Just like the song playing on my playlist, I am hoping that Annie will work with me for a while longer until her feathers grow back and she is strong enough to join the flock again.
We’ve had Annie, our 2 year old Ameracauna, or Easter Egger hen, in our house since Christmas Day. She was on death’s door and I found her shivering in a corner of the chicken house, bedraggled and weak, not even able to walk.
I brought her inside and created a warm layer for her using an old baby onsie t-shirt and then tucked her into a wire cage with fluffy wood shavings and a bowl of warm oatmeal. For the first 24 hours she refused to eat much at all unless I hand-fed her. She mostly just slept, and shivered, even though she was in the nice warm laundry room.
After my parents left to go back home to North Carolina, we brought her into the main house and placed her cage in front of the south facing sliding glass door, looking out at the chicken coop.
She seemed to perk up much faster and her appetite finally returned after about 4 days. We started letting her out to stretch her legs a couple times a day. She doesn’t want to walk far, but she loves to stretch out in the sunlight.
Between a late molting and the attention of the roosters, she was missing a lot of feathers off her back, some of her neck and her belly, too. She just couldn’t get warm outside. So she’ll be staying inside the house for a couple more weeks until her new feathers grow out.
She’s been very tolerant and almost seems to know this is what she needs, though I’ve caught her staring out the window to the chicken coop on more than one occasion. She also sighs and talks (or squawks) on occasion just to let us know she needs something. The first few times it surprised us because it sounded like a dinosaur was in the house. But now I’m just happy to hear her talking because I know she is alright.
So, hang in there and work with me Annie. Enjoy the extra food and warmth. Before long you’ll be outside in the coop with your chicken family again.
And we’ll be expecting some of your fresh eggs in return for your comfy convalescent stay.
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And my Project 365 photo for today:
32 comments :
Poor Annie! I'm glad she's recovering but I must say, I've never seen a chicken in onsie! ROFL
Bless her heart! I remember now that you mentioned having a sick chicken about the time I was posting about Jaz's vet bills. Looks like your care and patience paid off.
Re your previous post: my son insisted on wearing shorts in the dead of winter, which used to make me crazy. But it is literally freezing here, with wind chills in the single digits, and people are wearing sandals to work. Go figure.
Good luck with Annie.
I am glad that Annie is doing good. You are so sweet! I love the trailer shot! You have a wonderful day, Lisa.
I'm sure with the extra love and attention Annie will do just fine. I nursed on of my chickens back to health this fall after she was injured and lost massive amounts of feathers. I separated her from the other chickens who were being mean to her and did not let her eat. Between some much needed alone time and lots of high protein treats, she was back to her normal beautiful self in about a month. She didn't like it though when I put her back in the coop and it took about a week before she would even go in there willingly. Fortunately once she was stronger the other chickens quit making her life difficult and now everyone is living happily together again.
Thanks so much for your suggestions for the my tree house. I love the idea of the electric tea pot and a basket of tea and a journal. Those will be on my list of things to look for next time I go shopping!
Oh, poor Annie! I hope all the work you are doing with her helps her recover. Wonder what happened to her? Just got cold and couldn't warm up? I haven't had chickens for a long, long time so I'm not up on chicken ailments. Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job of nursing her back to health!
Hope she is back to laying her colorful eggs soon. My aunt, years and years ago had chickens that laid colored eggs....so pretty!
Snow is on the way here today and tomorrow. I am getting ready to make a run to town for supplies and horse oats!
You too, stay warm and dry!
hugs....
Jane, Gil and Pokey
Oh my gosh! I am SOOO glad that you posted this! This is EXACTLY what is going on with my hen, Pscyho! I just closed an email from my vet who said he doesn't really have a lot of poultry information and couldn't see her. I was so disappointed. But then, I came to your blog and now I know what to do. Thanks so much! Please keep us updated as to Annie's progress.
Lisa
PS-
Now to convince my husband of bringing a bird in the house.....
I'm glad Annie is improving...lucky hen to have a family like yours...great snow photo...
I love that you brought your chicken in to hang with you. And the fact that she let you put a onesie on her! Adorable! I guess I'd never really thought of a chicken as having personality, but I'm learning that they really are pets!
Here's hoping Annie makes a quick recovery!
I hope Annie gets feathers soon and can rejoin her sisters.
Dobie has chicken poop breath, I'm assuming?
That is one lucky hen that you are taking such good care of her. And your daily photo- brrrr!
hey there lisa...happy thursday.
poor thing. happy to hear she's responding to your therapy inside. she looks so darn cute in that little getup....made me smile :)
Dr. Lisa, it looks like you're doing a great job with Annie!!! I wouldn't mind being a chicken in your little flock.
I hope she continues to do well. Looks like watching out the window will get her to "recooperate" faster so she can return to the others!
Nancy in Iowa
Poor Annie she's lucky she has you. What happened to her to cause such a trauma.
She does look like she likes it in your house. She's a lucky chicken.
sfg
you always spell Ameracauna correctly, you get a gold star. Love the Tshirt, I'll have to buy some of those. I'll take a photo of the Ameracauna/Marans cross egg sometime.
You better watch out or you will have a " house chicken" she looks awfully happy in her onsie and warm cozy room.
Oh, poor Annie. Hope she feels better and gets those feathers back soon to keep her warm outside. Right now I'm sure she's enjoying her comfy quarters and appreciates the warmth of the house and the family. She's adorable.
Looks like she makes a good house chicken - she might just have to stay!
I would have loved to have seen pictures of you putting the onesie on Annie!! LOL!! She is so lucky to have such a wonderful mother! You take such great care of your Chickens! I am sure she is enjoying the extra attention. I hope she gets well soon!
I hope Annie is back to her normal self soon. You know... you could start a business making chicken clothing.
She's no crazy chick. You may have a hard time getting her out as she's getting used to the good life.
Dan
It's just lucky for Annie that you found her in time...which means it was meant to be that she will grow strong agian and soon head back to the coop to do her JOB!!!
You must tell Annie for me that she is positively radiant in her onsie. She surely is the envy of all the other hens. Eat your hearts out feathered wenches!! Get well soon Miss Annie!!!
Haven't been here for quite some time, so without further adeu...
Happy Thanksgiving!
Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
Did I cover all the bases Lisa? Hope you and the family are all doing well and enjoying your New Mexico winter.
As always, Lisa, thanks for the smiles. The more I see and read about you and yours on your blog, the more I love that great big kind heart of yours!
You are one amazing woman!
And look at all of that snow on that 365 shot.
Tomorrow's Friday - the weekend is coming :)
Patrina <')><
Poor Annie! If only she knew how lucky she is to have an owner like you. Most people don't want to put any time/effort into a hen's convalescence :)
OH MY GOSH!!! I didn't know anything had happened to her!! I am glad you found her and I know she is glad to have you!!! Way to go giving her A+ care!!
WTG Dr. Doolittle..:-))
I'm glad to hear she is doing well and not in a pot with some broth and noodles, carrots ect...:-)))
I sure hope she if all better soon!
Awwww...get well Annie! One of my silly hens decided to hatch a clutch during this coldest time of the year. They are doing well and I already have someone to take them.
Oh Lisa, you're such a kind chicken owner. I think most others would have been done with her. She looks quite content in your warm home.
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