Things are not always perfect here in our little slice of paradise. Recently, one of our hens, Chicakletta, was being picked on (henpecked?) by the others. It started out slowly, as if they were telling her to go away. They would cackle at her, push her away sometimes, and I noticed she started roosting by herself at night. This was a bit concerning, so I began to look for signs that she was sick or hurt. Often, when a hen is sick or injured, the others see it as an opportunity to pick on her, or so I’ve read. I did a thorough check and found nothing wrong with her. She was eating, drinking, laying eggs, and getting around normally. Strange. Another mystery on the urban homestead. (The first mystery is a plant…check out last week’s article to find out more!) I started paying even closer attention to the coop just to make sure she was fine. Maybe she was about to molt, who knows? Then one day, it became an all-out attack!!! YIKES! I ran to the coop, rescued her, and realized the others had actually done some damage. Poor Chickaletta!!!!!
She did not endure enough damage that she needed professional veterinary attention, thank goodness, but enough to where I treated the scrapes on her neck (from the pecking beaks of the others) with some antibacterial ointment. Something told me she would be in further danger if I put her back in with the others in this condition. I quickly
looked in my favorite backyard chicken books (head over to my article on how I learned to care for chickens for a book list) to confirm that thought, and to look for advice on what to do next. I decided it was necessary to put her in her own enclosure, at least until she heals up. Apparently, when chickens smell blood, it is a signal to attack and kill that weak link, so as not to attract predators. Oh my!!!!! I definitely didn’t want that to happen, so the kids and I devised a temporary house for her. We are calling it “the Chicken Hospital.”
It’s a good thing the foster chicks we were raising have already gone back to their home farm, because we needed to use that clear plastic box! Normally, I would have used a dog crate, but since our new puppy Lily is using ours, we needed a new idea. Here’s what we came up with:
- We got out the baby chick plastic bin.
- We configured the same grate we had used before to fit on top of it to allow plenty of air flow.
- We poured a thick, comfy layer of wood shavings on the bottom.
- Then, we set up a small length of 2X4 wood for a roost.
- I sent the kids to fill up the feeder and waterer we use for baby chicks.
- The Chicken Hospital was now ready for Chickaletta’s recovery!
It’s been going GREAT!!!! I’m super happy (and relieved!) to report that Chickaletta is healing up quite nicely. The first three days, she stayed in her “hospital box” most of the day and all of the night, so she could remain as calm and quiet as possible. The books all tell me that this speeds up the healing process. These last few days, she has been enjoying herself immensely, as I have been letting her free range in the yard for a large part of the day. We lucked out and our Arizona weather has complied by giving us a gorgeous week of moderate temperatures that are perfect for chicken grazing! She has been hanging out under the trampoline, in the garden (I’m not that thrilled about that part), and she has adopted an empty barrel as her new dust bath bin. She is quite pleased with herself. She is still eating, drinking, and laying us one egg almost everyday.
Lily, our new puppy, is having a grand time trying to make friends…something Chickaletta has no desire to do…and she’s been running in circles around her new feathered playmate. I would definitely say they are getting along well though. Chickaletta tolerates Lily, and Lily adores her and follows her everywhere she can on her little chihuahua legs. Penny, our 5-year old cocker spaniel, seems to welcome this reprieve from her energetic fur-sister, and often uses this time to take a nap in the house on the cool tile floor. Things on our little backyard urban mini-farm are going well, I’d say. It is certainly all entertaining, that’s for sure!! Happy dogs, healing Chickaletta, and still a mystery plant to identify…fun times and joyful memories are being had and made everyday! May your week be filled with joy, too, as you go about your busy days. I’ll be back with updates soon!