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spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Location: North Yorkshire
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 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 08 9:21 am Post subject: Monstrous Marans and constantly crowing ex-bats! |
 
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We bought four new hens yesterday, two Buff Orpingtons and two Cuckoo Marans. All beautiful birds but the breeder told us no need to clip wings on either breed, but the Marans gave me hell this morning when I let them all out.
They flew right up into our neighbour's tree and wouldn't come down for hours. Eventually I got all our birds new and old into the run and closed it, but both before and after closing them in, our four ex-bats have been crowing - and they're all girls - all the *&^%$� time.
From 5am to, as I type, 10.20am. As noisy as a bunch of cockerels.
I managed to clip the wing feathers of one Maran but it didn't stop it flying. And they proved impossible to catch. They only went into the run when it started hissing down with rain. So I ran from the house sharpish and locked them in!
I am so going to have to apologise to the neighbours for this. I will never EVER introduce new hens on a Saturday night again, or pay much heed to the idea that putting them into the coop when the established flock is asleep, and spraying new and old birds with vinegared water, somehow helps avoid upset and conflict. It hasn't done a damn thing.
I find myself praying our four ex-bats get hoarse throats and can't make a sound for a while! Surely to God they will get fed up of making the constant shrieking, bleating and crowing?????
Is there anything I can do? I've tried feeding treats, they get eaten while the crowing continues unabated; I've tried calming them down, they're having none of it.
The Buff Orpingtons are sweet, and no trouble at all. |
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
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spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Location: North Yorkshire
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Tradbritfowlco
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 526
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spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Location: North Yorkshire
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 08 11:54 am Post subject: Now I've got an injured hen! I can do without today's drama! |
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It's just the most unbelievably hellish morning. Now I have an injured hen and it's my fault - I solved the problems between them all by turning the henhouse round and giving access to adults only into the main enclosure, and the newbies into the run with shelter (but no return access to the house, until bedtime, because they aren't due to start laying for a while yet).
But in the process of moving everything I dropped a paving slab on my favourite ex-bat! I am so upset. She went underneath it for worms, as they are prone to do, and I am sure I am not the first something like this has happened to, and the slab slipped.
I thought she was a goner. She was splatted, legs went everywhere, and wings, but there was a hole in the ground and her head and neck went into it, saving them from being crushed. But she appears to have a broken wing and maybe a broken leg. Definitely no broken neck. She can walk with a limp. It seems right wing and right leg are causing her pain.
I have her indoors, she's had some corn but no water yet. She was definitely in shock - certainly concussed - for a time, but I had her in a towel for ages, as she's the most cuddle-loving of our hens and used to being handled by me, and she was wet from the rain so I thought it best to get her dry.
She's now warming in front of the oven of all places - door ajar to let heat reach her in the cat-box I've got her in - and as comfortable as a bird in pain can be.
I can't get her to a vet on Sunday and I DO NOT WANT ANYONE, please, to suggest the Final Solution. If it's a wing and leg, she can heal. I am, however, prepared for her maybe not making it but right now she's alert. So...
Anyone any ideas on what I can do to make her feel better until I can get to a vet tomorrow morning? I'm going to post this as a new topic as well, in case anyone misses this topic but catches sight of my need for first aid advice on the main forum page! |
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lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion
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spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Location: North Yorkshire
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woodsprite
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire
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spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Location: North Yorkshire
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lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion
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woodsprite
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire
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spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Location: North Yorkshire
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woodsprite
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire
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spicycauldron
Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Location: North Yorkshire
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frewen
Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 11405
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The compassionate thing would be to relieve the bird of her pain.
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