Liliac Hen update

Still inside the house at night in her basket by the woodburner but outside during the day ( if it is warm enough)  and finally feeding herself from the ground. Also enjoying a cwtch with me as many times a day as she can manage :)

Not a good day

Have some kind of virus thingy and have felt poorly since yesterday with dreadful headache and body aches and shivers. Have looked after Lilac Hen but Compostman did the other chickens for me and I have spent most of the day huddled under blankets in front of the woodburner. I don't seem able to get warm at all :(

Compostgirl made a chicken curry from scratch at school today so she and Compostman ate that for dinner while I had some scrambled eggs and a bit of bacon. I did not fancy anything else today except hot tea and water.


Early night for me, after we watch Horizon and then Broadchurch. If I can stay awake long enough!

Lilac Hen is drinking and looks bright but seems not to want to eat the food I give her. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for both of us!

House hen

Lilac Hen is still inside and on water only - I massaged her crop today and only a very small amount of water came out, far less than she has drunk in the last 18 hours so I am hoping she has absorbed some of the water and is recovering. She is looking brighter, if a little weak and had a wander round the house today to see what I was up to.

Hopefully I can get her to eat some live yogurt and mealworms today.

Titch the poorly Hen

Titch the last Ex battery Hen has been looking slower, and frailer as the Autumn progressed - not ill exactly but slow moving and tired. 

A few days ago I found her hunched in the run, not wanting to move, with her friend Bunty standing close by.

Top Ginger Hen Babs was not showing any concern though - she was off digging in the newly cleared raised bed!

I decided to bring Titch in for some warmth and care so went off to set up a cat carrier inside. But  when I went back to collect her she was not in the run - and I could not find her anywhere. I looked around the wood but could not see her and it was not until the next day that I found her, caught up in some undergrowth and very chilled. I am amazed she survived outside over night!

As soon as I spotted her I picked Titch up and oh, how light she felt! And she sounded a bit wheezy. So I started her on some Baytril and took her down that evening to see Mike the vet, who gave me more Baytril and said to keep her warm and try and get her to eat.

I have a poorly house Hen at the moment :( Not sure if she will survive, but am doing my best to help her recover. So far she is still alive and looking a little brighter. .

Another Marjoram Update

Marjoram with her very broody friend Nutmeg


 They are such good friends that Nutmeg allows Marjoram into the sleeping area to rest during the day, although Nutmeg drives off all the other hens.

A house hen and a confused cat!

Marjoram the last of the ex battery hens from the rescue of Dec 2011 is poorly :( 

And has needed special treatment and is now inside as a House Hen. Hopefully she will recover, given special food and lots of love. She has gone into a full moult and I fear her poor little body cannot cope with the stress of growing back her new feathers.

Hopefully I can help her get through this difficult time and she will live on to enjoy her peaceful retirement. She is a lovely little hen and loves to be stroked and cuddled - she purrs and croons at me when I feed her treats by hand.

Gizzie the newest cat  is also confined inside at the moment ( as a  new cat she needs to be kept in for a few days) and looks a bit nonplussed at sharing the kitchen with a Hen in a cat carrier! They seem to be getting on ok, though.