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Ohhh Mercy, my Mercy. Let me tell you a bit about Mercy. She’s a 1 year old Sapphire Gem hen. She was one of my more timid chickens - always had been. So I got 2 new chickens a few weeks back and little did I know they were JUST coming down with mycoplasma (a manageable respiratory infection that will stay with them for life). The next morning when I went to let everyone out of the coop I noticed one was sick and stuck them both in seg. Welp it was to late bc a few days later my WHOLE pet/layer flock got the infection, it took 2 weeks to treat all of my chickens with a few different medications I had on hand. Mercy was the very last to get the infection. She got it the worst too. So bad that the other flock members were picking on her. My husband found her one morning in the dirt bath hole being brutally bullied. I went out and got her and stuck her in the brooder box in the coop and she stayed there for almost 21/2 weeks. After a week and a half I got her mycoplasma under control. Then a new symptom broker out and she came down with wry neck… treated that too with meds. She didn’t seem to get better, but wasn’t worse either. She wouldn’t eat or drink, she would spin in circles and could barely walk. I made the decision to cull her bc her quality of life was not good and she was suffering. The night I was going to cull her, I put everyone up in the coop. Took her out of the brooder. Sat with her in the backyard and let her have one last free range at sunset before she went over the rainbow bridge. To my surprise she was walking… a bit wobbly, but wasn’t spinning in circles anymore! I sat outside with her for about an hour and decided there was absolutely no way I was putting her down and I was going to give her more time to improve. She was so skinny and weighed next to nothing. I could feel her bones when I picked her up that night to put her on the roosting bar with everyone else. Now about a month later she is FULLY recovered! Her and I formed a close bond and she isn’t timid with me like she used to be. She greets me every morning now. I’ve behabed my fair share of chickens in my life - everything from this respiratory infection, to predator attacks, broken limbs, and rooster attacks when mating which were deep deep lacerations, so deep I could see bone. I’ve never lost a chicken to illness or injury or a predator yet. But Mercy, she holds a very special place in my heart. If you’re thinking about getting chickens for cheap eggs, don’t do it. These weirdos take a lot of time and knowledge. If you can not teach yourself to be your own vet… don’t get chickens. I promise you, no matter how much you love them and properly care for them, you WILL have to fix broken legs or wings, you WILL have worms in their poop or bodies. You WILL eventually get mites or lice. You WILL have to stitch wounds. You WILL have blood in their poop. You WILL have to cull them when needed. Bc let’s face it nobody is spending hundreds of dollars on a $5 or less chicken and if you don’t live in a farm town, there’s very few vets who treat chickens… so you WILL become your own vet.
Raising chickens can be a rewarding experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities. Many chicken owners may find themselves unprepared for the health issues that can arise, such as respiratory infections like mycoplasma or the more complex symptoms of wry neck. It's essential to educate oneself on common chicken illnesses and their treatment, including recognizing early signs of distress. New chicken owners should consider the importance of veterinary care for poultry, as not all veterinarians specialize in avian health. This often means that owners must become their own vets, learning how to handle a variety of issues from dietary needs to emergency care. Resources like books, online forums, and support groups can be invaluable for gaining knowledge. Additionally, forming a close bond with your flock can help you detect changes in behavior or health early on, ultimately enhancing their well-being and happiness. Understanding the commitment involved in chicken ownership can make a significant difference in the quality of life for these animals and their caretakers. Regular health checks, proper nutrition, and facility maintenance are vital components in ensuring that chickens thrive.
