Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[kinsk]

Yesterday I lost one of our ex batts looks like she had a prolapse. We got the three of them in February so at least she had a few months reprieve and a chance at a decent life.

 

We've only been getting two eggs for the last few days but this isn't unusual. There were two eggs yesterday morning which I collected just after 10am and all three girls were fine. Went to give them their afternoon snack and she was dead.

 

I've read that prolapses happen when they are trying to lay a big egg, but there was no 3rd egg. I've also heard of hens doing this and then things sort themselves out? So is it not always fatal, or could it have been something else? Is there anything else that could cause something like this to happen?

 

Another question! I am now left with two. Do I get another one to take it back to three (they only have an eglu to sleep in so 3 max) but would the other two then pick on the newbee, or do I wait till I'm just down to one and then get another two, in which case one could be on it's own for a while

[majuka]

I'm so sorry to hear that, I think you have to keep in mind that you gave your girl a few, well deserved, months of freedom. We've lost three of our ex-batts through illness rather than sudden, unexplained deaths, but I understand that heart attacks can occur quite often in ex-batts so if there were no marks on her than perhaps that is what happened?

 

As for getting replacments - I don't know what's best. One new girl versus two old girls would be hard for the new girl but then, like you say, you might end up with just one, which would be hard for her. Hopefully someone else will have some answers.

 

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[mostin]

Very sorry to hear you have lost your girl , but with ex-batts I believe that every single day out is a gift to them, so well done for giving her the time she had .

 

If 3 is your max number, and not 4, then I would wait until you can introduce 2 hens at a time. It is always easier to introduce 2 at a time.

 

2 hens who rule the roost, against 1 newcomer tends not to go very well, especially when the newcomer is not at full health.

 

You say they only have an eglu to sleep in, but I always say that the number of hens that fit is due to the space they play in, not the sleep room. My hens free range during the day, and when they had the choice 7 of them slept happily in 1 eglu, rather than 3 in 1 and 4 in the other .

 

Personally I would look at your run space to decide if you can get another 2 girls now, and take your numbers up to 4, or wait a while.

 

Good luck, and big hugs for your loss xxxx

[kinsk]

Thanks Mostin I didn't realise the max numbers were for that reason. Their run has an extension on it and they come out for an hour or so every night in a big garden. Even so I'm not sure about 4 in the run even with the extension. IF I did decide to go that way introducing two new ones should have less problems should it?

 

I hadn't even though about the one being introduced not being in full health! If it would be anywhere near as poor as the ones we got then your right it just wouldn't be fair.

[mostin]

"IF" you went that way, would still think you may need some extra "emergency" housing for the initial introduction time and while the newbies get up to full health.

 

2nd hand rabbit hutches are excellent for this. Chooks like to glare at each other through a fence for a while when they first meet, and if you have a real madam it can take a bit of wrangling until you get a happy family again.

 

1st introductions are nervy times, but we all have to go through it, and I've done loads now. Once you get the hang of them, there is nothing to worry about.

 

There is a really good page telling you all about it here

 

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25886

 

[Hens@HalfMoonLane]

I had 4 ex bats in an Eglu and a run extension for a couple of months over the winter and I have to say I had to move it overy few days and clean up a lot. There was plenty of room for 4 hens who got on but I'm not sure it would be good for introductions.

 

I lost 2 of mine recently and was undecided to get one or two. The BHWT strongly advised not to introduce a single one to an existing pair as Mostin said above.