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

[Sarah 2]

I'm a little bit worried about my hen. We got a new one yesterday which I think the others were a little bit annoyed about. 2 of the girls have started to lay this week. This morning they both laid beautiful eggs but they were very thin shells. I know this is normal when they first start laying.

 

It's just around Polly's vent it is a tiny bit messy and when I looked at her vent it seemed clean but pulsing continually. Is this normal? A few of her feathers are missing too.

[chocchick]

The vent does pulse, I've noticed the backend moves when they eat too

The feathers could have been pecked or pulled out.

Sometimes poo just sticks there. I leave it a while and try and clean it up if it doesn't go on its own. Some people trim it off if it is stuck.

[xScrunchee]

My daughter and sister describe the hens bums as 'talking' due to the pulsing action you describe!! Looks quite gross actually!

 

As for the feathers around the vent being a little messy-I wouldn't worry too much, if it gets worse you could give her a bit of a clean up in warm water but Ria had this when she first started laying and within a couple of days it was all fine.

 

Not sure about the missing feathers though!

 

Hope that helps a little, I'll probably find out now that I'm wrong and it's something completely different! But providing she is eating and drinking well and seems in good health-she probably is.