1st Casualty?

Hmmm OK, I think I have a poorly hen - let them out yesterday and they all came bouncing out.

Went to close up coop last night, and all hens inside as usual but noticed one of them was laid near the pop hole, and getting trampled on when others came to see me...but figured that's what a battery hen might be used to 

Today, presuming it's the same one, she practically fell out of the pop hole as she tried to come out...went to eat but she's pulling neck in, eyes closing, tail feathers (what's left of them) and wings 'drooping'.  I put her back in the coop with some food (which she went to straight away) and water, don't have anywhere for quarantine (I guess I could bring her home in a box for a bit???)

It's a weekend so vet isn't an option.  There's another man on the allotment who is used to culling hens but obviously I don't want to do that until/unless it's really necessary.  But how do you know when a hen is really, really ill because lots of people on here say theirs have looked like they were really bad but then perked up.

 

sounds to me like she needs antiboitics and fast but i feel it may be to late for her , get her indoors and warm asap . it seems she is very ill and i doubt she will last the night  .i had one go down just before Christmas and the cold got her as well so i took her to the vets to be put down sometimes u just know when theres nothing u can do and letting them go is the kinda option .

like u i am quite lucky in having someone close by who can let them go quickly without suffering .

Thats a shame, so sorry!
One of the reasons it appears that chooks go down hill so quickly, it that a chicken is able to hide symptoms so well, a built in survival mechanism. This means when we first realise something is wrong it is often too late. I make a habit of handling my birds frequently, to check their weight is OK, as well as time out just observing behaviour.

am sorry for your lose  .

i have 1 or 2 that look down and miserable at the mo and i dont always know if to blame it on the moulting or the cold but for all i know they could be ill , it is very hard to tell sometimes but once mine were all in standing in the warm straw warming thier legs they seemed to be fine .

It's horrible when you lose your first one but ex bats are notorious for just going like that 

When you to get to know them more you'll spot signs of odd behaviour sooner but as Foxy says they will try to hide the fact they are ill until they are practically at deaths door. Pick them up as often as you can and get used to how they feel and you'll spot weight loss. There are excellent if gruesome guides on pooh and parasites in the stickies with pictures so you learn the sorts of things to look for to head problems off at the pass.

Hi Steve - the rings are coloured leg rings and I got mine from Pets at Home just because I happened to see them, but I'm sure you can get them from any poultry supplies place.

Getting them on is going to be interesting  :blink: