I wanted to wait for a few days after I’d finished giving the flubenvet to do an update on Sparkle as I felt she had more chance of being back to normal without any medications in her system.
Sparkle is much better than she was but I would say she isn’t quite back to normal. I’m not sure if full recovery will just take time or if this is just as good as she will be.
While on the flubenvet she seemed only to eat the treats and I didn’t see her eating pellets but for the last few days I have seen her start to eat pellets again. She is still not dust bathing as much as usual and is still slow, although she has always been the slowest girl. But when I throw out bits of chopped grapes she isn’t quick enough to get them even though I drop some right under her beak. She is not willing to compete with the other girls. She also spends her afternoons perched in her favourite spots.
On the positive side, her comb is a lovely red colour and when I lift her from the perch at bedtime she feels robust and a good weight. I think she will be okay and it’s just going to take time. I will know she is back to normal if she starts laying again but I am not sure that she will lay again this season. Only time will tell.
The table is one of Sparkle’s favourite spots
This is another of Sparkle’s favourite spots
I love the way the three of them turn to look at me but Barley’s ridiculously large comb blots out her face.
Emerald, Sparkle and Barley
Barley overcomes this by turning her face the other way. Sparkle has a red comb and the fluffiest bottom of all the girls. I am not worried about her now as she seems okay and is eating better. I think these things always take time.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Did they have pre medicated pellets or did you use the powder?
I use the powder. I find if I mix the powder with something they love, I used fish, I can give them a small amount in two dishes (so they all get a chance to get some) which they eat quickly and I know that they all get the full dose in an instant. With the pellets it’s much more difficult to know that they each get an equal share.
Is Sparkle your oldest girl?
Just a random question too…have you ever had Sussex chickens?
No, Honey is my oldest girl. I have had Honey two years and the rest of the flock one year. I have had chickens for three years now but re-homed some of my first girls due to a feather pecking problem.
I haven’t had sussex chickens. Why do you ask? Have you had sussex chickens? If you go to the “history of the flock” button on the right hand of the side bar you can get a brief summary of my flock from the beginning.
I would love to know more about your girls too. How many do you have and how long have you had them? I love to know all about other peoples chicken keeping experiences. Keeping chickens has become my passion and I can’t imagine a life without chickens now.
I have just one Speckled Sussex, named Speckles. She actually came from our neighbor when he brought us 2 cochins, and “the mystery bird”. We didn’t know what she was, but she was a character when she arrived. Within hours of arriving, she had flown and perched on top of our garden fence. Right at the moment, she is trying to hatch eggs.
Princess Peach is the peachy/buff cochin. She has this habit of balancing on one foot, like a flamingo. Her feet don’t hurt her, but it makes her look funny, or like a ballerina. She’s the one usually attacked by King Richard, the rooster.
King Richard is a dork. Literally, he’ll try to fly from his perch to outside the door, but he hits a wall in the process. He is quite a gentleman to the girls though, clucking if he finds food for them. Then again, he usually pecks them after they come over. My family and I think we should get rid of him, but I’m still attached.
Other than that, we’ve never had chickens before. My mom said that she would have never imagined having them ever, or to think that they’d be like pets. But they have become pets.
On the note of hatching eggs, we’re trying to just see what happens. (we also go on hencom.com for info) In fact, Speckles might make a “speckled cochin” hybrid if the rooster got to her. Or, she’s sitting on cochin eggs from Peach.
So, that’s my backyard!
Ooh, one more note. We want more chickens, but we don’t know what breeds. My mom and I like Americaunas, while my dad and sister think of getting more sussex. I’ve heard Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks are good too. My doggy doesn’t care, she just likes to yip at them and watch them flap their wings.
It sounds like you have a lovely flock. I think until you keep chickens you don’t realise what characters they are and how they all have such distinct personalities, also how attached we get to them.
“Hen cam” is really good for getting all sorts of information and help when needed.
Keep me posted with how the eggs are going. The only problem is that you get another cockerel. Everyone says that it is so lovely seeing a mother hen with chicks and it is lovely when you experience very young chicks.
Just a quick point about the premedicated pellets mine won’t eat them at all, they turn their beaks up.The other point is they have a very short shelf life and unless you have a large flock a lot would go to waste . I use the powder now but they are saying that is in short supply .
I ordered the powder from my vet in my local pet store and I asked if they had a problem getting hold of it. They haven’t had any problem and I am collecting some today. I wanted to have some it in stock for next time.
I do find the powder so easy because if you put it on something they love they will eat it in an instant and you know the job is done.