Keeping hens and ducks chat.

skipton

Hi Edwink

Yes my girls do have treats. They have layer pellets all day, porridge at lunchtime and a supper treat of chopped cucumber, grated carrot and any leftover veg or soft fruit with a dollop of yogurt plus a little pasta/rice or potato. They all have their favourite bits. If I give them bread I soak it first but thats only a standby if nothing else avaiable.

As soon as I head up the garden they come running to the gate.....I know its cupboard love but it still keeps me smiling.
I also give them a few mealy worms as a bribe to get them in but as they are not supposed to be good for them a packet can last a long time unless Emmy jumps up and grabs the bottom of the bag, pulling it out of my hand, spilling the contents on the ground.

Happygreen

Hello and good morning!

Today my girls will get a different kind of treat - a mustard filled egg - in their nesting boxes. One of them has been naughty and eating her own eggs...this trick worked each time so far, fingers crossed!

Usually it's the wild bird seeds they go crazy for

suki1964

Happygreen wrote: »

Hello and good morning!

Today my girls will get a different kind of treat - a mustard filled egg - in their nesting boxes. One of them has been naughty and eating her own eggs...this trick worked each time so far, fingers crossed!

Usually it's the wild bird seeds they go crazy for

What's a mustard egg?


Skipton, my girls love meal worms as well. I'm intrigued by the porridge, that's cooked?

Looks like all 3 youguns are laying now as there was a very soft one there this morning. Good sized and looked perfect but just crumpled

Just need Honey to start again. She moulted a few weeks back so I'm not sure when she will start again. Any ideas?

Hubby is now thinking about getting some broilers now we have two runs and coops. I'm not so sure Anyone else have broilers?

Happygreen

suki1964 wrote: »

What's a mustard egg?

It's an egg where the contents have been carefully removed (blown out as if you'd want to decorate it for Easter after ) and then filled with mustard through a syringe. Looks like egg yolk should they peck at it but doesn't taste the same. This way the hens can unlearn that eggs are nice to eat.

edwink

Hoorah!! Hoorah!! Hoorah!! My new rescue girls are now starting to grow their feathers back. Several of my new rescue girls were very bald when they came to live with us. But, today I noticed little bits starting to grow back. I knew they would feather up eventually but some of them arrived looking quite traumatised so I am very happy for them that their feathers are returning so quickly.


Just wanted to share my good news with you all.


Thanks for posting everyone.


Edwink x

Happygreen

edwink wrote: »

Hoorah!! Hoorah!! Hoorah!! My new rescue girls are now starting to grow their feathers back. Several of my new rescue girls were very bald when they came to live with us. But, today I noticed little bits starting to grow back. I knew they would feather up eventually but some of them arrived looking quite traumatised so I am very happy for them that their feathers are returning so quickly.


Just wanted to share my good news with you all.


Thanks for posting everyone.


Edwink x

How lovely , what joy I wonder if they chuck them out once they start moulting first time as they are not laying during that time?

ali-t

We have a sick hen today and no idea what is wrong with her. This morning when I went to let them all out she was sitting on the bottom of the coop (not particularly strange as for some reason 10 of them piled in the one coop last night) but she wouldn't move and when we picked her up she wouldn't stand up and just fell over to the side.


She didn't appear to have any problem with her crop or her vent and no obvious injuries so we brought her inside to try to feed her and keep her away from the other hens who were pecking her - vicious little beasts aren't they?


Still no idea what is wrong with her but we got a glucose based 'tonic' from the place we got her - a bit like berocca for birds and she has perked up a bit but sleeping indoors in a dog cage tonight. Fingers xed she will be ok but everything we have read online says the symptoms are a sure sign she is on her way to the chicken afterlife :-( She is only about 20 weeks old so really hoping she pulls through.


Any thoughts for what it could be or suggestions for perking her up a bit?

edwink

Hi Ali-t

I hope your little hen will be ok. It is so sad when they become so poorly. I honestly feel for you.

You absolutely did the best thing and take her away from the others. Not only because they were pecking her but she could have something that they could all catch. So always best to be on the safe side. Bringing her indoors is exactly what we do because at least you can keep an eye on her and monitor her. Can't really say what it is to be honest especially not at this stage. Have you checked that her nostrils are clear and her eyes are not weeping? Normally as you would have seen is that they will sit hunched up and don't really move if you go to pick them up. Maybe the fact the she did not want to stand means that she is exhausted and just could not be bothered with trying. I would keep her in doors for the time being and make sure she does drink some water and gets plenty of quiet rest. We always cover what ever they are resting in with a cover at night so they do not wake up too early in the morning. Obviously leave a gap somewhere so she gets good ventilation.

There is a tonic you can get called Vit Boost+. It is a vitamin and mineral boost that stimulates appetite, it is made by Nettex. That maybe helpful to her. We put that in our hens water when they are poorly.

Do you have a local vet that you could phone and just have a quick chat with them and see what they think. More often than not though they will say bring her in. Sometimes it is not a good idea because the journey could stress her out badly. But, on the other hand they may spot something and be able to help her.

Difficult to say really at this stage. Just keep her quiet and post again tomorrow and let us know how she is. She may well pick up. Just a thought have you checked to see if she is egg bound. I know you said you have checked her vent but have you had a good feel all around that area?. In the morning have a look to see if she has done any poo and if so see what it is like because that could be an indicator of what is wrong.

Please keep us up to date on her condition.

Take care. Will be thinking of you!!

Edwink x

edwink

Happygreen wrote: »

How lovely , what joy I wonder if they chuck them out once they start moulting first time as they are not laying during that time?

Hi Happygreen

They normally chuck them out when they are 2 years old, sometimes 18 months because they naturally lay less eggs. As a rule they are slaughtered for dog food unless of course they are rehomed. That really is not a life for them is it? At least if they are rehomed they can then really see what life can be for them. I hate seeing mine with hardly any feathers when I get them. But, as soon as they are here I sit with them, talk to them and offer them nice treat food along with their pellets. Within weeks I see a huge difference and they start running towards me when they see me. They just stand at my feet and look up at me as if to say "ok mum what treats have we got today". Their new little chirps are amazing. It is almost as if they are singing to me. I love it!!

Will keep you all posted on their progress.

Edwink x

skipton

Oh Ali-t I do hope your little hen pulls through. I have had 4 die this year. They all came inside in a dog cage for a while. Like Edwink, I covered them at night.

You could try this lady (Terry) in USA. She has a website/blog/hencam that has a good FAQ's section or she does try to help with suggestions via email as well. I hope your little hen gets better soon.

http://hencam.com/?cam=hencam1

Suki... I give them cooked porridge with poultry spice as 5 of them are moulting and the other 4 are laying for England!