The snow seems to have changed the girls’ habit from hanging out in the small shelter to hanging out in the big shelter. I’m not sure if it’s because the entire run is darker than usual meaning the big shelter doesn’t seem so dark in comparison or if it’s because there is more space for the bigger girls to join the little girls.
At times the whole flock were in this shelter. I am so glad we built these shelters as they are really proving useful now.
The big shelter has become the shelter of choice
The girls seemed a little brighter in the first half of the day (both yesterday and today) but always seem to look a bit worse in the afternoons. Freckles and Dandelion had bubbles in their eyes again in the afternoon but were able to blink them away.
They were all in the chicken shed by four o’clock yesterday and all snuggled up tightly together.
Night time view from our front window with Christmas lights opposite
More snow had been forecast for today but it turned out to be sleet so at least it didn’t settle. By the afternoon the snow was beginning to disappear.
The girls haven’t wanted to come to the patio so much while it was darker so both yesterday and today I made up little dishes of mash with tylan water and put one on the patio, one inside the big shelter and one outside of the big shelter. This seems to encourage the girls to eat the mash.
This morning most of the girls are in the big shelter
Apricot is eating from one of the dishes that I have put around the shelter
Cinnamon is the most well and is busy digging and pecking
My vet called this morning to see how the girls were getting on. She had asked advice from the other vets. Another vet suggested vitamin drops to help to boost their immune system. I said that I had looked for them at my pet store but they didn’t have any. I asked if they could order some in for me and she said that wouldn’t be a problem.
She said the other vet had said that sinulox was her second medication to try after tylan. We discussed researching it first to make sure it isn’t a medication that means you can’t eat the eggs. Baytril means you can never eat the eggs again and I am now wary of checking this. This was what I used for Caramel and Pebbles and I had no idea at the time that it meant you couldn’t ever eat their eggs again. I am much hotter on doing my own research now.
She also said it has to be administered to the girls beaks. I said that would be quite stressful to the girls and I would prefer to go for something else that could go in the water such as denaguard. She said she would look into the possibility of gettng that.
We discussed that I am now on day nine of the tylan and we are intending to go for twelve days so she said to continue as I am for now. I have to say that I am very impressed with these vets. They seem to be trying to do their very best for me and she has taken the time to call me.
At the end of the day I thought the girls were sneezing a bit less so I think we are hanging in there.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
You seem to have a vet who cares and ou are savvy enough yourself to ask the salient questions about the various medications. Well done on being so proactive: you certainly are giving it everything you have.
P.S.
After 2 egg-less weeks, my father collected one on Saturday, from Beauty, one of my white silkies and I collected another of hers this morning. I also found a home-fashioned nest in the corner of the scratching shed, which my dad had obviously missed, containing 3 dark marans eggs, but I don;t know which one has laid them – I have 3 through the moult and looking good. Hopefully, this is the start – but Beauty will be broody within a fortnight!
My vet has just called again to see how we are getting on. She is ordering the multi vitamins for me to use along side tylan to give them a boost. She is getting them sent to my local vet and says they cost about six pounds so not too expensive. She has also said she will be happy to get denagaurd in for me as it’s my preferred option. We decided to give it three more days on tylan to take it up to day twelve then switch to denaguard if we need to. I am blown away by how helpful she is.
Great news on your eggs. Cinnamon has just laid again, on the third day once more, just fifteen minutes before bedtime. She is definitely the healthiest of the little girls but I have heard sneeze though. I am a bit more hopeful though with the sneezing being a bit less and the vet being so helpful.
They do seem very helpful Carol. I’m glad they’re getting you a vitamin supplement for them that you don’t have administer to their beaks.
xx
I am so pleased with how helpful they are being. It makes me feel a bit more hopeful. xx
I second the comments, you are doing a great job and have the backup of a good vet.
Thank you. Good vets are worth their weight in gold.
I know how much you worry about your girls, You can not do more for them.
It is good you have a vet, who knows about hens. Every one is hoping they will come through this.
Thank you. It is so good to have support. Sophie has been e-mailing me and said that everyone reading my blog is willing them to get better. I can only keep doing what I am doing at the moment and I am thankful to have a supportive vet.