Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[nodster]

Hi all, I would really appreciate some advice on my hens if anybody can help.

 

I have had three lovely ex batts for a year now, usually getting 2-3 eggs each day. I know that they slow down as they get older, but about three weeks ago all of mine stopped laying suddenly. They had been laying quite a few softies during the run up to this and eating any eggs they laid, soft or not. They have got very watery poo which is a bit greenish. I have wormed them but they haven't perked up at all. One of them now has a droopy comb too and they all have quite messy vents. I've been giving them porridge made with milk with some grit mixed in incase they needed calcium for the egg shells but this hasn't mde any difference. Does anybody have any experience of this type of thing? I have put extra water out for them which is fresh every day. They are also off their pellets.

 

Any advice greatfully received, I'm not sure what to do next!

[abwsco]

Did you worm them with flubenvet? It also could be that they're just finding it too hot. Could be worth trying them on some natural probiotic yoghurt or a bit of scrambled eggs to get some protein in them. I'd also try an Oregano supplement (herban, Roapadier) if you can get one or even just dried oregano.

[nodster]

H, thanks for the advice! Yes I used flubenvet. Will try the yoghurt and some scrambled eggs with oregano in (what does the oregano do btw!?)

[Mollie333]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Check them for mites, check in the shed and run for mites, dust down with red mite powder.

Have you wormed them recently? They might be at the end of there laying i'm afraid.

I give my hens (each) half a weetabix crushed up and a table spoon of natural yoghurt, then a pinch of sugar on top (they don't eat the yoghurt unless it has it. )

 

or meat s"Ooops, word censored!"s, my neighbour gives them venison meat, too. Which somehow made Cheryl alot better!!

[abwsco]

H, thanks for the advice! Yes I used flubenvet. Will try the yoghurt and some scrambled eggs with oregano in (what does the oregano do btw!?)

 

Oregano is supposed to promote a healthy gut

[Chucky Mama]

I would stop giving them milk and any other dairy produce. If you are going to give porridge mix it with water or moisten their pellets to make a mash. I would also give them a thorough check for parasites and pay special attention to their vents and feel if their abdomen beneath the vent to see if it feels fluid filled or overly hard.

[Egluntyne]

I agree, dairy products are not really suitable for hens as they aren't able to deal with lactose. However, a little live probiotic youghurt now and then doesn't harm as there is lactase present in it , which helps with the digestion, and the probiotic organisms are beneficial.

 

I'd give them a basic health check as described **here** to see if anything obvious stands out.

[nodster]

Hi All, given all three hens a thorough check-over today. No sign of any mites (I scrub and dust their eglu regularly too). Vents all look healthy except one of them (Ra-Ra, named by my one year old!) has a very red area below her vent and underneath, which is quite bulbous (sp?) and the feathers are really just quills. I can't compare it to the other two as they both have lots of feathers there but it is very red and angry looking which can't be good. To top it all off I let them out this morning and one of her wings was dragging along the floor. I have now strapped it up but have had to seperate her from the others as they keep pecking the tape! It never rains but it pours! Margot, the hen with the droopy comb, also has runny greenish poo, which I have read is a sign of worms, does this mean the Fluben vet didn't work this time and should I dose her again do you think? Sylvia is the only one in seemingly good health, but she has always been queen hen (she still hasn't laid any eggs though!)

 

Can anybody advise on this red patch? and what to do about the wing?! Is it usual for all three of them to stop laying at the same time (I know they will be about the same age as I got them all from the BHWT and they came from the same battery) but it seems very precise for them all to stop together. I have dealt with all sorts of minor ailments over the last year with them but this is a bit beyond me! I just want them all to be happy hens again!!!

[Chucky Mama]

The one with the swelling and bad wing needs to see the vet really. How long ago did you use Flubenvet and how did you administer it?

[nodster]

Yes I'm planning to ring the vet tomorrow for an appointment. I finished giving the Flubenvet a week ago and I mixed the right amount into porridge (made with water). Have tried putting it on pellets before but obviously it doesn't stick and they just leave it all at the bottom! Not sure if I should dose them again?

[Chucky Mama]

Hmm,to be sure that the Flubenvet has worked you really do need to give it as prescribed. It is possible that that the worm that you saw was dead. I personally would give them a week and re worm them. The key to effective dosing is the mixing. Take a small amount of the measured feed and mix with the powder, mix well and then add more and more pellets mixing well each time. If you are worried you can add a little oil - I never do but it is fine to do so. Then as you know that you have a worm problem- feed them from this feed and nothing else, not even free ranging.