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INJURED COCKEREL

Sat 3-Dec-11
10:30 am

Hattie

Bucks/Oxon Border

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This is the continuation of my posts on the "What are you cooking today" thread, starting at post #2588 (for anyone who wants the whole sad story).

Well he seems a little more conscious of his surroundings now; he was like a zombie yesterday. He even gave a tiny crow this morning & was turning his head. I lifted him outside as he seemed to be scared of jumping down from his perch. I thought he might eat or drink or poo¦..so far nothing but he is moving about very slowly. I won't leave him out for very long as it is pretty chilly. I am sure he is suffering from massive shock. I don't want to remove him from the flock as it will be hard for him to rejoin them. They all need to be together & they are treating him well & keeping him company; they need their flock around them otherwise they give up. One hen, Cleopatra keeps going up to him & examining his face (which is the most obviously damaged part of him)¦.Oh how I wish I knew what she is thinking¦..I can speak a bit of chicken but I can't read their thoughts¦..yet !!

I am going to try him with some yogurt when my grocery order arrives any minute now & I will keep you informed on his (hopeful) progress.

Thanks for all your good wishes for Antony.

(Ironically the dispatched bird was called Caesar & the hen who keeps looking at Antony's face is Cleopatra¦..I too have a list of strangely named chickens.)

"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."

from Les Miserables

Sat 3-Dec-11
10:38 am

danast

Argyll, Scotland

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wave Oh we are all so hoping this cockerel of yours recovers Hattie. I love the way his ladies are staying with him and if they could do more for him then I am sure they would. He is very lucky to have you. big_hug Don't suppose you can think of much else today and did you sleep last night?

Old teachers never die, they just lose their class

Sat 3-Dec-11
11:55 am

veronica

France

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Fingers crossed for your poor cockerel, Nadine! I don't even keep chickens but I still checked in early this morning to see what news there was. Really hoping he'll continue to improve.

Veronica

http://www.larecettedujour.org/

and http://blipfoto.com/Veronica

Sat 3-Dec-11
12:08 pm

Aly

Normandy France

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being a chicken lover myself I am very concerned about Anthony. As he has survived overnight it is looking a bit more hopeful.

The girls did a good job keeping him warm big_hug Warmth, calm and no bright lights are the best thing for shocked birds I have always found. The fledgelings I have been successful with have been kept in a special box with a micro waveable heat pad to get their body temp up as they won't feed when cold. I guess it would the same for chooks.

I do so hope he recovers

Trying to enjoy life as it is

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Sat 3-Dec-11
12:14 pm

Sooliz

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We had considered keeping chickens, but this has made me definitely decide against it - I couldn't stand the stress and worry cry . Besides, I'm a wimp, and we don't know how long we'll be living here.

Hugs to you, Nadine big_hug (I don't know that I could hug Antony, or any chicken embarassed ).

learning to love veg…..except celery :-O

Sat 3-Dec-11
1:11 pm

Hattie

Bucks/Oxon Border

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danast said:

Oh we are all so hoping this cockerel of yours recovers Hattie. I love the way his ladies are staying with him and if they could do more for him then I am sure they would. He is very lucky to have you. Don't suppose you can think of much else today and did you sleep last night?

No Danuta, I hardly slept at all & I went out as soon as it was light, slipping around in the mud after all the rain last night. He went for a little walk about this morning but I found him in the bushes taking shelter so I have put him back inside now after trying him with the yogurt but he wouldn't eat it. But he isn't at all droopy, he has his head up & is shaking his feathers every now & then. He is fine when I pick him up & doesn't have any other wounds on him other than those to his head & a torn comb. There is no fresh blood. I just have to get him to eat & drink.

Remarkably this morning I have twice as many eggs as usual after none yesterday so I think some of the hens held over their eggs yesterday because they were so upset. They hate any change to their normal routine.

Sue, hugging chickens is easy if you love & respect them. Amazingly I used to dislike touching any birds & I was scared of my first pair of tiny bantams. My parents had scared me about them as a child although we kept a few during the war. I suppose they didn't want me to get fond of them because we had to eat them & they thought it would upset me. My mother could never bring herself to eat them so my father had to cook & serve them (as well as dispatch them).

By spending so much time watching them while I was getting better after my eye operations I got over my terrors & became very interested in their habits until suddenly I gained the courage to pick them up & deal with their problems. I always wore leather gardening gloves to begin with but now I rarely do unless I am dealing with the males as their spurs are extremely sharp & they tend to kick a lot when grabbed.

Thanks Veronica & Aly for your good wishes for Antony. You are right Aly that they need to be kept warm, dark & calm when shocked. I am still not sure he will make it. cry I am just trying to keep as calm as I can & do my best for him but I know they can look as if they are getting better & then suddenly collapse completely.

"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."

from Les Miserables

Sat 3-Dec-11
3:26 pm

Hattie

Bucks/Oxon Border

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wave MORE NEWS¦¦!!

Very good news¦. and something extraordinary!

He is outside again, of his own choosing & hanging out with the girls & eating his head off !

I could not believe my eyes, he was behaving like he normally does, even crowing loud & clear, making a hell of a noise. Then I saw the extraordinary thing; one of my cross-breeds, Barb (named after a US friend of mine), she walked up to him & gently pecked off some of the crusty dried blood from his face. When he winced she stopped & walked away, later I saw her go back & do it to his comb. She must have been doing it all afternoon because it is very nearly all gone.

In the past I have seen the hens clean the mud off the males claws & legs but I have never this behaviour before.

(I feel such a relief & my appetite is returning so I have put a joint of beef into roast.)

cheers laugh sloe_gin magic

wave

"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."

from Les Miserables

Sat 3-Dec-11
3:48 pm

Aly

Normandy France

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that is such good news nature knows best

I gave Bubble a little smack this morning for having a nasty peck at one of the girls, he does seem to respond to it so I hope I can stop him being a bully. I also pick him up and cuddle him to damage his macho image! It worked with Boris big_laugh

sloe_gin to Anthony big_hug

Trying to enjoy life as it is

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Sat 3-Dec-11
4:26 pm

Hattie

Bucks/Oxon Border

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wave Thanks Aly, it is such a relief. I just felt so helpless the last couple of days I only had my instinct to rely on. Mind you something could still go wrong if some infection got into his system. Oooooh dear ! I am such a pessimist.....I always think the worst is going to happen.

Antony says cheers....... wink

"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."

from Les Miserables

Sat 3-Dec-11
4:31 pm

Aly

Normandy France

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one of my girls had a large hole in her back a few months ago, caused I think by a buzzard. I sprayed it with wound wash daily for about a week and eventually it closed without any infection. I thought we would lose her but she is now fit and healthy with no sign of the hole.

Trying to enjoy life as it is

http://www.letertregites.com

Sat 3-Dec-11
4:35 pm

Toffeeapple

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Oh boy, am I ever relieved! Thank goodness Hattie, you must have been frantic. Such good news. big_hug

I'll try that again!

Sat 3-Dec-11
4:37 pm

veronica

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Oh, that is great news, Nadine. I'm sure with plenty of TLC from his loving harem he will be in fine form soon 🙂

Veronica

http://www.larecettedujour.org/

and http://blipfoto.com/Veronica

Sat 3-Dec-11
5:10 pm

Hattie

Bucks/Oxon Border

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wave Thanks everyone. It is nearly time to lock them up for the night & he is still out there, eating again. I gave them some creamy milk too, they love that. My roast beef is cooking slowly along with the taters & I am going to have a huge packet of spinach with it......my favourite (& lots of horseradish & mustard of course). I shall probably eat too much of it too as it is a rare treat nowadays. It's organic too, a lucky bargain from Ocado.

"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."

from Les Miserables

Sat 3-Dec-11
5:14 pm

Toffeeapple

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Enjoy your dinner Hattie, you deserve a special treat.

I'll try that again!

Sat 3-Dec-11
6:23 pm

danast

Argyll, Scotland

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wave That is such fantastic news Nadine. Thank goodness it seems as if he will be fine. Enjoy your feast and have a good sleep tonight. big_hug

Old teachers never die, they just lose their class

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