Daydream thread continues.....

lostinrates

Itismehonest wrote: »

Got to admit that I don't think the ex-batt food existed when I kept hens :rotfl:
We never had ex-batts as all ours came originally as PoL.

Sometimes fowl bred for purpose can be problematical.
We had several ducks which came from somewhere that bred for the table. It took 2-3 generations to breed out whatever it was (particularly in the Aylesburys) that made them grow at such a pace that they became huge just in time for when they would have been ready for table.
Poor things just seemed to have a grow fast, die young "gene". It was quite bizarre.
Eventually, their offspring settled to normality.

Another thought. Are they getting at long grass? Not likely at this time in the year but it has been known to cause problems if it balls up & they can't get rid out it.
I'd go with the lack of grit from what you say, LIR, but getting them to eat it may require a great deal of persistence & deviousness if they really have taken against it. Makes me wonder if it's a backlash from their long term diet - like someone who has been fed on gruel suddenly getting let out & finding a shop full of cream cakes.
Strange, though, hens usually know what they need & eat grit/shell when it's needed even if they don't eat it every day.

I love the reassurance that you lot go through the same questions as me!

No, they could get to long grass, ut they do not venture far, so not a worry yet. In a coue of weeks we will strim. Mainly they liketo hide under our outside automatic feeders watching the world go by and dust bathing!


bUT, i am bedding on straw, which might be contributary, but i have not seen them fuss with it. Tonight five seem a bit eased......

Itismehonest

alfie_1 wrote: »

LIR.... the fact they like a lot of water in normal circumstances is great but of course if they have a crop full of food, the water will make it swell and become a bit cement like... i really think that if u put a DROP of warm oil in and gently massage you will feel if it is moving/breaking up.do this as often as possible whilst i personally would starve them for 24 hrs. sounds harsh but you could be just adding to the compacted food already there. i have always avoided anything dairy myself as it can give them the s**t's and not sure but if it is the same in thier system as ours ?

I wondered about starvation, too, alfie, but it sounds like this may have been coming on for a while so thought the hens may already be a little weak. My thought was that giving them something more easily digestible might give them a bit of strength. If nothing is moving, you're definitely right, LIR doesn't want to be adding to a total blockage.

As to the squirts (or your one-letter-less version ) yep, that is lactose intolerance but most aren't actually allergic to dairy so a little shouldn't harm. Oil & liquid paraffin will have a similar outcome, anyway ........ sorry about that, LIR - at least it isn't the geese or you'd be bailing out with buckets :rotfl:

Rummer

Alfie your dog is gorgeous!

Itismehonest

Having decided I'd better go look to make sure that I hadn't gone totally barmy, I've hunted about & found a very graphic - not to be read over your Sunday chicken dinner - thing on chicken digestion by an American agricultural college.

There's definitely chicken parts called by much posher names than I'd call them :rotfl:

lostinrates

Well, i am going to massage again and starve tomorrow morning, i can put food down if i change my mind later.

I might leave the pot of yoghurt down so they can get the squits over that.

Thh, atm feel mixing it with oil and hoping they DO get the squits, especially the one who is still very firm, might be the best hope

To think of all the novice chicken keeper that start with these!

Itismehonest

lostinrates wrote: »

Well, i am going to massage again and starve tomorrow morning, i can put food down if i change my mind later.

I might leave the pot of yoghurt down so they can get the squits over that.

Thh, atm feel mixing it with oil and hoping they DO get the squits, especially the one who is still very firm, might be the best hope

To think of all the novice chicken keeper that start with these!

Good plan .........
except I'm not sure I'd leave the entire yoghurt pot.
That may be asking for the inside of the henhouse to get a total respray! :eek::D

alfie_1

change of subject me finks....:rotfl::rotfl:


big vintage boots crate that i "aquired"......


inside was this tablecloth covering......


a fair bit of blue china......

all for £3
hijacked a lady and gent in the high street lugging it out of thier car, complimented the box and they said "do you want it?" so after at least a 2 second debate i said yes...:D not realising it was full of china !! i said can i buy it and he said £3 ...saved him lugging it up the hill to the charity shop !! :):)

rhiwfield

alfie_1 wrote: »

change of subject me finks....:rotfl::rotfl:


big vintage boots crate that i "aquired"......


inside was this tablecloth covering......


a fair bit of blue china......

all for £3
hijacked a lady and gent in the high street lugging it out of thier car, complimented the box and they said "do you want it?" so after at least a 2 second debate i said yes...:D not realising it was full of china !! i said can i buy it and he said £3 ...saved him lugging it up the hill to the charity shop !! :):)

Alf, so pleased you're falling on your feet And did you buy at the auction you just happened to pass by?

Seriously now, hope the MRI scan gives/has given good news

choille

LIR - can be brought on by change in grass - poorer grass, long grass etc also can be brought on by withdrawal of feed say for worming & then they gorge. I worry about the Orps sit outside the shed & peck at the hay that's spilled when I carry it up to the sheep, but I have shale clumps dotted about that they're allus pecking at.

Alfie - I love that crate - you have great luck getting bargains you lucky dog!

It's so mild but pretty damp & the ground is like porridge - hardly got owt done today...but got bad back ache.

Davesnave

Sorry you are having these chicken problems, lir. Ours are certainly stepping up their intake of shell & grit ATM, but then laying is going into another gear now.

I have been back on hedging again today, though I'm doubtful that it will all get done. I've laid about 12m today and whipped out more dross from the other side, but at this rate it will be June before I'm finished!

Another 'ongoing' job, I fear.