Keeping hens and ducks chat.

vjm63

Just wanted to come on here and say that we really sadly had to cull one of our four hens this morning. She was 18 months old, and had had an increasingly bad couple of months - went through a patch of being broody, then stopped, then started it again, plus moulting and possibly because of all of that not eating much and getting pecked at a bit. She had been top hen, but this dropped her down, and her bare behind got a lot of aggression from the looks of it - although I rarely saw the culprits in action. I did suspect a prolapse as well.

She also tended to lay big eggs from the start, and I actually started weighing them a few months back when we found 1 43g and one 73g in one day from the four of them! She often laid 70g+ eggs, rarely lower than 65g, and they also sometimes came out with blood on them - hardly surprising [how many are physically wincing now?!]

Her last egg was on Saturday, a 65g bloody one, and after that she went rapidly downhill. Barely eating, drinking little, hiding in the coop and barely walking - not doing anything hen-like. We took her to the vet's after isolation and tlc did nothing, and the vet managed to remove a stuck egg which he described as massive. She had antibiotics, and an inflammatory injection, but I think she was just too far gone.

I was surprised she came through the night, but she could not walk, or even stand, and was just breathing heavily, eyes mostly closed, slumping sideways incredibly drooped. Horrible to see. Our first hen to go.

RIP Boss Lady. :sad: :_(

I know you will all understand.

edwink

How sad for you vjm63 and being your first is really not easy on you at all.

When we lost our first ever one I was blaming myself for all sorts. But now we look back there was nothing we could do for her and we tried everything we could.

I really do understand how sad it is for you. Not easy is it? But, it is best for the hen in the end and you will come to realise that in time as we did.

Just wanted to send you a big (((HUG)))

Take care

Edwink x

Happygreen

Sad loss, vjm63. Hugs.

edwink

Better_Days wrote: »

One of our oldest hens, Matilda is a bit off colour. Didn't fancy any greens yesterday afternoon and reluctant to come out of the coop this morning. Have given her some poultry drops and she was quite feisty, so hopefully she will perk up again. Hens haven't been laying so well when it is hot.

My neighbour ran a stall at a local fete on Saturday with cakes and savouries made with eggs courtesy of the girls. She made nearly £400 for charity Well done hennies.

How is your little hen now Better days? Has she picked up at all? Do hope the poultry drops helped her.

Yes well done those hennies with helping raise money with their eggs. Also well done to your neighbour for all her efforts and raising so much money WOW!! Well done that lady!!

Edwink x

edwink

Hi everyone

Hope everyone is ok. Our thread has gone rather quiet. I am guessing it is because of the school holidays and most of you have gone on holiday or are busy with family time. Anyway if you are I hope you are all enjoying yourselves and having a nice relaxing break.

Anyway all ok here with the hens and ducks. And good news from our neck of the woods. Our BROODY hen is no longer being broody. She is out and about with all the others, eating well and dust bathing. Hoorah!! She was broody for weeks and weeks so I am so pleased.

We had a quiet hen for a couple of days last weekend but she has now picked up. Maybe she was just feeling a little off colour.


Have had rain today so my girls are rather soaked now. The water butts are filing up nicely for them which is great. We use the rain water for them to drink rather than tap water. Plus our veg needed the rain which is mostly for them. Everything is so much fresher now it has rained.

Post when you can as we all love reading what your hens, ducks and geese have been up to.

Edwink x

oldandhappy

I just posted a message about to arrive but Saber the Puss got to the keyboard and sent it to outerspace...puss in the back row on pic

oldandhappy

hens naughty this week but at least the eggs are now in view again after Madge is now not no longer broody..... but completely wrecked the new lettuce bed caught eating the toms after a bad season here with some air borne issue as neighbours have also the same problem...our 2nd sowing is good though luckily....just a few hours ago hens messing up my basil new seedlings... out of reach I thought ....they can reach those parts other hens cannot reach...BW Dianne

affordmylife

Hi there everyone. Sorry to be so late to the party but I only rescued two abandoned chicks five days ago. They're doing really well and I'm starting to plan what sort of housing to buy them once they've outgrown the cage they are currently in.

I realise they might both be boys and if that is the case I have hones for them. I'm hoping set least one is a girl.

I need everything including any medical and cleaning stuff too. Help x

edwink

affordmylife wrote: »

Hi there everyone. Sorry to be so late to the party but I only rescued two abandoned chicks five days ago. They're doing really well and I'm starting to plan what sort of housing to buy them once they've outgrown the cage they are currently in. I need everything including any medical and cleaning stuff too. Help x

Hi and welcome to our friendly hen, duck and geese thread. Lots of help and support here especially for those that are new to keeping poultry.

First as you say you will need somewhere for them to live. Also you will need somewhere in your garden for them to forage, eat grass or scratch the ground. Nice patch of grass the bigger the better for them if you have the space. Make sure if you can to keep that area away from foxes and if not consider moving them closer to your house or somewhere safer for them. Have a look online to see what is available for housing as there are loads out there. A lot of keepers with only a few hens will normally buy what they call an Eggloo with a run for them. They are normally made of plastic so are easy to wash out and keep clean. Make sure it has perches for them to roost at night as they do not like sleeping on a flat surface, they can but they prefer roosting. Also somewhere within the Eggloo for them to lay their eggs. That's if you get an Eggloo.

There are also plenty of wooden houses for them with runs attached. Or you could buy a small shed (unless you already have one) and make an attached run yourself out of chicken wire and posts as big as you can to give them more space.

Maybe best to explain a little about what area you are going to give them and what space you have available for a coop. Then I can go by that to give you more advice as I am sure others will.

Will include in next post the basic medicine box you will need. To be honest that normally builds up over time if and when any new ailments arrive.


There are three important things to always consider when thinking keeping poultry and that is:-

Do you have the time to care for them and keep them clean?. They can poo a lot especially at night ?

Can you keep them safe from wild animals like foxes and badgers ? plug holes around your garden etc. ?

Make sure their house is big enough to house several more hens than you actually start off with because keeping them is addictive and you will take in any strays offered to you because you can not help doing so.:rotfl:

Hope that is of some help to you.

Glad you have joined us all on here. It has been a bit quiet lately but being school holiday time and the Olympics being on I am not surprised at all.

Edwink

affordmylife

Edwink we're loving both the holidays and the olympics. Thank you for all the advice. I think I'll go for a wooden housing solution as I prefer natural products. I will most certainly have the time for them and can't wait to add to my hens x