Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[fantasticjudyann]

What is it with my chickens I have a Bluebelle and a White Star and a Speckled Star. About three months ago the White Star and the Bluebelle started losing feathers so I thought it was their first moult. They are just over a year old.

But as it has been such a long time we thought we would observe a bit more closely and what seems to be happening is feather pulling. There are bald patches on both of them so I think its probably tit for tat. The White Star also had to go to the vet recently with a prolapsed vent which is now sorted. Why do they do this and why is the Speckledy not affected?

 

I have just ordered some beak rings from The Domestic Wildfowl Trust and would be glad of advice about how to fit them!! I have also sprayed them with anti peck.

 

My chickens never seem to thrive. This is my second flock of three ( I lost the three gingernuts in their second year ) and now this . What am I doing wrong? They have a very large WIR with Hemcore /Aubiose. They are fed Dodson and Horell pellets. The are wormed every 3-4 months with Flubenvet pellets. They get greens and treats and are cleaned out regularly and given fresh Hemcore in the nest box with lots of DE. They have plenty of fresh water.

 

I am feeling really down. Should I give up keeping chickens ? I do love them and collecting and eating the eggs but maybe I'm going wrong somewhere or have I just been unlucky..

 

Can somebody please help:

[scubababe]

Awww Judy, You have a fantastic set-up and are not doing anything wrong. I've had to bumpa 3 bullies today and the chuck they bullied at the vets

 

When the rings turn up give me a shout and I'll pop up and give you a hand.

 

It really is just bad luck and not anything you are doing wrong ((hugs))

[fantasticjudyann]

Thanks Jules I appreciate your message I'll let you know when the rings have arrived.

[scubababe]

Hiya Judy,

 

How's your ladies now?

 

Are the bits still on?

[fantasticjudyann]

Yes they are thank you Jules and the hens seem to be eating and drinking OK , so all is well Thank you so much for your help.

 

DH and I have just removed 2 bales of hemcore from the run, sanitized it and generally tidied up then put 2 new bales of aubiose down. The chooks had a lovely time outside until I enticecd them back to a lovely clean run, with meal worms

 

One thing I forget to do when you were here, was put Frontline on Mabel but I guess she'll be OK as there was no sign of lice or any thing on the others. So she can wait till next time