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Barnyard Buddies:  Help! Two Part Chicken Problem!  |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 11:18:01 AM
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I'm feeling really bad for my poor chicken, but don't know what to do...
I have a flock of 5 chickens - about 4 years old. Over the past week one of them has developed a very pale comb. They were all bright red before - now this one is a very pale pink. I've also noticed that when she makes her clucking chicken noises, she sounds almost hoarse. Other than that she appears healthy - eating, drinking, scratching, etc.
AND, one of the other chickens has started attacking her. It is just the one (and I had always thought of the attacking chicken as being the low one in the pecking order). But, the pale comb chicken runs and hides in the coop, so she is not hanging out with the other chickens at all. If I separate out the attacking chicken, the other chickens don't bother the one with the pale comb at all.
Any ideas on the health issue or what to do about the one chicken attacking her? Thanks!
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 3:55:02 PM
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I'm sorry your girl is feeling poorly. If you can, isolate her away from the others. It can be in the same coop if you have no other place like another shed. Put her in some type of wire cage or a cat kennel. Give her water and feed of her own that the others won't have access to.
There are several respiratory illnesses that affect chickens. They are either viral or bacterial. There's no real way for you to know if it's viral or bacterial. So, you probably should treat her with antibiotics. If it's bacterial, hopefully she will get better. If it's viral, she may not get better. Or she could surprise you and make a quick turn around.
Check you local feed store or Tractor Supply store for antibiotics. For my chickens and turkeys, I find it easiest to use a powdered antibiotic that is added to the drinking water. You buy it by the 16oz bag or larger and only use a teaspoon or so. Make sure to close up the bag inside another bag or jar to keep it for future use.
Chickens, like other animals, will turn on the sick on in the group and attack it. It's an effort to get rid of the threat of the illness affecting the whole group.
Once she heals up, put her back in the open coop during the night while it's dark. The next morning she may get pecked to be put into her place but she will be allowed back in. If you're concerned she won't, buy a couple more hens to be her friends. House them together a few days so they bond and then introduce all of them into the group. They'll all get pecked a little but it won't be so much on her.
I hope she gets better!
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2014 : 04:38:16 AM
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Thank you!
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! Two Part Chicken Problem! |
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Help! Two Part Chicken Problem!
