Mumsnet Talk

I'm having a low day. Our last little Pekin hen still lonely and friendless, just doesn't seem to want to live. She is so very very thin, although I see her eat, just not enough. She has a little egg, a little cat food, plenty of (fresh, clean, fortified) water and a few layers pellets. She's had antibiotics, she's been wormed and de-mited, she has the cleanest coop in the SW with plenty of fresh clean bedding. She's recovering from scaly leg with no apparent problems in that area.

I can't put it down to the lack of company as she was like this whilst the recently-deceased Henrietta was still with us. We're seeking a bantam friend for her without success at the moment but to be honest I'm worried that any new addition might pick up whatever she has, however it's cruel to leave her alone.

I really don't know what to do.

That is so sad, Cadelaide . I don't know anything about chickens at all but couldn't read and not reply. I hope she gets better soon.

Thanks Popbiscuit. She's a pitiful sight.

Oh Cadelaide

She died today, quietly, alone, in her coop.

I feel as though I let them all down. I'm a farmer's daughter, I should be able to keep stock alive fgs.

It's going to be very odd not having anything to shut in at night. I'll miss their morning "let-me-out" cheepings.

I'm so sorry, Cad. That is really, really sad. You didn't let them down. They sound like they were very well-loved and well cared for. Maybe you'll have better luck next time. It sounds like it was down to things that were perhaps beyond your control. Even the best farmers lose stock...sometimes despite every effort, nature has other plans.
<hugs>

What do you worm and de-mite with?

She probably did die from loneliness.
there's not a lot you can do about it - if you got another one too soon, it might have ended up in a nasty fight.

Are you going to get some more?

good point form hidden - when you get new hens, make sure you thoroughly disinfect the coop and run (empty out the old flooring etc) and start again.

She was miserable, no doubt, but she had only been alone for a week or so and she's been in decline since before the other one died.

I'm going to disinfect everything and hope for a bitter winter to kill everything off (except remaining mammalian livestock, of course!), then re-stock in the Spring.

I use Flubenvet and a powder I can't remember the name of (and it's out in the shed right now and I'm buggered if I'm going out in this cold). I also use a spray in the coop periodically according to instructions. No signs of red mite or any other crawlies in coop or on birds.

nickelbabe; it's late, I can't trawl through threads at this hour, are you posting with a newborn in arms yet?

Oh my, i couldn't resist it, I trawled.

Come on isbn (i love that, ex-bookseller 'n' all that)

thanks.
I should imagine that you'll have disinfected, re-painted and got new chickens by the time Isbn is born!

Oh how sad
You definately tried to make things better for her, sadly though, sometimes, nature goes its own way