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Post by debbiem on Apr 23, 2008 16:22:49 GMT 1
Gawd you women are a murderous lot!!! What? Us? Never!   Just practical. |
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 23, 2008 16:24:27 GMT 1
Gawd you women are a murderous lot!!! What? Us? Never! Just practical. I am sure the chicken that was trusting his care and welfare with you didn't share your view of practicality. |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 23, 2008 16:27:40 GMT 1
When I went to see my Nan a few weeks ago she told me the story of when my uncle found a chick outside on the street in the snow, This was 40 odd years ago when Nan was still in Ireland. She said it was such a sweet thing, they raised it in the 'hot press' and it grew to a cockerel, much to the neighbors dismay. They kept him in the shed in the BG. When my Nan was heavily pregnant with baby number 8 (MY DAD)she couldn't cope with mucking him out etc so she asked her neigh bout to dispatch him, she went out while he did this. As soon as she left she had a change of heart and and rushed back to tell him, only to be greeted with the site of her 3 eldest gleefully plucking the rooster and the younger kids dancing about in the feathers. No real change with Duckie, she seems to only eat out of my hands, and her neck does look a bit wonky. Just been in the garden feeding her and thw roof of the GP run fell down righ on my head, i've a looney tunes style lump on my head awww Ouch! I bet that hurt just ever so slightly!  Are you OK? Do you have a swear box Emsey? I bet after that coming down on your head it's a lot fuller than it was a few minutes beforehand.  |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 23, 2008 16:30:14 GMT 1
What? Us? Never! Just practical. I am sure the chicken that was trusting his care and welfare with you didn't share your view of practicality. Reg got rehomed - it was either that or be murdered by the neighbours. ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 23, 2008 16:38:20 GMT 1
When I went to see my Nan a few weeks ago she told me the story of when my uncle found a chick outside on the street in the snow, This was 40 odd years ago when Nan was still in Ireland. She said it was such a sweet thing, they raised it in the 'hot press' and it grew to a cockerel, much to the neighbors dismay. They kept him in the shed in the BG. When my Nan was heavily pregnant with baby number 8 (MY DAD)she couldn't cope with mucking him out etc so she asked her neigh bout to dispatch him, she went out while he did this. As soon as she left she had a change of heart and and rushed back to tell him, only to be greeted with the site of her 3 eldest gleefully plucking the rooster and the younger kids dancing about in the feathers. No real change with Duckie, she seems to only eat out of my hands, and her neck does look a bit wonky. Just been in the garden feeding her and thw roof of the GP run fell down righ on my head, i've a looney tunes style lump on my head awww Ouch! I bet that hurt just ever so slightly! Are you OK? Do you have a swear box Emsey? I bet after that coming down on your head it's a lot fuller than it was a few minutes beforehand. I was too busy seeing stars to swear. I am now very worried about this hen, sorry to go on. He head is to one side, and she has a lump, or protruding bone on the breast the opp side to her head When I touched it she flapped her wings and fell over. I've hinted to OH about a vet, but if I push it we'll have a row, he bought me an expensive b'day pressis and I've just spent £240 on a plumber. I'm not earning am I. I may have to open my cards early an see a vet dunno. I don't think she can bend her neck to eat. I've tried tests in her and she managed to get it almost to the ground but didn't seem to happy  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 23, 2008 17:16:31 GMT 1
Oh dear....I've no experience of that sort of problem I'm afraid. Have you asked on the Poultry Forum? It doesn't sound all that hopeful to me...
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 23, 2008 17:19:18 GMT 1
Oh dear....I've no experience of that sort of problem I'm afraid. Have you asked on the Poultry Forum? It doesn't sound all that hopeful to me... Take him to the vets though, don't just break his neck! |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 23, 2008 17:22:41 GMT 1
Oh dear....I've no experience of that sort of problem I'm afraid. Have you asked on the Poultry Forum? It doesn't sound all that hopeful to me... I've just posted on PP. Sleepy  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 23, 2008 17:23:50 GMT 1
Quite a lot of town vets nowadays know very little about chickens sadly and it can be very stressful for the chicken. It might be kinder to knock poor Ducky on the head. Only my opinion though, sorry to sound callous.... I've just had a thought Emsey..she hasn't been bitten or stung on her neck has she? Will she let you look to see if there are any lumps? Or a peck that's gone nasty? I'm just trying to think of things that would account for her strange neck angle... |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 23, 2008 19:13:21 GMT 1
Quite a lot of town vets nowadays know very little about chickens sadly and it can be very stressful for the chicken. It might be kinder to knock poor Ducky on the head. Only my opinion though, sorry to sound callous.... I've just had a thought Emsey..she hasn't been bitten or stung on her neck has she? Will she let you look to see if there are any lumps? Or a peck that's gone nasty? I'm just trying to think of things that would account for her strange neck angle... I know what your saying 4p but I haven't got the guts to do that. If I have to take her to the vets I'll have to walk there as Sean will be at work, even if a taxi would let me take her, its only a short distance away with knowhere to pull up or park outside, it would be quicker to walk. I took her out of the run at 6 and she ambled up to the HH, I'll do the same tomorrow and re-asses. If its a case of theres nothing I can do for her, I'd rather find her dead in the HH is the morning. One good thing tho, she doesn't appear to be in pain, even when I touched it and she fell over it wasn't as if she was in pain.......... I took some pic's of her, she doesn't look too bad. I dont think its a bite etc as I can see you skin and its not red or owt.  ![]() i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg265/emmaloftus/villavsscum20-4-08020.jpg[/IMG] |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 23, 2008 20:10:00 GMT 1
Let's wait and see what the PP forum comes up with. She looks really healthy from the pics. She's got a floppy comb like my Pearl - it gives them loads of character, don't you think, and makes me think of the chicken equivalent of Grizabella in Cats. ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 24, 2008 7:13:50 GMT 1
Morning Emsey! Well, have you been out to see her? Isn't it horrible when you wonder what you'll find in the HH? I hope she's still there and looks better...
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Post by emseypop on Apr 24, 2008 7:15:32 GMT 1
I think its an ex-bat thing mrs B both mine and Debbies all have a floppy comb. I struggled to tell ducki as daist appart as they look so alike, edna is scrwny and flossies has pale almost white wings. All there combs hand over to the right where as Debbies have a variety of combs hanging to the left/right large and small she knew who was who right away. It looks like i'll be off to the vets today, thats the only advice i've got from PP. They dont think it sounds very good. Hopefully I'll be able to get my dads OH to look after the kids, otherwise i'll have to wait for my Dad to wake up at 2.30.
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 24, 2008 7:29:10 GMT 1
Unfortunately it is not uncommon for ex bat. hens to be quite frail and difficult to diagnose. It is a huge, physical stress for them, the way they are forced to live in the battery farm, and it does mean they may be quite tricky to look after even when they are rescued. Some hens just aren't 'doers' I'm afraid Emsey, even when they are given every chance to recover. It's nothing you have done wrong I'm certain of that. |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 24, 2008 11:01:17 GMT 1
I'm surprised by PP - I really thought somebody might have come up with something else on there.
Do you think she's suffering, Emsey? I'd hate you to spend all that money at the vets and upset your OH by the amount of the bill just to find out that the vet doesn't know what's wrong.
What's your gut feeling? I think that if she doesn't seem to be in pain I'd hold fire on the vets for a while.
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Post by emseypop on Apr 24, 2008 11:02:29 GMT 1
Well we've been to the vets. He said without doing expensive tests he couldn't be sure what the problem was, but it is some sort of neurological problem. It could be a knock to the head, a tumor, an ear or brain infection or parasitic. I tried to push him to recommended what I should do ie try and treat her, or have her put down, but he was non committal. I asked what treatment he'd recommend and how much it would cost. I've had a course of anti bio tics for £15. I just hope I've done the right thing and I'm not prolonging her agony. She made it there and back, thats got to be a good thing. I've put her separate in the run with the cat box for shelter, I'll prolly let her sleep in the cat box in the kitchen for a few nights too. The medicine went down ok, and I had the bright idea of trying her with some cat food, I held a saucer by her mouth and she ate a little, even managed to peck at a piece that fell on the grass! The other hens are dead jealous.
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Post by debbiem on Apr 24, 2008 11:09:21 GMT 1
I was going to suggest some cat food but then it becomes a habit hard to break - Pearl's hooked on it like heroin! ;D But it's great emergency treatment for a poorly one. I hope the antibiotics do something for her. A non-committal vet - that must have been really frustrating.  |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 24, 2008 11:16:11 GMT 1
I was going to suggest some cat food but then it becomes a habit hard to break - Pearl's hooked on it like heroin! ;D But it's great emergency treatment for a poorly one. I hope the antibiotics do something for her. A non-committal vet - that must have been really frustrating. it was only helped by the fact he looked like Johnny Depp with a lovely ki-wi accent. They also put a Battery Hen Welfare trust leaflet on their notice board for me which was nice of them. I can see her in the garden now, I've left the corn tub in there with her and she's eating that now! |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 24, 2008 11:19:11 GMT 1
The catfood is already a problem, I'm worried sick i'm goimg to take someone head of with the patio doors, with the way they rush to get in! they head straight for the part of the kitchen where the catfood is. They always seem to get in just after i've mopped the floor too  Its not 'cute' anymore! ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 24, 2008 13:17:59 GMT 1
If she's eating that can only be a good sign, she's obviously not in pain. I didn't think the vet would be much good - he's just given you an antibiotic to hedge his bets - he hasn't a clue what the matter is.....still it might help Ducky, and it can't do any harm! A few days calm and quiet might do the trick anyway. If not, well you have done your best, rescued her from a Hell on earth and given her a few weeks of freedom and good living, Emsey. Lots of creatures in the world never get that do they?
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Post by emseypop on Apr 24, 2008 13:22:48 GMT 1
Thanks 4p. I was really happy she was eating, but now shes done a watery poop, so i'm off worrying again. : I've done all I can, I'll keep her quiet and give her the meds and see what happens.
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 24, 2008 13:32:32 GMT 1
Thanks 4p. I was really happy she was eating, but now shes done a watery poop, so i'm off worrying again. : I've done all I can, I'll keep her quiet and give her the meds and see what happens. That's not necessarily a bad thing Emsey - if she's not eating her usual food then that will affect her digestion - better watery than none at all.....you're not eating are you? ;D What colour is it though? Try and get her to eat something other than cat food if you can....sweetcorn maybe? Or some brown bread.. |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 24, 2008 15:41:03 GMT 1
Thanks 4p. I was really happy she was eating, but now shes done a watery poop, so i'm off worrying again. : I've done all I can, I'll keep her quiet and give her the meds and see what happens. That's not necessarily a bad thing Emsey - if she's not eating her usual food then that will affect her digestion - better watery than none at all.....you're not eating are you? ;D What colour is it though? Try and get her to eat something other than cat food if you can....sweetcorn maybe? Or some brown bread.. Shes had some mixed corn and only had a couple of spoons of catfood. The poop was very watery and yellow. She had a lie down and is having a bit of a walk around the coop now. |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 24, 2008 17:00:01 GMT 1
Maybe some cooked rice or pasta? With some peas or sweetcorn mixed in? I'm so glad she's eating, and I so agree with 4P that fate was smiling on her when she came to live with you. |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 25, 2008 9:22:21 GMT 1
Maybe some cooked rice or pasta? With some peas or sweetcorn mixed in? I'm so glad she's eating, and I so agree with 4P that fate was smiling on her when she came to live with you. Duckie, put herself to bed into the catbox last night and I bought her into the kitchen for the night. She survived. I not sure if she's any better but she isn't any worse. Made her some rice and peas but she didn't want to know. I think she's had a peck when I wasn't looking tho. ;D |
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Its not 'cute' anymore! ;D