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

[tallulah]

Hi everybody, first post, but hope someone can reassure us! We've had four chooks since July, everythings been going fine.

 

However, we have noticed that despite the wet weather they still seem to cuddle down and bathe in the muddy areas, even though there is a dry area for them under their Cube. They have access to it all day too, but only go in to lay. Their feathers have become quite clacked up with muddy lumps and scraggy on their chests where they are doing this and when you get in and feel around, they also have developed bald patches there. Today we have also noticed that Princess is looking very scraggy on her lower rear area, and her feathers are clacked up in the same way.

 

They all seem very lively in themselves, seem to be eating well and we are getting 3 eggs a day from them (we aren't sure if one has stopped laying altogether or whether they are working a rota system here!), so we are not sure whether we should be concerned or not. We just don't know whether this is caused by their 'bathing' in the wet and that it will sort itself as the drier weather comes, or whether we should be looking for something else that is causing it. Is there anything we can do to about getting the mud out of their feathers now or should we not worry about it?

 

And then this morning my husband discoverd blood in the hen house in the droppings, but we can't see any signs on the vents at to who has the problem, though we wondered if it was Princess with her scraggy lower rear end.

 

Anyone else had similar experiences who could share their wisdom with us? We are resassured by their temperaments but would welcome all advice willingly!

 

many thanks

 

Jane

 

our chooks are Bodicea, Tallulah, Princess and Angel

[moochoo]

Is it possible to give them a bath and dry them off so you can get a better idea of what condition their skin/ feathers are in?

Is there anyway of keeping their dust bathing area dry, maybe covering it with a tarpaulin or shower curtain.

I'm not really sure what else to suggest.

[tallulah]

hi

 

they do have a dry area under their cube but they seem to prefer the snow and wet!

 

After reading other threads, we went out and did a thorough exam - feathers, skin and vents. New quills visible under skin, no signs of parasites and vents clean, so as they are all extremely perky and lively we have decided to forgo the bath idea (for now) as we are sure they will just go straight out and do the same thing again!

 

Just need to find out where the blood came from.....someone elses thread mentioned a torn claw so will check feet too.

 

thanks

 

Jane

[Gamebird]

Welcome to the forum Tallulah.

 

I think as long as they are eating and drinking and seem perky enough I wouldn't worry too much about the mud-bathing.

 

I experienced the same thing - blood everywhere - but it was just a torn claw which I covered with purple spray to clean it and to stop the other chickens pecking at it.

 

If it's a small cut then it could well have healed itself by now and so you will be none the wiser as to where all the blood came from.

[tallulah]

thanks for that. We're now wondering if the blood was caused by some sort of blockage in one of their vents, as we've suddenly started getting 4 eggs a day since the weekend and there hasn't been any more blood. Ooh, fingers crossed!!!

 

I feel totally paranoid about their health now.....reading through the forum, there is so much stuff that can go wrong, I don't feel that I have been that well prepared it!

 

So, I'm off at half-term. Jobs include

 

Locating a chook-friendly vet

checking out where I can get purple spray

finding a source of white live maggot

 

also, can I ask.....how'd you all get the chook icons on after you sign off? I'm sure you don't type it in everytime....I poked around in the set-up but couldn't find out how to do it.

I'd like to show ours too, will feel like a proper member then!

[Gamebird]

It looks as though you've managed the chook icons or did you mean something else?

[BarbaraJ]

hi, just to let you know i got my purple spray off ebay luckily not had to use it yet but bought it in preperation for new chicken introductions.

[tallulah]

It looks as though you've managed the chook icons or did you mean something else?

 

 

Yess! I did what I should have done in the first place before asking the question, and went into the section on the forum that explained it all....derr! I didn't realise either, that the system would put them on retrospectively

 

 

 

only got two eggs yesterday.....will be watching closely for any signs of anything. I'd never really worried before, but having read on here just exactly how much CAN go wrong, its made me feel a mite neglectful

[Egluntyne]

Welcome aboard.

 

checking out where I can get purple spray

I get mine from a local equestrian shop.

 

finding a source of white live maggot

Angling shop...by the half pint. Be sure to ask for undyed ones. Around £2.00

[tallulah]

Welcome aboard.

 

checking out where I can get purple spray

I get mine from a local equestrian shop.

 

brill.....my two girls ride so will ask at stables (know nothing about horses myself!)

 

finding a source of white live maggot

Angling shop...by the half pint. Be sure to ask for undyed ones. Around £2.00

yuck....do they really dye live maggots?

 

thanks!