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

[JulesL]

We have been having trouble with Hilda (my profile picture chook) now for a few months - softies bursting inside her. It has happened 3 times since May. She recovered from the first two and started laying again but things got worse this time.

 

She was laying a couple of weeks ago and then I noticed she was dripping what looked like the contents of an egg from her vent last weekend. We cleaned her up, covered her sore bottom in Sudocrem and also sprayed her with some violet spray. She was very perky considering (both previous times she has hidden under a bush for a couple of days). A couple of days later I noticed Raquel pecking her behind and making her bleed. I picked her up so I could put her in the run (they were all free-ranging in the garden) and shut the gate to stop the others pecking. I checked her vent and she looked ok. When I put her down she prolapsed. It was awful. I took her straight to our vet who put her down.

 

I knew she probably wouldn't go on for much longer but that morning she had been chasing me down the garden and seemed really perky.

 

I am now left with two chickens - both Miss Pepperpots. Will keeping just 2 be ok? We are planning not to introduce any more chooks until we lose another but would introducing 2 new ones to just one be ok?? I don't know what to do for the best.

[Jools]

Sorry to hear that, I lost one to a prolapse a couple of years ago and it isn't nice

 

There's no easy answer to the next question though, but I'd be inclined to add another two when you're down to one, rather than adding one to two, if that makes sense.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What a shame, I'm so sorry to hear that .

 

f you have room (ie a converter on your run) you could introduce 2 new girls but it can be tricky if you don't have separate accommodation. Two on their own is fine, so I'd be inclined to stick with that.

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.

[Groovychook]

I'm so sorry to hear about your girl xx

[Patricia W]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. If I were you, I'd go for 2 now, but as ANH be prepared to be able to separate them. I'm finding introductions are much longer than you think! But I've heard introducing 2 to one is more difficult still.

 

Tricia

[Plum]

Sorry to hear of your loss.

 

Just wait a bit and the urge to replace her will be so great you'll find a way around sorting out seperate areas for introductions. xx

[Jools]

But I've heard introducing 2 to one is more difficult still.

 

Tricia

 

The two newbies are at a disadvantage being introduced to an established hen in her own surroundings, so there's less opportunity for bullying. It's far from foolproof, just easier than introducing one newbie to two established hens.

[JulesL]

Thanks for your replies. We will stick with just the two for now. The Eglu and run are within a larger run so seperating them initially shouldn't be too much of a problem. Would just need housing for the chooks in the larger run. I dare say I will be posting with lots of questions when we decide to get another two!!