looking for good natured disabled hen

[kitla]

I know this is a strange request. As some of you know I have a blind hen called
Giblet that I hatched last year, here's the story -
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=39966&hilit=giblet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
although Giblet & companion Pebbles get on fine, Pebbles wants to spend more &
more time out with the others, if I keep her shut in she gets bored & goes broody
frequently (as silkies do) then Giblet copies her & unless I keep taking them off
off the nest they barely eat.
If I could find a gentle hen that cant mix with others due to its disability, that would be content in a 6x9 run with a blind friend that cant peck her - except accidently, I could let Pebbles go out & live with the others. I'm sure somewhere out there is a poor little
hen on its own just longing to live with Giblet in her penthouse run, we'll find her
eventually.

[Annie]

Kitty I so hope you are succesful, you have been so loving of little Giblet, there must be another suitable companion for her somewhere

[aceface]

I shall have a think about this

[kitla]

thankyou, Gibby is such a dear little thing, she actually loves being cuddled.
But she is quite vunerable, maybe because she was born blind rather than
becoming that way later or maybe she's also just a little "not all there", she really
needs a guide. dh calls Pebbles the seeing-eye chicken. But I'm not rushing anything,
when someone comes across a favourite hen that the others bully because it only
has one foot or something and are thinking she has a sad life on her own - they
might remember Giblet & get in touch with me.

[Annie]

I know the girl at homes4hens has less abled hens , even got a lovely cockerel with a gammy leg just a shame she is up in the Scottish borders and not nearer to you Kitty

[MissEllie]

Really hope she finds a new friend soon looking forward to hearing how she gets on

[paljoey]

Will pm you the contact details for a friend of mine who might have a suitable hen, he is in your area as well, fingers crossed.

[chookmike]

Hello Kitla

Are you still looking for a friend for your blind hen? I can't promise anything as my OH is asleep and it is her decision, but let me know please.

Cheers

Mike

[kitla]

Mike, I keep changing my mind about it - Giblet & Pebbles get on so well I'm afraid
of messing up the dynamics. But Pebbles loves being with the other chooks, I feel so
mean shutting her in but also so sorry for Giblet when Pebbles is out & she is alone.
So I suppose that means yes I am still looking for the right hen, but Giblet
is very vunerable & I will have to be very careful about the who goes in with her.
Are you thinking of Bumble? It could be an idea, would she be ok being shut in a
run most of the time?

[chookmike]

Hello Kitla

Yes it is Bumble - I am touched that so many have been following her tale. Due to human error Bumble got beaten up again about 10 days ago and is recovering slowly but I am not certain she will get to a point where she is re-accepted. We both feel awful about it. She lives with her best friend and finally laid an egg today so is on the 'up'

She is happy and fit apart from a dormant bumble on the left foot and a lame right foot so a limp. I am not trying to get rid of her as she is my favourite hen, comes to us like a puppy and doesn't have a bad bone in her body (apart from the feet!) I just thought this might be a 'win-win'

She is a Black Rock hybrid about 15 months old, and although we are not as experienced as most, I would not be able to imagine a calmer and more gentle hen. Despite being separated from the 3 bossy girls she still sits just the other side of the wire to them. She is happiest just being next to a friend.

All up to you; although, with the greatest of respect, we would need to know a little more about where she would be. I think we both care about our hens to the same degree, and put their best interests to the foremost.

No rush. Let's have a think on it.

Cheers

Mike

[chookmike]

Hello again Kitla

I am really sorry to have to tell you that Rebecca wants to see Bumble back to full health here at home, and feels that she may become an entirely different hen if she feels she is no longer at the bottom of the heap.

I very much hope you don't feel I have wasted your time, and I can tell that you are not certain about this plan either.

We wish you and your girls all the very best.

Cheers for now

Mike

[kitla]

ok Mike, sorry I haven't got back to about it sooner I've been a bit caught up with
something for a few days. I can see how it would be hard for you to part with dear
Bumble when you've nursed her through so much & she's become so tame. Perhaps
she will always need a separate run - like Giblet! time will tell. Giblet is allowed out
to play on the lawn occasionally but carefully chaperoned, I dont trust the others
near her when I'm not watching, any sign of weakness seems to bring out the worst in them. If the situation changes & you feel you want to reconsider let me know & we can discuss it more thoroughly. I'm not going to do anything now until after our holiday
next month then I may start putting feelers out again.
In the meantime if you think you'd like to try a different vet for another opinion on Bumble I can highly recommend Steve Smith at Wendover, he's an exotics specialist & did an op to save our hen a few years back when other vets said she had no chance, he will discuss things by email. Also Brian Stockdale who I think trained Steve & is a bird expert of many years (Loughborough, maybe too far though) he will give telephone appointments to discuss things.

[chookmike]

Thanks for your understanding and good advice re vets too.

As I sit here Bumble is cropping the lawn with her friend and is a little better day on day. I guess she has wound herself around our hearts and we'll see it all through to the final outcome. She is not too disabled and has a good life really - we'll stay as we are for another 10 days then remove the bully according to Skeksis' advice - out of sight and sound for 24 hours and see what happens.

We hope you find a solution to your quandary too

Best wishes Kitla

Mike & Rebecca

[animartco]

I know this is a strange request. As some of you know I have a blind hen called
Giblet that I hatched last year, here's the story -
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=39966&hilit=giblet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
although Giblet & companion Pebbles get on fine, Pebbles wants to spend more &
more time out with the others, if I keep her shut in she gets bored & goes broody
frequently (as silkies do) then Giblet copies her & unless I keep taking them off
off the nest they barely eat.
If I could find a gentle hen that cant mix with others due to its disability, that would be content in a 6x9 run with a blind friend that cant peck her - except accidently, I could let Pebbles go out & live with the others. I'm sure somewhere out there is a poor little
hen on its own just longing to live with Giblet in her penthouse run, we'll find her
eventually.

Hi Kitla. I have a lovely English game hen with a leg on backwards. She has actually had a chick this year which is just over a month old. Sadly I am having to move house next year so am looking for homes for all my birds. This one hobbles around fine but is in no possition to bully anyone. Apart from her leg she is very healthy. Question is, where do you live. I am in East Kent.

[kitla]

I know this is a strange request. As some of you know I have a blind hen called
Giblet that I hatched last year, here's the story -
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=39966&hilit=giblet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
although Giblet & companion Pebbles get on fine, Pebbles wants to spend more &
more time out with the others, if I keep her shut in she gets bored & goes broody
frequently (as silkies do) then Giblet copies her & unless I keep taking them off
off the nest they barely eat.
If I could find a gentle hen that cant mix with others due to its disability, that would be content in a 6x9 run with a blind friend that cant peck her - except accidently, I could let Pebbles go out & live with the others. I'm sure somewhere out there is a poor little
hen on its own just longing to live with Giblet in her penthouse run, we'll find her
eventually.

Hi Kitla. I have a lovely English game hen with a leg on backwards. She has actually had a chick this year which is just over a month old. Sadly I am having to move house next year so am looking for homes for all my birds. This one hobbles around fine but is in no possition to bully anyone. Apart from her leg she is very healthy. Question is, where do you live. I am in East Kent.

Oh dear, I'm near Northampton, rather a long way from you I'm afraid. Gosh was she born with her leg like that or did she have an accident?