4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[melly264]

I realise this is a busy weekend for ex-batts!

We have had ours for about 10days now, they are all settling in well and showing their charactors. They have been great fun this weekend helping in the garden whilst i'm weeding etc, really friendly.

 

But I have a few worries

1.We haven't noticed any fighting in the run anymore, for the most part they live together happily, but one esp is still quite bald(she always was the baldest) although we have sprayed her purple (he-he!!) she is still getting red blotches and doesn't seem to be regaining feathers. Would they fight at night in the eglu? How can you tell? Anyway to stop this?

2. I have read this may be down to lice, I have checked on the friendlist one, figering that if one had them they would all have them, nothing to be seen. Do you de-lice them anyway as a precaution?

3. Have got some poultry spice am planning to use it, the box says 1 teaspoon for 10hens per day, but more if its cold weather (!). Given they aren't in the best of health, but are laying like its going out of fashion! Waht would be a good dose?

 

Sorry about the long post!

[SLK69]

Hi

 

I got my ex batts on MArch 28th and they still have baldy patchies despite poultry spice, pro-biotics etc. They are much plumper and confident and it is interesting to watch the way the feathers grow in.

 

S

[Hen Watch]

Hi Melly,

I've not got ex-batts but I'm sure loads of people with ex-batts will come along soon with some advice.

 

I just wanted to say, when I introduced a new hen last year, they fought like crazy during the day, but not a peep at night (even locked in).

 

I think poultry spice every day is a good idea, and anything else that gives them a bit of extra protein (like dried mealworms etc.)

[melly264]

thats interesting, I guess I'm in for a long wait before they get to how they should be.

They are fun tho! You are right about that, watching them grow confident and develope their personalities is great.

[mayflower]

It's really strange about feather growth. For the first 3 weeks I kept looking and looking for signs......nothing. Then one day I noticed the bald bits covered with dark...?feathers, rather like 7.0clock shadow. The feathers quickly followed. Our hens' feathers grew within 6 weeks, though little Lucy still has a persistent tiny bald patch at the base of her tail. I suspect she is being nibbled at night!

[mayflower]

Sorry, forgot to say, when we first had the hens we mixed up half a teaspoon of poultry spice in each grub compartment. I also put into their water Lifeguard. I did this every day for a month. Some people may say this is being over the top. But when hens are in a poorly condition and emotionally stressed, I think they need all the help they can get.

[Egluntyne]

If they have got lice you will see clumps of wite eggs at the base of the feathers, especially around the vent.

 

You might also see the lice on the birs. They are a around 2-3mm.

 

It won't do any harm to treat them all with louse powder.

 

Do it when they have gone to bed and are drowsy. It is much easier if one person holds the sleepy chook and another powders under the wings and around the vent area.

 

Put some in the nest box when you change the bedding too.

 

The feather growth is very hit and miss. One of my girls (collected on 28.03.08) is almost completely ginger now, whereas the other two, although beginning to feather up, are still showing downy white patches.

[melly264]

thanks for all the advice, lots to be getting on with!