Blackrocksrock Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 One of my chickens was fine yesterday and lunch time today was a bit off colour and I noticed a wet behind - she had laid a rubbery lash and it was stuck to the feathers - not laid since December - had a big moult and was looking great - red comb and lovely feathers - then sat down and died within a couple of hours - I presume egg peritonitis and now I am down to one- they are 6 and half years old and have laid so well I cannot complain but I am now down to 1 hen! What to do now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 So sorry, it's awful when they have seemed to be in great health I lost two within a week of each other just recently and it came as a great surprise. Don't really know what to suggest about your one remaining hen... I was almost in that position a couple of years ago as one of my remaining two girls seemed to be fading fast. I was worried about being left with a solo hen but managed some gradual introductions with 3 new girls and my ' weaker' girl lasted another six months. It's a difficult decision to make... Sending you hugs xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 There is a farmer up the road who has hens and I am going to try and introduce one tomorrow night into the eglu and see what happens - I am not worried if its a couple of years old or point of lay really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Fingers crossed that all goes well, let us know how you get on. Hopefully your poor remaining girl will be so glad of the company that that there'll be no argy bargy. Lots of treats for distractions might help! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 Well Helga was lonely today and tonight I have teamed her up with 2 Isa Brown hens in the eglu and shut them in so far - I will open the eglu door before I go to bed and they can get into the run and the feed hopper and water in the morning = fingers crossed!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Hope all goes well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 How did it go today ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I've just read your post on another thread blackrocksrock, you must tell all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 We had a fun day - Black Rock Helga does not really like Hetty and Hatty - she flew at them but they were undeterred - lunch time hubby said they had not been bad all morning - I looked up from my soup at lunch time and lo and behold a chicken on the road in front of the house - just walked round the house - we had fun putting her back she promptly came back to the side of the garage and into a wooden box that is there and laid an egg in front of me! - then we had to get her back round. The other one laid in the nest box so two eggs today although the first one was a bit soft as I think she had been frightened to go into the nest with Helga around. Hopefully they will all settle down - they did not fly - hopped over the stuff to get round to the front - we put up a net now! Fun and games to follow me thinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I'm glad you got your lone hen a couple of friends. I hope they sort themselves out with not too many problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 So sorry you lost your girl sounds like fun and games with the new ones, hope it all settles down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Well the hens have settled in well and after being on the road twice have never ventured there again - one was laying but banded cracked soft shelled eggs. Not good and still is laying them - the other one stopped laying but is laying again - lovely brown eggs but the trouble is we dont know which is which - have wormed them and they get limestone flour and they have shell and grit but I think its a further back problem and she will have to be destroyed unfortunately and we just have to find out who is laying which eggs - not good on 2 isa browns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...