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Post by emseypop on Oct 23, 2008 17:11:15 GMT 1
 I think I have munchausen syndrome by poultry. Daisys comb is a bit purple (not the whole thing) and she is very quiet, and not joining the snack time stampede. Any ideas? This is my first port of call but I'm off to look on the poultry MB now.
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 23, 2008 18:50:04 GMT 1
Is she losing feathers? She may simply be in her first moult, Emsey - they look a total wreck for a while and then perk up.  |
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Post by emseypop on Oct 23, 2008 21:33:25 GMT 1
I hope thats what it is then  there are a lot of feathers about, Minni keeps bringing them in. It seems a silly time to moult tho |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 23, 2008 21:51:09 GMT 1
All of them do though... My poor old Hilda looks like she's been attacked by a fox! Keep their feed up and make sure they stay warm at night - it takes a few weeks and then they all perk up. They always look even more reptilian when they are in moult I think - very strange. Btw, I usually start to feed my chooks rice and vegetables when the temperatures start to drop at night. Just a spoonful or so 2/3 times a week to keep them interested in the food bowl - mine are free range though so they tend to wander off looking for food and Mr Fox might see them! Hildas pretty good at coming when she's called. You have prolly been spoiling yours with titbits ever since you got them though! |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 24, 2008 8:32:18 GMT 1
Four out of my five moulted earlier on and are now sporting beautiful plumages, but poor Hazel who's the only Welsummer has only just started - she's having a bloomin' rotten time atm, and looks like a tatty old feather duster.
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Post by emseypop on Oct 24, 2008 9:30:08 GMT 1
Thanks Ladies, as the girls have never had perfect feathers, its hard to see too much difference, but she does look scruffier, and fluffed up, I think a moult is the cause  . I typed in purple moult in the pp site, and fowl cholera came back and heart disease! I followed a link and ended up seeing pictures of a hen post mortem, bleugh! The poor bird was absorbing her own eggs instead of laying them, there were about 11 yolks/egg in her body. I'm planning to start giving them 1/4 of a sachet of tescos smash, its only 23p a packet and I think it'll warm them up nicely in the morning. They have a mix of stew and porridge for 'snack time' today. |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 28, 2008 8:57:06 GMT 1
I wish mine liked spuds, they always leave it when it's part of the scraps. Mine do like sunflower seeds though, and they're not expensive, and I'll cook them up some rice today since my BiL has been looking after them for the last few days while we've been away and they've only been given the basic boring normal stuff. Ages back when I had a cockerel I spotted one of my chickens not being able to get up, I think he'd winded her or something like that but checked the book and diagnosed fowl paralysis - the poor thing got put in a rabbit hutch for about a week eating nothing but all bran and garlic, as was the advice of the book. She was fine, but probably was fine anyway! I think I've had episodes of that Munchausens by Poultry too. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 28, 2008 9:05:44 GMT 1
Poor old Hilda was grumpy this morning.........I take her food to her now, so I know she has had something and because if I leave it around the rodents will pounce on it, and she was hopping about cos her feet were cold on the frosty grass. I put my watering can of hot water down (for the goats) while I fed her and then left her to it - when I came back she was standing in the circle of warmer grass where the can had stood, chuckling away to herself as she picked out all the sunflower seeds! Silly old girl.............. I really don't know whether I can bear to be without chickens when she finally goes.....lovely things, chickens...  |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 28, 2008 9:11:45 GMT 1
Oh bless her! I still think you should get some more..........they pay for themselves in the end don't they? |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 28, 2008 9:38:34 GMT 1
It's the rats.........I am sooooo sick of the rats chewing and ruining everything........
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Post by emseypop on Oct 28, 2008 9:49:17 GMT 1
It's the rats.........I am sooooo sick of the rats chewing and ruining everything........ I dont think you'll ever be rat free 4p, they love you too much, may as well get the chooks  Mrs B have you tried boiling the spud skins? Daisy is back with the flock, she is as right as rain, all be it with a blotchy comb ;D |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 30, 2008 9:54:43 GMT 1
I'm glad she's perking up Emsey - the spuds are cooked already, they just don't like them and they'll pick everything else out and leave the spuddy bits. I really think 4P should get some more hens too............. |
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I think I have munchausen syndrome by poultry. Daisys comb is a bit purple (not the whole thing) and she is very quiet, and not joining the snack time stampede. Any ideas? This is my first port of call but I'm off to look on the poultry MB now.
Mrs B have you tried boiling the spud skins? Daisy is back with the flock, she is as right as rain, all be it with a blotchy comb ;D