Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[Stedic]

Hello,

 

Well, I've finally done it - I have my first chickens! If I figure out how to do it, I'll put some pictures on later.

 

I couldn't afford an eglu straight away, but I bought a second hand Forsham ark from Merrydale, along with a Blue and a Copper Black - both pullets, due to lay in 3 - 4 weeks.

 

I've got a few worries though, and wondered if you could offer tips or put my mind at ease?

 

I've noticed that Polly, my coper black, has white flakes or dandruff type bits on her, which I can't see on the Blue (though the grey feathers would hide it). They also seem to groom quite a bit, but i'm not sue how much of this is normal - I let them out this morning, and they probably spent 15 minutes grooming their necks, under their wings etc. They seem to peck away at themselves periodically throughout the day, in between scratching around anyway. I've seen 3 or so black feathers in the run too, and while I was watching them I saw Polly pull out one of the fluffier feathers and eat it. So I'm worried - I cleaned the ark with Poultry Shield and dusted it with mite powder before they arrived, and Merrydale had creasoted it ages before I got the thing - it hasnt had birds in since. So it seems unlikely that there'd be mites....doesn't it?

 

The two seem to get on OK and there's been no evidence of them fighting or bullying. They're both eating well (pellets) and drinking more than I thought chickens would! A mixture of normal and yellowy poos (so normal or stress related I assume). They took themselves to bed last night and came out as soon as I let them out earlier.

 

So - should I be worried? I'm not overly confident about handling them at the moment, especially opening their wings up for the mite powders - so if this isn't necessary I'd rather leave it for now. Do you think Polly is just growing new feathers and the grooming is normal, or should I treat them for mites and lice?

 

Sorry - I'm sure these are fairly routine worries, but I've developed a rather strange love for the bizarre creatures - gave them some broccoli hanging in the run for the first time today, although they are completely ignoring it!

 

 

Thanks for any help!

 

 

Steve

[johnandkymberley]

Hi Steve, we are new to keeping chickens too, we have had ours nearly 2 weeks, mine do scratch, but they dont pull feathers out? im not totally sure but i dont think that is normal, maybe try some anti-peck spray? see if that stops them, like you say unlikely to be mites - however check out where you bought the ark from and see if they had any infestations before, sometimes if you get an infestion the only way to get rid of it is to burn the whole coop. However thats extreme circumstances, dont worry about that at the minute, good luck xxx

[Stedic]

I'm still fairly confident that any remaining red mite would have been killed by the Poultry Shield, or if they went for the birds on the first night then the Red Mite Powder would be getting them. I suppose the same would be true of any lice?

 

I've already ordered some anti-pecking spray online, in case any action is required. They're obviously not free-ranging yet so deep cleaning the run is still a bit tricky. There's a wooden floor for the house - I wonder if they mite could have survived under there - means turning the whole thing upside down to clean it though, and again there is plenty of powder inside the coop itself.

 

They're not scratching themselves a huge amount, and only ever a very quick scratch as they scrat around the run. Its more like they're just preening themselves. I've trawelled through my assorted books, but it doesnt really indicate how much they should be preening - any ideas?

 

Thank you,

 

Steve the Worried!

[jellykelly]

If lice/mites is a real concern, you will have to handle the girls to have a look. Lice are visable to the eye and are mostly found around the bum. If you have a look through her bum feathers, if there are any, you would see them. They also lay eggs at the base of the feathers which look like grey cement.

 

The white flakey things could be the feather shaft covering thingys. When new feathers come through they are covered by thin stuff (i'm pretty sure there are technical names for this) which eventually flakes away to reveal fluffy new feathers.

 

Having chooks is like having new born babies - you worry that you aren't doing things right and are amazed by every little thing they do!

[The Dogmother]

A certain amount of grooming is normal, and they will peck away at their own feathers, or peck drops of water off each other. A bit of dander is normal too - you get this when they are growing new feathers and the quill peels off and is shed as dander.

 

May I suggest that you worm them with Flubenvet and treat them for lice and mites (details in FAQ section and Lice topic at the top of the Chicken Clinic). I'd advise spraying the ark thoroughly with NetTex Total Mite Kill and let the sunlight in as much as possible. If you intend keeping the ark for a while, then you would be best to replace the roofing felt (if it has it) with some Onduline, which is more mite resistant.

 

Have fun with your hens

 

Sorry, cross-posted there.

[Tony]

Chickens basically do 4 things, eat, poo, preen and sleep.

 

All birds rely on their feathers in life and death situations. Flight is their primary means of escape so it's only natural and instinctive for them to spend a great deal of time keeping feathers in tip top condition, even flightless birds still retain this instinct. That's why it takes so long for birds to go through their moult, they lose a few feathers at a time, especially flight feathers, so that they retain the power to fly while new feathers grow. You will see them pulling out loose feathers, it's all part of the preening process.

 

Your birds sound fine to me and if they're doing all four things listed above I shouldn't worry too much.

[Stedic]

As if to support your argument Tony, I went down to look at them again - one was asleep, one was preening. Upon seeing me, they instantly switched to eating and pooing! The little madams!!

 

I think I'm probably overly worried, so will keep a good eye on them and see if any problems worsen or continue, or they seem to be distressed in any way.

 

Thanks for your advice everyone - this forum is an amazing resource!!

[Tony]

Upon seeing me, they instantly switched to eating and pooing! The little madams!!!

 

It's surprising how quick they learn. I bought 6 new Araucana's just over a week ago. When I first got them they were really nervous, running to hide every time I walked up to them. Within 4 days of being in their new run they've learnt that every time I go up to them they get a treat of some sort and now they all come running to see me before I even get half way up the path.

 

Trouble with keeping them at my allotment is I spend more time sitting with them than I do working on the plot. It's a lot more fun watching chickens grow than watching a row of carrots

 

They're only just about 8 weeks old but I still check the nest box every morning even though I know there'll be no eggs yet... And your worried about the odd loose feather or two.

[Stedic]

I know what you mean....its taken every once of willpower I have to finish decorating the bathroom today - I decided that if I got it all finished today, I could have a cup of tea with the birds later!

 

Regarding my earlier worries - I'm pretty sure that its just moulting or new feathers, they both seem perfectly happy doing chickeny things. I did decide that I needed to start getting them a bit more used to me though. So far they've sort of gotten used to the fact that me shaking an old milk bottle means pellets - but today I managed to get Poppy to scoff about three handfuls from my hand. Her friend Cybill (Poppy and Cybil of Poultry Towers) was a lot more skittish, but did scrat right around my hand, until she pushed it out of the way to get to the soil beneath!

 

Why I bought all these poultry books I do not know - someone should have bought the girls one about looking after me!

 

Thank you all again for your help! A really rapid reply from all of you put my mind at rest and let me enjoy the girls - its so nice to feel that there is a supportive community. I'll not be able to help for a bit, but trust me, I'll do my best (once I actually know something!!!).

[Tony]

I did decide that I needed to start getting them a bit more used to me though. So far they've sort of gotten used to the fact that me shaking an old milk bottle means pellets

 

But they always have pellets, they're not a treat. Try a handful of sultanas, my girls love them. You can see from the photo they don't always focus on the sultana, they snatch at anything that is close to or resembles one, that's my finger she's got a grip on.

 

Once they get a taste for them they'll soon get used to you.

 

[Stedic]

I went out to get some dried meal worms to treat them - but the local pet shop had sold out. I'll find them something nicer tomorrow when I go out to get netting for my veg patch! The fact that they seemed happy enough to eat from my hand regardless of treats has to be a good thing!

 

Thanks again for the advice!

[The Dogmother]

I recently did a wee test on treats with my girls, using various dried bugs etc; their favourites turned out to be dried gammarus shrimps - sand fleas to you and me - they went wild for them.

 

 

 

Now I mix a few in with the super mixed corn and dried mealworms.

[sadietoo]

My girls favourite treats used to be grapes..but now that I know that they are toxic..they are banned, (the girls don't understand and still come into the kitchen and look hopefully at the fridge) so now to call them back to their run we have dried mealworms...fresh sweetcorn fixed on a skewer and hanging from their run (think swingball ) or when everything else has run out ...corn

 

Enjoy your girls and don't worry too much. I think I'm right in saying that if you have a problem with red mite, you will find that they don't want to go into the coop to roost at night...( but no doubt someone with more experience will be along shortly!)

[The Dogmother]

I have to say that I've never heard of grapes being poisonous to chickens, they are lethal to dogs though, as are raisins and other dried fruit, so perhaps that's where the misunderstanding arose.