Sentiant Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Hello all, I thought I would share my first week of chicken keeping with you all. As some may recognise me from several posts in this forum I would like to say thanks for all the friendly advice. My three chooks, bluebell, Snowdrop, And Mrs Miggins are all doing very well, currently they are laying under shade in The scorching heat of my garden while I finish cleaning the coop. There talking is normal they are clean (Mrs miggins cut herself on her facewhile scratching all good now) and I have clipped their wings. All bar snowdrop are fine to handle and my nervous wife actually clipped one of the chooks while I held. I just done a preemptive dose of totalmite kill after a clean with poultry shield. Putting down powder once all dry. I havnt seen any mites but I thought it wouldn't hurt since the weather is fine and the cHooks can stay in the run for a while. Off to shops In a bit to some corn on the cob for them to hang off run roof. Hopefully there taking the heat ok, there standing looking at their clean house now, better get on and finish it. Thanks to you all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Go easy on the corn on the cob Sentiant. Sweetcorn or Maize contains a lot of fat. Fat restricts the oviduct and so they stop laying. You would be better with a section of cabbage, or fruit. But remember treats should only form a tiny part of their diet or the protein intake drops below 15% and they don't lay as well. Mealworms in with the treats, or sunflower hearts, will restore the protein levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sentiant Posted July 26, 2014 Author Share Posted July 26, 2014 I just gave them some sunflower hearts with strawberry in it; they went down very well. Thanks for the tip on the sweetcorn, as for cabbage they always get some nice leaves as it s one of our fav veggies. This crazy weather, looks like the end of the world out there now, chickens ain't silly though, they've gone in the coop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sentiant Posted July 26, 2014 Author Share Posted July 26, 2014 It would seem I spoke to soon, Mrs Miggins expired this evening. I checked in on them before bed and she was no longer with us. With no visible signs I can only assume the very hot weather got the better of her. Sad times :'( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Oh I am sorry to hear that. Very sad for you in your first week of chicken keeping. Don't feel disheartened. Hugs x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Oh what a shame, really sorry to hear that but please don't let it put you off the wonderful world of chicken keeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Very sorry to hear that - that is really bad luck so early on. Chickens don't cope well with heat but they should be ok if they have shade and plenty of water. If the other two hens look healthy and happy and if Mrs Miggins wasn't showing any symptoms then it's most likely a heart problem of some sort. I think you should contact the breeder and tell them though, because for this to happen a week in there was something wrong with the hen from the start, and they should offer to replace her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Oh no, what an awful shock for you so soon. Chickens can hide illness very well. As Olly said it may have been a heart condition. Hope the other two are ok. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryHen Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Oh how sad; I think contacting the breeder is the right thing to do. I'm sure she will be happy in chuck afterlife. Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 That's very sad to lose a hen so soon into your chicken keeping adventure Sentiant. Purple comb indicates a heart problem (or very cold). I know chickens love strawberries, but they go off in the crop very quickly and cause sour crop, so they should be avoided as treats. We found out the hard way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Really sorry to hear this. Onwards and upwards though and as others have said don't let it put you off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sentiant Posted July 28, 2014 Author Share Posted July 28, 2014 Well what a weekend! Many thanks to you all for your support, its always welcome when things are going sour. Well my Sussex is delightful she looks in the peek of health, very active, eating and drinking, chasing bugs about and a rather fat pigeon (very funny). My Bluebell on the other hand has taken ill with a chest infection, the breeder has taken her in for a couple of days and will give her an injection (all free of charge as part of his after sales care package) but he seem pretty happy that she will be fine. Was a bit of a rubbish sunday after losing Mrs Miggins and then finding Blubell stretching her neck/head up to the sky and looking like she was gasping for breath, but on we go eh! Having to tell my 4 year old son was hard, i couldnt even breath let alone get a single word out so my good lady dived in for me but he was amazing, he was sad as he would miss daddies mrs miggins but i could share his snowdrop with him; so proud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 What a week you've had! you and your wife seem to have done well telling your little boy and it is a valuable life experience for him to learn about death and that sometimes 's..t' happens' like that. And he's very generous to offer to share 'his' chicken with you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sentiant Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Oh well, just headed from my chicken man that bluebell (after looking well yesterday) past on in the night. So 2 down, Sussex is doing brilliantly she looks gorgeous strutting around pecking and scratching and chasing bugs. Well my chicken man said he will replace her for me for free which is nice, I just hope I have abit more luck. I can't see it was anything I have done directly (still doubt yourself though) but how do you protect against cold/chest infections, maybe if she was older she would have pulled through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Oh Sentient, I'm so sorry to hear that I can assure you that it is nothing you have done. As others have said, chickens tend to hide illness very well. Hang in there - sending hugs your way x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sentiant Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Thanks for the support their After reading some more posts it would seem that chickens are abit wimpy when it comes to colds (a bit like men says the missus) I did t realise how final a cold can be for them. Live and learn eh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
