What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Chucky1]

Our Swedish Blue, Maisey is unwell. She won't come out of the house this morning and looks like she laid a very small egg today.

 

I've put food and water close to the door and shut the pen to give her a bit of piece from the drake.

 

Anything else I should do? Any ideas whats wrong?

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[miller30]

Hi i think your doing all you can i would keep an eye on her sometimes when they lay dodgy eggs it takes it out of them and they take a day to get over it your right in giving her some peace from the drake mine are a nightmare at the mo hopefully she will be back to normal tommorow also if it gets very hot in her house you could try holding the water bowl up to her and see if she will take any leanne.

[Chucky1]

Thanks Leanne she has come out of the house and had a little to drink and eat. Also when we left her she had started preening her feathers which were looking a little bit raggedty.

 

I see that she also has a bit of a limp though I couldn't see anything wrong with her foot, and she's holding her neck in though maybe this is just to avoid the drakes attentions?

 

Thanks again

[miller30]

I only really start to worry when they stop preening or doing their hair because then you know they are giving up but ive had ducks that have had really bad limps and in a couple of days their fine do you think she may be getting to much attention from the drake i dont know how my ducks are still alive half the time as my drake big bird is a total maniac this time of year every year he gets threatened hes going in a pie or a new home as long as she is drinking in this heat she will hopefully back to normal soon leanne

[Lewis]

Hopefully its just the heat getting to her

 

I'd try keeping her in the shade to be cool, and maybe spray her with a bit of water.

Soaking some corn/wheat in water for a few hours works for getting water into broodys, so you could try that too

[Chucky1]

Lewis thanks for that.

 

She was quite a bit better yesterday after being kept in all day, pining to get out.

 

Leeane - any interesting randy drake recipes?

[miller30]

My partner tells me every year to put bigbird in a pair of our sons under pants and then he wont beable to do anything im glad your duck seems better when both my drakes have gone off to duck heaven i will only be keeping girls as drakes are just nasty leanne

[Chucky1]

I'm kinda with you on that Leanne. Though I always find Duck a l'orange a little too oily I am quite partial to crispy duck and pancakes.