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

[Gertie]

Hello Eggsperts

 

I wonder if you can assist me with your experience and advice? I have 2 hens & sadly one had a problem when laying eggs and bled onto an egg. The other hen pecked her on her vent and I had to separate them. She has been healed now for 2 months (although not laying). Following the advice of the vet, I kept them apart for 2 weeks and then put them together again. The same thing happened as soon as she laid an egg and it had blood on. The vet said this was caused by egg shell stuck in her which she would pass. She had antibiotics but has not laid since. She seems fine otherwise.

 

Now they have been separated for 2 months and she has not laid at all but I would like to re introduce them to each other. I feel like she isnt going to lay again (but obviously dont know this for sure). So far I have been letting them in together later afternoons on a daily basis. They have an enclosed area which is about 27m square - I made their enclosure a lot bigger since this happened incase they were bored. I have hung CD's and bells in to distract them, hung up food etc. I allow them to sleep together but then separate them as soon as they come out of the coop if I am not going to be at home.

 

I was wondering if it is an utterly stupid idea to think I can re introduce them permanently or if this is likely to happen again. I have done lots of reading and am aware that chickens pick on weakness. I thought perhaps if I tried to distract them with toys, food, space and maybe added a couple more chickens this might help.

 

Many thanks in advance!

[Christian]

It sounds like she has suffered a couple of prolapses

 

Once they have a couple, they can be prone to it. As she hasn't laid for a couple of months, there is a good chance that things have healed up though I would wait until she starts laying again before I introduced her again full time. If she does prolapse and the other one is there, it will lead to further problems, as hens are morbidly attracted to blood.

 

Good luck.

[Gertie]

Hey Christian

Thanks very much for your reply. I did wonder if it was a prolapse. I was checking her twice a day at that point but I didn't see anything protruding so thought it probably wasn't that. I guess I'll have to waitfor the next egg...whenever that might be. I heard that sometimes they never resume

A few weeks ago she laid what I think was a small lash. The following day I noticed what looked like a tiny egg yolk in her poo. Do you think this is a good/bad sign?

 

Many thanks again