2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[chickchick2012]

I've had my chooks just 1 week but I think they are conspiring to put me off chicken keeping for life.

 

I have 3 lovely bantams , 1 light sussex bantam called Clara (head chook!!) 1 buff sussex called Henrietta (bottom of the pecking order) and 1 little lavender wyndotte called Willow. They cost me £35 each but when Henrietta became poorly 2 days after I got them (runny yellow poos - and head down and eyes closing) I took her to the vet. They sent a sample to the labs for testing and charged me £88!!!!!!! Have not heard anything yet. However now they all have runny poos and I am forever nipping into the walk in run to clean it up. I am spending a fortune on kitchen rolls.

 

Also, Clara has the filthiest bum you have ever seen (which was like it when I got her - god knows how she managed that - the other two are perfectly clean and fluffy). So... how do I clean it?

 

I dusted them with worm powder, then 10 minutes later they were all rolling on the dirt having dust baths (so does that mean I need to do them again?) I am putting Flubenvet in their food and apple cider vinegar in the drinking water (both for 1 week).

 

Also, the vet told me she went to look at the breeder I got my chooks from (Perfect Poultry in Ligh"Ooops, word censored!"er) and didn't think much of them so went to Southmead Poultry for her chooks. So have I made a huge mistake by getting mine from them and thats why they are having poo problems?

 

AND to add insult to injury - every night I have to lift them into their Eglu house to sleep as they nod off on their perch. HELP!!!!!!!

 

Sorry but had to have a moan to someone. (Will post some pictures when I can fathom out how to do it).

[Olly]

Sorry you are having a difficult start, it will get better I promise you!

 

Firstly, it's not unusual for new hens to have runny tummies for the first week or so, just because it's a change of diet and surroundings. However, obviously what Henrietta had was more than just an upset tummy, and well done on getting her to the vet promptly. It might be worth letting your supplier know that you've had problems within the first week - obviously it depends on what the diagnosis is, but if it's something that could affect all the hens and which would have been with them when you collected them, then I would probably want to talk about a refund/replacement. Better that they know now, rather than later.

 

Do you mean you dusted them with lice/mite powder - worm treatment is usually ingested, for obvious reasons! If they are rolling in the dustbath they will just be working it well into their feathers, so I wouldn't redo them. In fact, in view of runny tummies etc I would keep things as simple as possible and probably not treat them with anything for a week or two unless it's on the vet's advice.

 

Give Clara a little bath - use plain water or baby shampoo - she will probably enjoy it, and there are people on here who dry their hens knickers with a hairdryer, I haven't tried that but apparently some of them love it! Good luck, let us know when you get the vet diagnosis, and don't be downhearted - chicken-keeping can be a roller-coaster sometimes, but there are good times ahead.

[chickchick2012]

You're right Olly - it was lice powder (the vet noticed Henrietta also had lice). Poor chook!!!

[jackian]

I agree with everything Olly has said but can I just add... Don't give up.Once your girls are settled , it does take a while you won't be able to imagine life with out them.

If you want any more help there is always someone on here with advice.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Poor you, sounds like you've got more than the usual settling in problems . You've done the right thing and treated them for everything so hopefully things will get better very soon. I have used a hairdryer after a chicken bath and they do indeed like it . It won't always be this difficult so don't despair . I'd be slightly annoyed with the breeder, I have to say, as you shouldn't really be given birds who have lice or other health problems .

 

Re the sleeping, it's not a problem if they want to sleep outdoors but they should learn to sleep in the eglu if you keep putting them in it for a bit longer.

 

Keep us posted on their progress .

[Mrs Potts]

Hello, Chickchick.

 

I can't better Olly's advice, but just to say keep smiling, it should get better. Your hens are new to all this too and will hopefully settle and respond to the care you are giving them. It sounds as if you have a vet who knows one end of a hen from the other, which is good. Some vets aren't so knowledgeable and I changed practice because of this.

I can't comment on your supplier but if you look through the forum, you'll find lots of personal recommendations for suppliers in the future if you decide to buy some more. These Omleteers really do know their business!

 

My first hens were very chilled and overall a breeze, my second group have needed a lot more help to settle. I was just about to post asking what to put in a hen's bathwater, as Leia can't be bothered to wash now, so thank you for doing that!

 

Good luck with everything.

[daxigirl]

Hi there,

 

You are having a rough time. Keep going it'll get better, honest, we all have periods where they seem constantly under the weather or needing something, yours are just demanding it in the first week. I've certainly wondered what on earth I've done sometimes or where I've gone wrong.

 

My Moomin has a permanent skid mark down her knickers no matter how often I wash her bum (weekly), she's been to the vets and nothing has changed, it's just her.

 

As for lifting them into their house at night it can take a little time for them to get the hang of where they're supposed to go, but they'll get the hang of it.

 

When they start doing eggs for you you'll forget this trauma. Big hug for now though.

[AndreaT]

Hi Chick Chick,

 

Sorry to hear you're having a bad time. We all have them sometimes (see my post in the clinic forum) but, to echo the others, it will get better and it is worth it. This is a great forum, there's always someone that's been through something similar who can offer advice.

 

You're doing all the right things so here's hoping your girls will be healthy soon and you can enjoy them for the funny little characters they are x

[chickchick2012]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement. I shall indeed keep going........ and keep my fingers crossed.

[Cheeky Chooky]

Just wanted to agree with the others that it will all settle in no time

 

What have you got on the floor of your WIR? My WIR is on bare earth with hardwood wood chips on top. I rake it all over and sprinkle Stalosan powder once a week and it works really well. I don't go in and poo pick as I have 20 bantams and obviously it's easier for you as you only have 3 girls but you could possibly save yourself having to poo pick, depending on what you've got on the floor?

 

Keep your chin up

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time.

About the tunny poos - just wanted to check that you aren't confusing their 1-in-10 caecal (is that the right word) poos with their 9-in-10 normal poos. The caecal poos look vile, but are normal and come out about 1 in every 10 poos.

 

If one has lice, it would be worth dusting all with louse powder.

 

With washing, you don't need to wash the whole hen. just stand her in some lukewarm water and use warm water (and cotton wool pads or kitchen towel, or a cloth you can throw away_ to wsh the pooey bum. PErsonally I would only use plain water, I'd only use shampoo if I was prepping for a show. When you're done, dry with a towel. If it's warm outside you can put her out to dry off naturally, if not then a hair dryer on a cool setting is fine.

 

Don't do it if it's cold or wet outside *unless its an emergency). Even with a hairdryer its difficult to get it properly dry, and it's easy for a chook to catch a chill.

 

Hope things get sorted for you

 

Hazel

[chickchick2012]

Thanks Cheeky Chooky - like you I have the hardwood chips on the WIR floor - they do seem pretty good.

Thanks WitchHazel - Henrietta's caecal poos were more 8 in 10 than 1 in 10 and her head and wings were a bit droopy (she just looked a bit poorly).

 

I think I'll wait for the sun to come out again before I do bum washing though!!!!!!!

 

Thanks again everyone xx

[angeluk69]

Hi chick chick,

 

I've had my girls for 3 weeks and for the first week it was bliss, after 3 days we had our first bright white egg and were so chuffed, and we had 4 perfect eggs, then last Sunday Hilda suddenly stopped laying and has been sleeping and 'slow' ever since.

 

I thought it might be due to how boisterous the other girls are, but no, she has a mean streak to her as well. Got in touch with my supplier who thought it may be a touch of stress due to being 'hen pecked', seems not. I wanted to get to my full house capacity of 6 hens and was advised that the quicker I do this the better all round, and for 24 hrs it looked like Hilda picked up a bit almost in a 'you'll get used to being pushed around' sort of way, so it was like 3 on 3, a little bit fairer.

 

My new 2 have also made a huge point of being very friendly with Hilda it is as if they can sense she isn't 100% and are sticking to her side, even if it's just to keep her warm.

 

So anyway, I had to call my supplier today, and CANNOT fault them, they are sendi me out some antibiotics based on the fact that she is slow, the colour has faded from her comb and she is so sleepy. They think she could have a cold. I solvated her earlier to give her some mealworms and corn, as she always misses out due to the 3 greediest hens, so took some time to make sure that she got some goodies.

 

I hope it all picks up for you, I must admit chicken keeping isn't all it's ma out in the books, but I'm sure it must get easier. After all everyone has to start somewhere and everyone has hurdles to get over.