Do any of you keep a space for healing chickens in your coop or run? I have been keeping them inside, but I am getting super sick of it. I use one of those rugged plastic dog crates, and I feel confident that it’s bullying-proof, but I don’t know whether it’s predator proof.
If keeping them...
Background: I’ve been trying to clean my hen’s vent (day 3 of suspected gleet, with some prolapse, but she’s laying normally despite my efforts to suppress the laying). The poop looks like gleet photos (can’t say I notice a stink though? Maybe I’m desensitized?) and it is coated to every crevice...
So, my most loving, hilarious, and sweet hen, Maisy, died this evening. She was young and healthy. From what I can tell, she either got hit by a car or was dragged by an animal not long before I found her and died of a heart attack in my arms. I am completely crushed.
Because she was a...
Need help diagnosing so I can treat properly! My one yo NH Red (Pepper) is presenting with vent inflammation but no other symptoms that I’ve noticed.
One week ago: Found a bloody egg (just a smear of blood) but didn’t think much of it, as everyone seemed happy.
Two days ago: I found another...
Looking for opinions. In my thinking… a short privacy screen (maybe half the height of the vertical panels) offers a slight advantage for deterring ground predators (out of sight, out of mind). Paired with other defenses, obviously. Haven’t worked out how to dampen their scent, and lord knows...
Could this possibly be shock? Unresponsive and stiff, but quite warm! Found alive seconds or minutes after fox attack. Few visible injuries. Nothing to indicate internal injury (that I can see) so I suspect shock or heart attack. Limp including very limp neck, but I’ve found hens in that state...