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Crook Chook

December 3, 2009 @ 22:15 By Gavin Webber 12 Comments

There was a bit of drama at TGOG’s suburban farm last night.  As I was travelling home on the train, Kim sent me an SMS that said, “Hi Honey the little black chicken is not good”.  I called her back immediately and Kim told me that she found Poppy, the black/grey Pekin Bantam under the shaded area in the chicken run, panting, wings spread out and looking motionless.  I asked her to grab her and isolate Poppy from the others so they wouldn’t pick on her.  Just as Kim went to pick her up, Ginger came flapping over and started to peck Poppy and dominate her.  Kim gave ginger a quick flick of the wrist and removed Poppy from the run.

I got home about 35 minutes later and found Kim with a tear in her eye, sitting on the concrete on the east side of the house giving Poppy water via a 1mm syringe.  The hen was taking small doses, but looked very listless, however she was still able to hold up her head.  She looked like she was in a lot of pain because she wasn’t moving other than her head, and kept closing her eyes as she swallowed the water.  Poppy was also a very hot little chook which I noticed straight away when I picked her up to inspect her.

First I checked her crop for lumps of food or hardness.  There were a few that I had to break-up until all the food moved around freely.  Then I check her vent to make sure she wasn’t egg bound.  This was a bit gross, but I had to insert the index finger to clear any blockages.  I ensured I was very gentle.  Not a nice job, but necessary.  Finding no blockage, she did a few really solid droppings once I removed my finger.

She was still not moving and very hot, so I took over from Kim and kept giving her water.  We were just putting the end of the syringe (no needle of course) up to her beak and pushed out a few drops of water at a time.  Poppy was still very thirsty and kept drinking even though that was all she could manage to do.  I had to rush off to a dental appointment so Kim took over again, giving her water when she wanted it.  We had her sat on a towel on our laps so that she was comfortable.

I returned home at about 7pm to find Kim and Poppy over on the deck, with Poppy walking around a little and exploring things.  Thank goodness we thought, as she started to perk up a bit.  About half an hour later she sat next to Kim again on the towel and went back into her sick mode.  Listless, not moving, hot to touch, so we gave her water again and massaged her crop and just stroked her to comfort her.  Kim was overheating herself by this time, so she went off for a swim, and I took over again.  I spent the next hour giving her water, petting and massaging her crop to loosen things up.  Then all of a sudden, her head went limp and hit the towel and all this stinky brown fluid came out of her nose and beak.  I thought that she was about to pop her clogs, but then she raised her head and opened her eyes a little and took some more water.  This was one tough little hen!

After another hour of TLC, it was getting dark, so we decided to isolate her for the night to keep her away from the other chickens just in case Poppy had something contagious.  We put some straw in the bottom of an esky (ice box) and put her in it with some wire mesh over the top with a small statue of a reclining Buddha on top to hold the mesh down.  No religious significance, just didn’t want a cat to get her during the night.  She settled down, moved a little, but was still quite listless but breathing heavily, so we let fate take its course.

We both had a tear in our eyes as we said goodnight to the tough little hen, not expecting her to make it through the night.  I checked her before going to bed at 11pm and found her still alive and panting a little less.

We woke up at 5.50am and Kim asked me to check on Poppy, fearing the worst.  To my surprise she was still alive and had laid a paper thin egg and was eating the contents of it.  She was also standing, not panting and a lot cooler.  Fantastic news and I rushed back in to tell Kim, who was ecstatic, as was I.  Maybe the Buddha had helped after all!

We decided to keep her isolated from the rest of the flock by letting the other hens out the back of their house to the large run, then closed the front door of the house and put some feed and water in the caged area for Poppy.  She started to walk around, eat some feed and had a drink and looked like her old self again.  Kim let her back in with the other hens at around lunch time, with no ill effects. 

Both Kim and I a very pleased that all this TLC worked.  We don’t know what caused the illness as it wasn’t that hot a day, but are just glad that we didn’t loose her.  Also a big well done to Kim who acted quickly and kept Poppy hydrated and pampered before I got home.  Chickens are great pets, but I loath it when they get sick.  I wish they could tell you where it hurt, but I don’t suppose any of our local vets could have done a better job.

Good on ya Poppy.  Thanks for pulling through love, you are a beautiful, tenacious, little hen!

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Filed Under: Chickens, Poultry, Sustainable Living

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About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Comments

  1. Miss 40 says

    December 4, 2009 at 00:26

    Good job Poppy, such a pretty little thing isn’t she?

    Nice work Vet Kim

    xxxxx

    Reply
  2. Slice of life says

    December 4, 2009 at 05:09

    any idea what the brown fluid was? Hope she is still well.

    I would like some chickens myself, but I am too wimp. if they were ill I would be desperate.

    good job everyone!

    Reply
  3. bayside gardener says

    December 4, 2009 at 07:09

    Great read on a Friday morning. Well done Kim, quick thinking.
    Homebrew all round tonight Gav. Fingercrossed for Poppy
    Cheers
    Anita

    Reply
  4. greenfumb says

    December 4, 2009 at 07:24

    Hi Gav,

    have a look on Andy Vardy’s Backyard Poultry site, there is a mine of info on how to take care of poorly chooks, what medication to give, if any, and some ideas for building them up if they are run down and so on.

    Glad to hear that she’s ok, she looks lovely, beautiful colour.

    Reply
  5. Veggie Gnome says

    December 4, 2009 at 09:12

    Well done, Gavin! Chooks are lovely companions. That’s why it’s always heart-wrenching when something goes wrong. It helps immensely to keep a close eye on them so that you know very quickly when something is wrong. You and Kim did well! Lucky Poppy! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Carol says

    December 4, 2009 at 09:13

    So glad that Poppy is much better,and continues to be healthy,i got quite emotional reading that story,well done to you both for the love and care you gave her.

    Reply
  7. Garden Pheenix says

    December 4, 2009 at 18:17

    Awww she is a gorgeous lady ^_^

    I am glad she pulled through.

    Reply
  8. Meagan @ecoMILF says

    December 4, 2009 at 21:07

    Happy to hear she’s better after some TLC. Thanks for sharing the stories. No chooks yet, but when I have the room. I am going to be an expert thanks to you. xo m.

    Reply
  9. subu.ps says

    December 4, 2009 at 21:21

    Your ways of going green are simply worth emulating. Today I read in local newspapers about Indian Govt aim to reduce C0 emissions by some factor by 2015 and was thinking about how it could be achieved. Just read your blog and I could find n number of ways to achieve that.
    I’m truly inspired by ur words in profile intro!!

    Reply
  10. Aussiemade says

    December 5, 2009 at 12:45

    Oh my heart went out to you and Kim Gavin as I read your vigil, with Poppy. I had just come back in from spending time with my four barnevelders, who have all wormed their way into our hearts. So it really bought it home to me. Some may only think it is just a chook..ahhh but no way, they are family..

    Reply
  11. Hayden says

    December 7, 2009 at 10:51

    she’s such a little beauty!

    Reply
  12. Gavin says

    December 7, 2009 at 21:24

    Thanks everyone for your kind comments. Poppy is doing well and laying every second day.

    Gav

    Reply

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An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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