Go by her behavior. These sorts of things can come and go rapidly, and not end up meaning much. It's when it affects behavior, appetite, poop, etc that you need to be concerned.
Don't forget that she is likely stressed due to being new and getting acquainted with a new flock and new...
I totally sympathize with your tragic predicament. Were the two birds you euthanized for Marek's sent to a lab to confirm Marek's?
Once Marek's is on the premises, it can take up to two years for the pathogen to degrade in the soil. Even thorough cleaning can't get it out of the dirt.
The...
Update. Not good news.
Tootsie's cancer has gone into the bone, as evidenced by thickening of his shank. But now, a tendon appears also to be affected, causing his claw to clench up. He staggers around walking on the top of his foot.
This isn't good on hard surfaces such as rocks, which...
When treating coccidiosis, it's best to treat all the flock assuming they all have been exposed and are in different levels of infection. Enteritis is best treated before it gets to the bloody stage. Yes, use the med on hand until the other stuff comes.
Coccidiosis often has a secondary infection going on where the coccidia have eroded and inflamed the intestinal lining. It's called necrotic enteritis. It requires an antibiotic to treat it. This is the med I suggest. https://jedds.com/products/trimethoprin-sulfa-medpet?_pos=1&_sid=9ba243557&_ss=r
You really are cramped on space. I'm spoiled with acreage so I can keep expanding my run over the years. But your crate could work in a pinch.
Since it's still a possibility that the bully can abuse the victim hen through the sides of the crate, I would place something on two sides so the hen...
You bring up an interesting topic dear to my heart - chicken behavior. Related to this is chicken psychology. Trying to understand these interrelated things has been my passion since I first got chickens.
You're on track understanding that settling social order differences is one thing, while...
That's certainly a revolting mess in that puddle. Given that the microscopic fauna and flora can number in the thousands when it comes to the numerous species it could be, we can't tell from a video. But, the safe thing to do would be to clean up all such puddles to deprive the ducks of whatever...
Of course no one can predict what will happen. You will need to try it and see.
But, it's been my experience in my flock with my bachelor pair that seeing the hens and having actual access to them are two very distinct things. My boys were peacefully content with each other's company while...
We have only the carcass to glean any clues from as to what predator did this. This would be that the carcass was left behind and the neck nibbled at. Couple that with a possum being seen in the area where the carcass was found. Predators that don't haul off their prey, will usually return to...
Poop like that indicates over consumption of water to the detriment of nutrition. In other words, she's starving due to drinking too much water and not eating enough due to her crop feeling full of water.
Has it been very hot where you live? If so, I would suggest giving her a cup of water with...
To give a pill to a chicken just pry open the beak and shove the pill in. It will easily slide down into the crop. Chickens can swallow whole mice and lizards so a pill is a piece of cake.
It is like a chicken Disney World. By the way, just so you all know, I was around 20 years old when the first Disneyland opened in So.Cal. That makes me old.
There are two top activities chickens live for, dirt bathing and raiding gardens. We should make those things possible if we want to...