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Keeping hens and ducks chat.

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  • edwink
    edwink Posts: 3,003 Forumite
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    edited 12 November 2020 at 5:26AM
    *3.36 kWp solar panel system,10 x Ultima & 4 x Panasonic solar panels, Solaredge Inverter *Biomass boiler stove for cooking, hot water & heating *2000ltr Rainwater harvesting system for loo flushing *Hybrid Toyota Auris car *RIP Pingu, Hoppy, Ginger & Biscuit *Hens & Ducks* chat thread. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5282209
  • Cheery_Daff
    Cheery_Daff Posts: 17,101 Forumite
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    Thanks Edwink. All very worrying (although is this dramatically different to previous years? I've not really done hen keeping for that long). 

    We're having our own mild hen drama here today - poor old Rusty is looking a bit uncomfortable. She's been slow for a couple of days, spent a while in the nestbox a couple of days ago without laying anything, and this morning just seemed a bit less bright than usual. Gave her a prod, and her abdomen is all swollen which isn't a good sign, so we've given her a bit of a bath to see if we can ease things along a little. She's currently in the house drying off, and having a bit of a snooze. Not liking the heavy breathing - this is what happened to Bessie when she swelled up (although that was several months ago and Bessie is still with us!)

    Fortunately we've been able to get to see the vet this afternoon. A new vet to us, although we did register with them when Bessie was ill, but their chicken specialist was on holiday so we ended up somewhere else. They're quite a bit closer than the other place (still a 50 mile round trip, but better than 90 miles!) They're registered with ChickenVet too so fingers crossed. 
  • edwink
    edwink Posts: 3,003 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Photogenic
    Thanks Edwink. All very worrying (although is this dramatically different to previous years? I've not really done hen keeping for that long). 

    We're having our own mild hen drama here today - poor old Rusty is looking a bit uncomfortable. She's been slow for a couple of days, spent a while in the nestbox a couple of days ago without laying anything, and this morning just seemed a bit less bright than usual. Gave her a prod, and her abdomen is all swollen which isn't a good sign, so we've given her a bit of a bath to see if we can ease things along a little. She's currently in the house drying off, and having a bit of a snooze. Not liking the heavy breathing - this is what happened to Bessie when she swelled up (although that was several months ago and Bessie is still with us!)

    Fortunately we've been able to get to see the vet this afternoon. A new vet to us, although we did register with them when Bessie was ill, but their chicken specialist was on holiday so we ended up somewhere else. They're quite a bit closer than the other place (still a 50 mile round trip, but better than 90 miles!) They're registered with ChickenVet too so fingers crossed. 
    Hi Cheery

    Yes, it is different from the last outbreak of Avian Flu in this country because we have "yet" to be told to keep all of our poultry undercover although I am sure as the outbreak(s) spread across the country (if it does) this will become mandatory for all poultry keepers.  Bird flu can be spread by wild birds through their droppings so it can spread very rapidly.  It would be just a matter of keeping your girls undercover at all times and making sure you do not take wild bird droppings in on the bottom of your footwear.  Last time we went outside with one pair of shoes on and at the hens coop we changed into our wellington boots and went in with those on and changed back again when leaving their coop. I'll keep this thread updated as and when I hear anything further.

    If anyone hears or reads anything further on the outbreak please do post it on here for others to see, many thanks. 

    Poor Rusty, how is she now Cheery?.  You didn't say in your post what your new vets thought the problem was with her. It is always a worry when they are not at all well, bless her.  Glad this vet is nearer to you and you didn't have a 90 mile round trip this journey to the vets. Please do let me know how she is getting on.

    Edwink x
    *3.36 kWp solar panel system,10 x Ultima & 4 x Panasonic solar panels, Solaredge Inverter *Biomass boiler stove for cooking, hot water & heating *2000ltr Rainwater harvesting system for loo flushing *Hybrid Toyota Auris car *RIP Pingu, Hoppy, Ginger & Biscuit *Hens & Ducks* chat thread. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5282209
  • edwink
    edwink Posts: 3,003 Forumite
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    As you say Cheery what a Fiasco, OMG.  You really are not having much luck with your girls health and all the vet visits.  From what you say it sounds as though the first vet was not at all bothered by what was happening to her. 

    I do hope she is feeling much better in the morning Cheery.

    Edwink x
    *3.36 kWp solar panel system,10 x Ultima & 4 x Panasonic solar panels, Solaredge Inverter *Biomass boiler stove for cooking, hot water & heating *2000ltr Rainwater harvesting system for loo flushing *Hybrid Toyota Auris car *RIP Pingu, Hoppy, Ginger & Biscuit *Hens & Ducks* chat thread. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5282209
  • Cheery_Daff
    Cheery_Daff Posts: 17,101 Forumite
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    edited 15 November 2020 at 8:57AM
    Thanks edwink. I suppose our older ladies are almost three and a half years old now, which is knocking on for an ex battery hen :heart: And I'm sure most sensible people would take the advice of their local vet rather than tearing half way round the country! :confused:

    Pleased to report that Rusty seems rather brighter today, thank goodness. She was actually making quite a bit of noise today, which is normal for her - always worrying when she's quiet! She took her medicine well today too. Yesterday we tried to hide antibiotics in grapes and she got all suspicious and refused to eat them :confused: but today I managed to cut the damn tablets (which are almost the size of a 10p piece) into six and hide the pieces in sultanas or cheese. Put her off guard by giving her an unadulterated sultana, and then she just swiped the rest out of my hand one at a time, no bother :joy: She's getting quite a few treats though - 3 sultanas and 3 sultana sized pieces of cheese (to keep things interesting) twice a day, plus anti inflammatory liquid soaked into a bit of bread. Spoilt chicken! 

    Been a vile day for them here. Thick fog til about 11 so we left them in the run, then it was p*sting down and really dingy by about 2.45 so we put them back in again.

    See a couple of stoats knocking about the garden and fields this week :confused: it's that time of year I suppose, but after what happened last time I don't like to think of them so close to the ladies :cry: I don't THINK they'd go after an adult hen out wandering, but I don't trust them at all now :confused:
  • edwink
    edwink Posts: 3,003 Forumite
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    edited 15 November 2020 at 2:51AM
    Information from the British Hen Welfare Trust

    Avian Influenza | British Hen Welfare Trust

    Edwink x
    *3.36 kWp solar panel system,10 x Ultima & 4 x Panasonic solar panels, Solaredge Inverter *Biomass boiler stove for cooking, hot water & heating *2000ltr Rainwater harvesting system for loo flushing *Hybrid Toyota Auris car *RIP Pingu, Hoppy, Ginger & Biscuit *Hens & Ducks* chat thread. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5282209
  • Thanks for that link edwink. I have to admit I was very confused trying to work out if the hens needed covering before seeing this. Also I read another source saying the boot dip was mandatory and also food/water had to be under cover. It said otherwise you face fines.

    I will do these things anyway as we are not a million miles from an outbreak but I am glad I have a little time to think about how to cover my girls. We didn't have hens last time around and they are used to a very large enclosure.
  • Cheery_Daff
    Cheery_Daff Posts: 17,101 Forumite
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    Yes, thank you edwink, I just got round to reading that link. We don't have a boot dip, but I'm going to pop to the country supply shop on Saturday and get the recommended stuff, disinfectant etc and set us up a boot dip. I did a good clear out of the chicken run last weekend, dug a couple of inches of the ground cover out (partly for compost, partly because I assume it helps with the build up of parasites, not that they're in the run very often!) 

    We did used to get the odd garden bird sneaking into the run to punch the food, but that seems to have stopped completely since we switched to hanging feeders, so there's no spilled food on the ground. We do scatter corn in the evening but the hens seem to eat ALL of that, which they don't with the food. Pesky blighters. Our run is at least covered with a proper roof now so if they do end up having to be under cover, we won't be messing around with tarps. Hoping very much that doesn't happen. 

    Rusty seems to be improving, although goodness me it's difficult to get tablets down her! :open_mouth: We've not yet experimented with forcibly stuffing them down her throat - Mr Cheery is very averse to the idea and is far more patient than me in trying to disguise bits of tablets inside sultanas etc. I was banished from the room today because I was getting so impatient, and she has become properly suspicious of anything we try to feed her, even grapes and cheese :open_mouth:

    Hey ho. The rest of the tablets have all been pulverized throughout the week so we'll be experimenting with yogurt/oats. I just wish they weren't bright pink - they're so obviously not food!! :joy: Much easier to give her the anti inflammatory liquid on a tiny bit of bread!
  • edwink
    edwink Posts: 3,003 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Photogenic
    *3.36 kWp solar panel system,10 x Ultima & 4 x Panasonic solar panels, Solaredge Inverter *Biomass boiler stove for cooking, hot water & heating *2000ltr Rainwater harvesting system for loo flushing *Hybrid Toyota Auris car *RIP Pingu, Hoppy, Ginger & Biscuit *Hens & Ducks* chat thread. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5282209
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