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

[MaryHen]

Sorry, I'm a newbie and this question might sound daft but my girls have an extended are down the side of my house that I have let them go in today (see below); they seem quite happy bit I'm a bit worried that they are eating too much greenery. One of the girls is producing some really smelly orangy poo - I know they are supposed to do this once week but we did have some of this yesterday as well.

I'm loathed to keep them inside as I am at home but I dont want to make them poorly.

 

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/54tULfMgrBz84RPLinKs-3ZvotucbAgwcJgANrmUHR0=w159-h212-p-no

[Beantree]

Best to let them out after they have filled their crops with pellets and the grass must be kept fairly short Maryhen. Too long and you risk digestive impaction. You need to be sure their crops are full because we had two that were bullied off the feeder in the morning and gorged on grass when let out. They died two weeks later from the effects of gizzard impaction.

[MaryHen]

OK - I'll keep them in the run for the time being; they are all eating the pellets and 'touch wood' there isnt any big time bullying going on apart from the odd peck from Grizelda..naughty girl!

[jesschicken24]

I read somewhere that the lovely runny poos, which come in a variety of colours, occur every 8 - 10 poops. Mine produce plenty between them, then soon dry out. I also read that eating too many slugs and worms make their poop a bit runny.

[MaryHen]

I was telling One of the old guys at the allotment about them and he suggested that a change in diet and routine might be affecting them as well - which makes sense as it does for humans too!!

[Claireabella]

I think you are probably seeing ceacal poo which is completely normal. This is a good place to look if you see any 'dodgy' poops: http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

Oooo... isn't chicken keeping glamorous

[gavclojak]

A ceacal poo will happen once every 8-10 poops

[SueChick]

And my does it smell!!! Especially if you stand in it and walk it around your patio

[Beantree]

I have notice that the frequency increases towards worming time. As a rough guess, once every few days becomes a few times every day.