we are away
3) Leave them both there and let nature take its course.
Any other ideas or opinions on these options? Thanks SO much for any advice. We really aren't sure what to do!!
Jennifer
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
Edited by - Woodswoman on Aug 17 2012 5:49:30 PM |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2012 : 6:01:20 PM
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Jennifer if you put the chick in a cage inside the coop and have your sitters feed and water her in there then she will be protected but will not lose as much of her status as she would if she was taken away completely then put back in later. If you don't have a cage then maybe you could borrow one from a friend for a while. Or maybe use some chicken wire to build a small cage for her. About 18"W X 3 FT long X 2 FT high? Or maybe if you have a large dog crate you could put in the chicken coop for a few days?
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2012 : 11:23:45 PM
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Jennifer....laura is right you do not want her to lose her pecking order in the flock but this one hen who bothers her knows something is wrong with her & there fore pecks/beats up on her when she is around so your best bet to protect the part blind girl from being hurt by the whole flock while you are gone, which can happen if the one hen draws blood the others make attack & hurt or kill her is to make a cage or fenced area inside the coop with her own water & feed while you are away...even if you can't crate or cage her try to use tall enough fencing so she can't jump over it or the others can't jump over it to get to her...yo do not want to separate her & then have the one mean hen get inside the area with her & then she has no way of escaping....if you can't do that then go ahead & separate her from the flock & when you get back you can slowly re-introduce her....for the amount of time you will be gone that should not be a problem...I have had a sick chicken in my house for 5 days treating it then put it back in the coop & the others recognized her so there was no fighting.......have fun on your trip...Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2012 : 07:04:24 AM
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Thanks so much! It would be hard to separate her in the coop without blocking the door, nest boxes, etc., so we have her in an old dog crate in the house. We'll have to do the slow introduction when we get back. I was worried she would be lonely, but she never spends much time with the other chickens, anyway. She seems perfectly content. Thanks again for the advice!
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 5:51:48 PM
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Thanks again! When we got home we reintroduced her at night, and she was accepted with no problem. Today when one picked on her in the yard, she managed to get up on a perch, which ended it. I'm hoping she can work out how to manage - but it was nice to be able to do something while we were away so I wouldn't have to worry!
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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Barnyard Buddies: Help! Blind Chicken Question! Update! |
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Help! Blind Chicken Question! Update!
