hen is crippled

[Ridgerunner]

Several of us on here have experience with chickens. Can you imagine how many mistakes weve made to gain that experience? We all have to start somewhere.

I was lucky to grow up with chickens, but still a whole lot of my suggestions and comments come from doing something then deciding that might not have been a real smart thing to do. I plan to fix a problem today. Get your hardware big enough so your snap-lock or whatever you use will easily fit without having to force it. Thats so much easier on arthritic fingers.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

bj, I used to have a favortie saying, "you don't know what you don't know, until you find out."

So you were told it was one thing. It made perfect sense. No reason to question it. It happens. Now you know and you are able to help out the next person.

Sorry your hen in having a rough time. I'm guessing she will chipper up. I had a hen that was doing the penguin stance this winter. Brought her into the house for a few days. Gave her warm baths to try and pass any egg that may be bound. No egg ever came, just a mess of nastiness. Put her back out after 3 days and she has been fine ever since.

 

[bj taylor]

thanks for the kind words and encouragement. i'm through whipping myself & am back in the game again. my crippled hen IS better! maybe she'll fully recover. my two mama-born baby chicks are doing fine & the mama (the broody I thought was committing suicide sitting on those eggs) - is a wonderful mother.
the twelve chicks are doing great & look like a bunch of punks running around seeing what trouble they can get into.

my weak link at the moment is my lone hen. she gets along with the babies fine, but is terrified of the big girls. she can't bring herself to go in the coop at night & I have to carry her in, put her on the highest perch in there where she stays till the others have emptied out in the morning. She has taught me NEVER try to merge one bird into a flock.